HE may be well known for his Technicolor Dreamcoat but he is also known for being a man of many hats.

With a successful career on stage, television and selling 13 million albums worldwide, Jason Donovan is even more famous now than when he burst on to the scene in the 1980s.

And despite a rocky road along the way the former Neighbours heart-throb has maintained his cool and is still a much-loved household name, touring worldwide, still performing to millions.

Now in Manchester, this is Jason’s second time playing Tick, in the smash-hit musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert, which originally opened in the West End.

“I couldn’t turn the tour down because I just loved doing it so much previously. It was a very unique opportunity to be able to take the performance elsewhere and the show should do well again because it was really popular in London,” said Jason who reached the final of last year’s Strictly Come Dancing.

“It’s amazing that the musical is happening again as Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical originally opened in Australia in 2006. But really it’s an amazing storyline and for an Australian like me it’s magic - just like a marriage made in heaven I suppose.

“It is a wonderful story about a celebration of life with so many twists and turns along the way.

“The rehearsals are going really well and everything else is just falling in to place,” said Jason who was also a finalist in ITV’s smash hit I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!

Based on the smash-hit movie, Priscilla, the musical is the heart-warming, uplifting adventure of three friends who get on board a battered old bus searching for love and friendship and they end up finding more than they could have ever dreamed of.

“At the moment I am really happy doing what I am doing and I am enjoying being a husband and a father to my wonderful children. I love my family and they are really supportive of everything that I do and yes, they will be coming to see me in Manchester. Life is real busy. At the moment there are plans for me to carry on performing on stage but sadly, there are no plans for recording a new album as much as I love recording. As for television - I would always be happy to go back to TV if the offers were there,” said Jason who rose to fame playing Scott Robinson in Neighbours in the 1980s alongside Kylie Minogue.

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

He has also toured and starred in Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Show.

And if you think he’s been around forever, the 44-year-old still knows how to keep himself busy and admitted that he is planning on staying around.

“I still have to get out there and put on a good show and no matter what that is the most important thing of all. No matter how much work is offered to you, you don’t get far without working really hard. I think that if you love what you are doing then you’ll never get bored. That’s why I am still around!”

  • Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Manchester Opera House until Saturday, February 23. Box office: 0844 871 3018