And secondly, enjoy these fantastic stage photos from Robin Hood, courtesy of the Birmingham Hippodrome. Keep in mind these may contain spoilers.

Robin Hood: Stage

The erudite comedian, who has been touring the UK, was at the London Palladium for the Royal Variety Performance which was filmed last night.

Jimmy was in the arena chatting to the Torchwood actor when cheeky John put a protective arm around him and planted a kiss on his face.

Maybe he spotted some mistletoe …

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Two images added to the gallery:

December 12: Royal Variety Performance Night

This is precious rehearsal time for the pantomime Robin Hood which is due to open at Birmingham Hippodrome next Friday. A week in, the group have already mastered much of the action but still have a long way to go.

Sitting watching the action are a whole host of people including producer Paul Elliott and Birmingham actor and comedian Don Maclean who takes the role of Friar Tuck.

While there is plenty of good humour at rehearsal, there is no doubt that the group are here to work, and to re-work as some of the lines and scenes are altered as they go along.

Lines are repeated again and again as characters slightly adapt a scene. We can’t help but feel sorry for ventriloquist Paul Zerdin whose character Will Scarlet has his face slapped by John – not once, not twice, but a seemingly endless number of times in an attempt to get the timing just right.

In the room next door the dancers are being put through their paces in a series of athletic spins, twirls and jumps.

Dressed in jeans and sweat tops and without any props or scenery, it is difficult to picture the pantomime in its full glory but with this much hard work going into its preparation, everything should be all right on the night.

“The rehearsals are going really well,” says Paul Elliott, who has produced more than 350 pantomimes in his 45 years as a producer.

“We were keen to have John again after last year’s Aladdin because he is a fantastic and capable leader who contributes so much to a show.

“This year’s pantomime is going to be a spectacle and an adventure.”

Appearing alongside him is comedian Paul Zerdin as Will Scarlet, together with his friend ‘Sam’, while returning to Birmingham is veteran entertainer Don Maclean in the role of Friar Tuck.

Also making a special appearance is the the impressive Titan, a huge eight-foot steel giant of a robot that is conjured back from the future to aide the Sheriff of Nottingham’s quest to defeat Robin Hood (Barrowman).

John Barrowman said: “I am thrilled to be returning to the Birmingham Hippodrome this Christmas in a production full of surprises and packed with entertainment for all ages.

“I am particularly looking forward to taking on Titan - with my experience of battling futuristic baddies, I don’t think it’ll prove too much of a problem!”

Robin Hood - The Pantomime Adventure is staged by Qdos Pantomimes, the largest pantomime producer in the world and is presented by the same team that was behind the 2007/08 production of Aladdin.

It is a brand new production especially written for Birmingham Hippodrome and performances run until Sunday, February 1, 2009.

Tickets are on sale priced £13-£30, available online at www.birminghamhippodrome.com or by telephone on 0844 338 5000.

“Last year, when I was Aladdin, the show was a fantasy spectacle but this year it is much more of an adventure,” he says. “There is a lot of swordfighting and action.”

There is also a chance for John to pull on his ice skates after being a celebrity skater in the television show Dancing on Ice in 2006.

“I haven’t done any skating since then,” he says. “None at all. But I think it is like learning to drive with a gear shift, you never forget.”

After spending last Christmas in Birmingham for Aladdin, John admits he is beginning to see the city as a second home.

“You know, I love Birmingham,” he says. “I think the best thing about it is its people. And it has such diversity. Where else can you be in Chinatown one moment and Little India, as I call it, the next?”

When the Birmingham Mail met John in the summer he did admit to one worry about visiting Birmingham this festive season as he could not find a hotel where he could also lodge his three beloved dogs – Charlie, CJ and Harris. But he is happy to report that has been solved.

“I did find a hotel which has been very kind and has allowed me to bring the dogs,” he says.

“Although for the moment they are still in Cardiff as I have to get up at 6am to walk them and I am just too busy doing the rehearsals to have time. But they will be coming up soon.

“But one of them is a puppy so I hope he is going to behave himself in that hotel room.”

It has been a busy year for John as he has toured to promote his album Another Side, released his new album Music, Music, Music, published his autobiography Anything Goes and appeared on countless television programmes from Torchwood to I’d Do Anything and Strictly Come Dancing. But he says everything is now on hold while he concentrates on being Robin.

“After this week’s Royal Variety show, there will be a complete battening down of the hatches while I do this,” he says.

“Doing panto is exhausting and you need to be 100 per cent for the show and I will be.

