Jason Donovan's Good Morning Britain interview turns awkward as Kate Garraway ... trends now

Good Morning Britain appeared to be a little awkward on Friday, as Jason Donovan appeared on the show via video to discuss his return to the Rocky Horror Show.

The actor, 55, is reprising the role of suspender-clad Frank 'N' Furter in the 2024-2025 UK tour of Richard O'Brien's musical.

He is currently playing the role in Sydney and Melbourne for the 50th anniversary, after first stepping into the famous high heels for the UK tour back in 1998.

But things became tense during his interview with GMB, as host Kate Garraway brought up how Jason had been 'in a very dark place' during that period, and commented that the show 'saved' him.

Jason, who starred as Scott Robinson on Neighbours from 1986 - 1989, had a well-documented struggle with substance abuse in the mid 90s, including cocaine addiction. 

He documented his wild partying days in his book Between The Lines: My Story Uncut and admitted his drug dealer was worried by his three-gram-a-day habit.

Fortunately, he managed to kick his past addictions and re-establish himself as a successful stage and screen actor in the early 2000s. 

And he didn't appear to be happy to relive the past, as Kate said: '25 years ago, when you were last on stage, the Rocky Horror show in this role, it kind of saved you from a very very dark place, where it didn't look like at the time that you'd be looking and feeling this good 25 years on, did it?'

Taken aback, Jason refuted her question and said: 'Well, I mean, you know, I don't know whether it necessarily saved me? It had a purpose in my life...'

Sensing the tension, Kate quickly interrupted him to defend herself and say: 'I'm just saying that, you've been quoted as saying that it saved you. It's not me making it up!'

A sheepish Jason replied: 'Oh am I? Oh Kate really? Oh okay, okay.'

He then added: 'Well to cut straight to the chase, I met my wife on Rocky Horror in 1998 and we’ve been together happily now for 25 years. 

'I would say that the character of Frank is a sort of extravert and misfit character and he goes to dark places which I was probably going to at that point in my life. 

'But, it wasn’t long after that show that a lightbulb happened in my life and things sort of started to change for the best so it seems like a natural progression for me to re-visit this wonderful show 25 years on.'

Referencing the uncomfortable atmosphere, Jason admitted: 'I don’t really like to look back at those things because there is so much to look forward to.'

He said that it was his children that had motivated him to kick his drug addiction, rather than the Rocky Horror Show. 

He said: 'The catalyst for change for me was my children but you’ve got to want to change in your life and I go back to your comment that I look well and I look healthy and that’s because I have always had a relatively positive outlook on life and kept relatively fit. 

'I had great friends and great family around me and I think that a support network when you’re in those moments is crucial. 

'How do you process what I went through at a very young age? Success - there’s no manual for how you deal with it as a young child. In today’s world, this would be under the title of mental health.'

In subtle dig, he added: 'I think people have got to be slightly careful when they refer back to those darker days because yes they were, but I think you have to be able to understand people’s life story.'

Adding to the awkwardness, Jason then seemed to suggest he was leaving the interview early, as he went on: 'But I'll leave you with, well, I won't leave you unless you want me to leave?'