JASON Donovan is very much a family man these days. The actor is currently working hard touring the country with Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which is coming to Aylesbury next week.

And he said there is nothing he loves more than going home to his family on a Saturday after the last show and enjoying a glass of wine. He talked to Freetime about the show, keeping fit and the best advice he can give his children.

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert The Musical is jam packed with hits from It's Raining Men to I Will Survive to Go West but it also has a great story too.

It follows the story of two drag queens and a transsexual, who are contracted to perform in a remote town in Australia.

They head west from Sydney aboard their bus, Priscilla, and come into contact with many different characters along the way. Jason plays the drag queen Mitzi Mitosis - whose real name is Anthony "Tick" Belrose. He said: "There are not too many productions in a life time that come along when you are thinking of theatre like Priscilla.

"It ticks a number of boxes for me. Firstly it is a great story.

"And it is a musical with a twist. I've never seen myself as a Disney-esque type of leading man.

"I loved playing Joseph but I don't want to play Joseph for the rest of my life.

"Acting is my strength. It plays to that with the show.

"It is not a singer's thing- it is not a Les Mis 'belt it out' type of musical."

As well as performing in Priscilla in the West End- his other credits include the title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

His touring credits include Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, the title role in John Doyle’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd and The Artilleryman in The War of the Worlds. But what does he think the audience love Priscilla?

Jason said: "I think it is a modern story about misfits. In a way we all see ourselves as misfits.

"I think these guys get these prejudices thrown upon them.

"When you break it down- they are just human beings."

He joked he would touring with the show until 2033 but really it is until April.

He added: "When the show opens with Raining Men it sets the tone. It is like a pop concert.

"That is what I keep saying to people- it is one of the reasons why it is so popular."

Singing is no stranger to Jason who as well as acting as had a successful music career selling 13 million albums to date. But keeping fit for the show is a must as it is very high energy with dancing on stage each night.

Jason said: "I am a big believer in body and making sure that what you put in is what you get out.

"When you're doing a show like Priscilla, which is a serious sort of physical and mental work, you have to be ready.

"You have got to be like an athlete. As much as it is a creative process you still have to be aware you are an athlete."

I noticed on Twitter he sometimes uploads what he is having for dinner, but he was quick to point out he doesn't live and breathe on the social networking site.

He said: "It is a democracy. You can do what you like. I like to live rather than document every second. "

But he admitted he liked his food and said his wife, Ange, is a great cook although she never used to be.

He has been with her since 1998 and they have three children, Jemma, Zac and Molly.

The 45-year-old said: "I think my children would all love to be in the business. I think they really would.

"It is not that easy. Unfortunately this is one of those businesses where I can't just hand them over the keys to the shop and away they go.

"It doesn't work like that."

He said he can give them the right advice and equip them with knowledge and how to take advantage of the opportunities.

Jason added: "For me it has always been about work. Anyone who tells you any otherwise is a fool. You don't just become an overnight success

"I was in the right place at the right time for Neighbours. That all changed my life.

"Showbiz is tough. It is absolutely exposing yourself and being uber confident and going out there and performing in front of people."

He was in Neighbours in the 80s with Kylie Minogue. He said: "I think the great thing about age is being aware of how to handle the moments when you are insecure.

"Power is knowledge. That allows you to do what you want to do.

"No-one can escape hard work."

But Jason loves nothing more than coming home to his family.

He said: "I love it. One of the joys I have is to work hard and then I love to come home and have a bottle of wine. I don't do that during the week.

"I love to finish the show on a Saturday then come home and relax."

And he still keeps an eye on Strictly Come Dancing, which he was a contestant on in 2011. He finished third in the competition.

He said: "It is a really classy, well produced piece of television. It was very exciting being in that."

And he hopes Ashley or Sophie win this series as he said it is about the journey you go on and not about how well you can dance.

When I asked him if he still dances he said: "Yes, every night on stage in Priscilla."

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is at Aylesbury Waterside Theatre from November 18 to 23 at various times. Tickets range from £10 to £35 from 0844 8717607 or go to www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury

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