Jason Donovan: Kids Can Try Drugs at Home for Honest Education

Jason Donovan has revealed he’s told his children if they want to try drugs they should do it at the family home in a bid to educate them, following his own substance abuse battle.

The Neighbours star, 57, said despite being ‘vilified’ for his stance he would rather be present and believed it was the ‘only way’ to remove any intrigue around drugs. 

Jason, who shares daughters Jemma, 25, Molly, 14 and son Zac, 24, with wife Angela Malloch, has also shown the family photos and videos of himself ‘completely out of it’ from his wild partying days. 

The actor, who starred as Scott Robinson in the Aussie soap from 1986 – 1989, had a well-documented struggle with substance abuse in the mid ’90s, including cocaine addiction. 

He wrote in a new article ‘Do I worry my kids might behave similarly? Well, I’ve always said to them that if they want to try stuff, bring it home. Let’s do it here, mate’. 

‘I’ve gotten vilified for saying that in public before, but I don’t see any other way to deal with it. You’ve got to be open and honest. My dad says I’m too honest but I just want to take the air out of any intrigue it may hold’.

Jason Donovan, 57, has revealed he’s told his children if they want to try drugs, they should do it at the family home in a bid to educate them, following his own substance abuse battle 

Jason, who shares daughters Jemma, 25, Molly, 14 and son Zac, 24, with wife Angela Malloch, said despite being ‘vilified’ he believed it was the ‘only way’ 

The actor, who starred as Scott Robinson in the Aussie soap from 1986 – 1989, had a well-documented struggle with substance abuse in the mid ’90s  (pictured 1995)

While son Zac added in The Times: ‘Dad is super-open about his past. I’ve seen videos and photos where he looks like a totally different person, completely out of it. But then he wouldn’t be who he is today if he hadn’t gone through all that’. 

Last year Jason made the shock admission that he still struggles with limiting his alcohol intake, years after his drug battle. 

He told The Guardian that he has to make a conscious effort not to drink too much and struggles to stop at just one glass. 

‘Overdrinking. I don’t drink all the time, but I do love a glass of wine, and it’s very difficult to just stop at one or two,’ he began.

‘If I overdrink, I don’t feel good about myself.’

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. 

When asked if he would change anything about his past, Jason responded with: ‘My relationship with drugs. In the 1990s I was so selfish, I wouldn’t really have noticed what was going on.’

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

He wrote in a new article ‘I’ve always said to them that if they want to try stuff, bring it home. Let’s do it here, mate’ (Pictured with Hollyoaks star daughter Jemma)

While son Zac added: ‘Dad is super-open about his past. I’ve seen videos and photos where he looks like a totally different person, completely out of it  (pictured 1993)

Meanwhile Jason will make a surprise appearance in Emmerdale this Christmas as he performs to a full house at the Woolpack.

The impromptu gig is said to be a special surprise for character Lydia Dingle, played by Karen Blick, who has been a lifelong fan of the singer. 

He said of his appearance on the ITV show: ‘I’m incredibly excited to have been asked to make a cameo appearance in Emmerdale as myself. 

‘Filming was great fun and all of the cast and crew were extremely welcoming. Singing in the Woolpack set was definitely an experience I won’t forget.’

Producer Laura Shaw added: ‘We were delighted that Jason agreed to join us.

‘Not only is Lydia Dingle a big fan of his, there was a real buzz on set that day. I hope the viewers enjoy his cameo as much as the Emmerdale family did.’

The special episode will air on ITV later this year.