JASON Donovan has found 12 more good reasons to mount his Ten Good Reasons & Greatest Hits Tour next spring.

In response to "phenomenal demand", the Australian star of musical theatre, screen and pop stage will play a dozen extra shows, including York Barbican on May 15 and Hull City Hall on May 18 to complement his already announced Yorkshire gigs at Leeds Town Hall on March 4 and Sheffield City Hall on March 16.

“The response to the tour has been totally overwhelming," says the 47-year-old Aussie, who will be touring as a solo artist for the first time in six years after focusing on musicals and plays. "I've been shocked and humbled by the speed at which these shows sold. Ten Good Reasons was life changing for me the first time around and it’s already proving to be life changing again.”

Ten Good Reasons, Donovan's five-times platinum debut, was the biggest-selling album of 1989,  spawning three number one singles, Too Many Broken Hearts, Sealed With A Kiss and Especially For You, his million-selling duet with Neighbours' partner-in-soap Kylie Minogue.

He will perform the Stock, Aitken and Waterman-fashioned album in its entirety for the first time on next year's tour. “You know, I've never played some of these songs live ever before," says Jason. "Music has a wonderful opportunity to put you in a time and place, an emotional connection that no other creative medium can. Ten Good Reasons was a defining moment for me and my fans. It was the perfect marriage between music and personality. I was 21 at the time...Wow."

York Press:

Jason Donovan, as spech therapist Lionel Logue, in The King's Speech at Leeds Grand Theare in May

Recalling the recording sessions, Jason says: "The opportunity to work with Stock, Aitken and Waterman, who were the hottest producers at the time, was a dream come true for me. I was a big fan of Rick Astley’s album and absolutely loved Never Gonna Give You Up and couldn't believe my luck when working with SAW became a reality. The melodies, the production, the whole package, was like a first class ride.

"Hearing the completed versions of Too Many Broken Hearts and Especially For You, in particular, were moments in my professional life that I'll never forget. The door was wide open and I was at the centre of this incredible moment in time. You just knew that something magical was happening. It was very exciting. Only when I realise now that these are distant memories, do I appreciate how lucky I was.

"The great thing about this tour is, I can re-live those feelings and share it with the fans who were there with me. They'll have their own stories of firsts and growing up too.”

Too Many Broken Hearts, his first solo chart topper, "changed my life", says Jason. "To this very day, every time I play that song live the entire audience goes nuts. It's classic Stock, Aitken and Waterman but sincerely written with me in mind. I think it's my signature tune. I’m sure for many people it signifies that emotional connection with a particular time in their lives. It does for me,” he adds.

 

York Press:

Jason Donovan as Sydney drag act Tick in Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, The Musical, on its way to the Grand Opera House, York, this autumn

Next spring's set list will embrace plenty more hits – Donovan had 16 Top 40 entries between 1988 and 1992 – to complement Ten Good Reasons, which will open the shows. “One of my favourite albums of all time was Peter Gabriel’s So. When I saw ads recently for a So album tour, I thought 'what a good idea'. It's an opportunity to play an album from top to bottom in its true authenticity while giving the fans exactly what they want," he says. "So I plan to include some tracks in the second half from periods other than 1989, but the audience will know all the songs. All in all, a great night I hope."

This year, Donovan has visited Yorkshire already, playing failed Australian actor turned maverick  London speech therapist Lionel Logue in The King's Speech at Leeds Grand Theatre in May, "a performance so charming, intriguing and assured, it might leave you lost for words", according to The Press's review.

He will return in the late-autumn when he revives the role of Sydney drag queen Tick in Priscilla Queen Of The Desert at the Grand Opera House, York, from November 30 to December 5.

Tickets for Jason Donovan's York Barbican gig can be booked on 0844 854 2757 or at yorkbarbican.co.uk; for Priscilla, 0844 871 3024 or at atgtickets.com/york