“Once it is finished I can start thinking about everything else again.”

Appearing on ITV’s Loose Women, the 41-year-old admitted he ‘took it a step too far’ when he got his manhood out while being interviewed on The Switch.

The show was broadcast on Radio 1 while pictures were being relayed to the listeners via a webcam.

It was only the quick-thinking actions of a producer, who covered the webcam at the crucial moment, which sparred Barrowman’s ‘fruit and nuts’ from being broadcast via the camera.

Barrowman, who plays Captain Jack Harkness in Dr Who and its spin-off Torchwood, was prompted into the apology today after one of the Loose Women hosts, Jane McDonald, asked him toe explain himself over the prank.

He said: ‘I was on a radio show on Sunday evening which, I was told, was going to be fun and edgy.

‘I went on and was fun and edgy and I took it a step too far. The point being I made a mistake. I’ve learnt from that mistake.

‘It’s been a difficult week, but that’s it. Move on, get on with it.’

The audience applauded, before he added: ‘I apologise in that sense if I had offended anyone. My mistake, my bag. Let’s move on.’

The rest of the article is just a rehash. Read the source if you’re interested.

“I was joining in the light-hearted and fun banter of the show and went too far,” he said. “I was wrong to do this and it will never happen again.”

The BBC has also apologised for the incident on Sunday’s Switch show, which prompted one listener to complain.

“We do feel the programme overstepped the mark,” it said, adding an apology was made at the end of the broadcast.

A spokeswoman also stressed that nothing untoward was screened online via the station’s webcam.

Barrowman was chatting with hosts Nick Grimshaw and Annie Mac when he was asked about his predilection for exposing himself during interviews.

He responded by saying he was going to “get it out”, amid laughter.

Barrowman said later: “I didn’t take the whole thing out, but I got my fruit and nuts out.”

In a statement issued on Monday, the I’d Do Anything judge said he appreciated “the great support” he had received from the BBC over the last few years.

He “would never intentionally do anything to undermine the integrity of the corporation,” he continued.

“I apologise for any offence I have caused.”

The show has now been taken off the BBC’s iPlayer service.

The corporation was forced into another embarrassing and potentially damaging apology after Doctor Who actor John Barrowman revealed himself in a pre-watershed Radio 1 show which was also broadcast online via a webcam.

In an interview on The Switch at 8.15 last night, Barrowman, 41, performed the act after being prompted by presenters Annie Mac and Nick Grimshaw.

The Scottish-American actor, best known for his role as Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who and its spin-off series Torchwood, made the studio erupt in screams and wild laughter, while a producer hastily covered the webcam. It comes despite BBC director-general Mark Thompson’s promise for greater controls following the outcry over the Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross obscene call. Producers have been warned that swearing and potentially offensive output must be approved by the controller of each station or channel.

Last night radio listeners heard as Barrowman, a guest who was promoting his new single, responded to goading by presenters.

Grimshaw said: “You’re famous, we’re told, for getting your willy out in interviews. Is this going to happen today? Should Annie be careful?”

Barrowman asked: “Is the webcam on?”, and when he was told it was responded: “All right. I’ll get it out for you then, no problem.”

Annie Mac is then heard screaming and shouting “Oh my God!” as Grimshaw and Barrowman laugh. Seconds later Barrowman is heard saying: “I didn’t take the whole thing out, but I got my fruit and nuts out.”

There follows several minutes of laughter and conversation, with both presenters expressing their surprise, but neither condemning or apologising for their guest’s actions.

At one point Barrowman exclaims: “I can’t believe I’ve just done that.”

The openly gay actor has appeared as a judge on the prime-time BBC talent show Any Dream Will Do as well as major West End productions.

The BBC confirmed Barrowman had exposed himself on the programme, but said it was not visible to online viewers. It also said Mac apologised at the end of the show and that no complaints had been received last night.

The openly gay actor - who tied the knot with his civil partner Scott Gill in December 2006 - admits he would love to have a bedroom encounter with the superstar couple.

He said: “I would love to be friends with David and Victoria Beckham - the day I meet them is that day will flirt outrageously, then I would even have sex with her just to say I have. Actually, I’d want him to join in too!”

John also revealed he has a crush on Take That star Gary Barlow.

He added: “I love Gary - he’s pretty sexy and the older he gets the more gorgeous he gets. It’s not just celebrities though, I even flirt with our builder. I’ll shamelessly flirt with a girl and, if she has got a boyfriend, I’ll flirt with him too.

“Girls like it because they think it’s kind of horny that their boyfriends are getting chatted up.”