Television heart-throb Jason Donovan is planning to celebrate his 50th birthday by sharing a wealth of tantalising tales in a new intimate show. 

The former Neighbours star turned 50 on June 1 - and he is marking the occasion with a new live show - Jason Donovan and His Amazing Midlife Crisis, which comes to the Wycombe Swan on September 24. 

The autobiographical show will zigzag back and forth through his life, with stories about Neighbours, Ten Good Reasons, Kylie, Joseph, I’m A Celebrity, Strictly and more. 
Jason says the show is “unlike anything I’ve done before” and will feature chat, audience interaction and acoustic numbers - adding he has “some surprises up my sleeve”. 

He will be sharing moments from the past four decades that he was not able to tell us about on daytime television. 
And with such an illustrious career, he will have plenty to talk about. 

When asked what his career highlight is to date, he said: “I’m so lucky, too many to single one out, but if I really have to choose one, I’d say having the best-selling album of 1989. That was pretty special.”

And as a performer, the Australian national treasure says he feels most comfortable acting and singing. 

He said: “[It’s] is where my heart lies, so musical theatre is a perfect marriage of that. 

“But I enjoy straight acting, and also singing with a band. Each discipline has different things about it that I enjoy, so I’m lucky to be able to do both.”

Jason says he has been inspired by artists including U2, Peter Gabriel, Depeche Mode and Coldplay, adding: “I’m mad into Chainsmokers currently. I’m inspired by anything good really.”

He achieved fame in the Australian soap Neighbours alongside Kylie Minogue, before carving out a career in music in 1988.

And while it was hard to ignore how popular the soap opera was at the time, it is only now - decades on - that Jason has realised just how important the show was to audiences. 

He said: “My days in Neighbours were exciting, fun and although as cast members we did feel how popular it was at the time, it’s only the passing of time that has made me realise how significant the storylines I was part of were to people. 

“There isn’t a week that goes by where people don’t ask me about Scott and Charlene’s wedding, it’s incredible to think that people hold that memory so dearly thirty years down the line.”

After leaving the set to try his hand at music, Jason got to work with the “Hit Factory”, Stock Aitken and Waterman. 
The English songwriting and record producing trio - consisting of Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, and Pete Waterman - had great success from the mid-1980s through the early 1990s.

Jason said: “It was a fantastic experience and one that I’m very lucky and proud to have been a part of. 

“They are responsible for so many hits and the eighties was such a great time for pop music. 

“I didn’t start out looking to be a pop star and to be invited into the music world was the start of a lifelong love affair.”

Tickets for the show are available at wycombeswan.co.uk or call 01494 512 000.