John Barrowman has appeared in his first television interview following past allegations of “inappropriate behaviour”.
The 54-year-old star sat down with Lorraine Kelly on her ITV show earlier today (November 23).
It comes months after John was accused of “repeatedly exposing himself” on the set of Doctor Who series Torchwood.
John Barrowman speaks out
The former I’m A Celebrity star addressed the allegations on Lorraine on Tuesday morning.
Starting the interview, Lorraine asked John if he “crossed the line” with his past actions.
He responded: “I think that if it was now it would be crossing the line.
They have been exaggerated
“I think something that happened 15 years ago is silly behaviour, it was being done in the confines of the set and we were like a family working together.
“It was stories I’ve already told and I’ve been telling for years. They’ve been exaggerated and trying to turn them into sexual harassment – which it’s absolutely not.”
John then hit back at the tabloids, adding: “They weren’t there and they don’t know the context in which things were done.”
The star insisted that he has changed since then.
“We’ve moved on and I want to continue to move on and move forward,” John shared.
“I’m extremely nervous and that’s not me.”
Read more: Dancing On Ice: John Barrowman ‘to be replaced as judge by Arlene Phillips’
He added: “I feel like I’m having to monitor everything and I will get past that, but in a different context to what it was 15 years ago. But we cannot change that.”
Meanwhile, John also addressed his exit as judge from Dancing On Ice.
The star explained: “Dancing On Ice is also a show that changes judges all the time. It was nothing to do with that [the allegations] and ITV were clear about that.”
Why is John Barrowman talking in a Scottish accent #lorraine
— Rebecca (@Rebecca65051594) November 23, 2021
Oh no, John Barrowman and his Scottish accent are back. #lorraine
— Stephen Havard (@StephenHavard) November 23, 2021
Not sure John Barrowman has gone at this from the right angle. He's chosen angry Scottish victim. Idiot.#Lorraine
— Karen 💜 (@KazP19) November 23, 2021
https://twitter.com/emilykat93/status/1463071622722732032
https://twitter.com/mickmountaintop/status/1463074624321826816
#lorraine The Scottish accent by John Barrowman isn't fake, he actually is Scottish & went to live in America. He's apologised for past mistakes, time to move on. I guess all the ones criticising John haven't made a mistake before.😇😇 #johnbarrowman
— joyce Jordan (@joyceJo49834475) November 23, 2021
How did Lorraine viewers respond?
Some viewers couldn’t help but comment on John’s accent throughout the chat.
Taking to Twitter, one said: “Oh no, John Barrowman and his Scottish accent are back #Lorraine.”
Another added: “Not sure John Barrowman has gone at this from the right angle. He’s chosen angry Scottish victim. Idiot #Lorraine.”
He’s apologised for past mistakes, time to move on
In addition, a third complained: “It’s actually painful listening to John Barrowman exaggerate his Scottish accent to talk to Lorraine. He doesn’t normally sound like that.”
However, a fifth tweeted: “The Scottish accent by John Barrowman isn’t fake, he actually is Scottish & went to live in America. He’s apologised for past mistakes, time to move on. I guess all the ones criticising John haven’t made a mistake before.”
Another defended the star: “John Barrowman came across quite well then I thought #Lorraine.”
What were the allegations against John?
The claims emerged after two TV workers spoke to The Guardian.
One female runner claimed: “Sometimes he’d call me into his dressing room, and I would knock on the door and he’d say: ‘Oh, look at this.’ And he’d just have his penis out, standing in the doorway.
“It was kind of accepted that it was his thing.”
Read more: John Barrowman ‘blocks fans on Twitter’ following Dancing On Ice ‘axing’
Another claimed John “would get his genitals out on a regular basis”.
John apologised and said his behaviour had been “high-spirited” when the claims were published.
He previously apologised in 2008 after Torchwood star Freema Agyeman told thelondonpaper: “John will walk about with his chap hanging out, having conversations with people.”
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