Interview with Russell T. Davies: The "T" Is for "Television"

AE: So it was fun watching Barrowman entertaining everyone between takes, complete with pratfalls and Carol Channing impersonations. Has it been fun for all of you to have a new crew of folks who haven’t heard your stories yet?
RTD: I think actually Carol Channing’s been impersonating John Barrowman for a long while. [laughs] What you’re seeing there is John at his best, and he’s such a team leader, he unites our set in laughter, literally in song sometimes, and it makes the whole working atmosphere so much better. And he’s always done that – I know he’s done that in theater, he’s done that in Cardiff when we made the original Torchwood, he’s done that on Doctor Who, he’s simply a joy to be around.

And you know a film set is a tough place, you’re always behind time, you’re always behind with money, there’s never time to rehearse enough or move the camera enough, so someone like John is a lifesaver. I know how much Kai and Alexa love being with him; Bill Pullman just adored John. That’s why we take a show and move it 6,000 miles across the world, is because more people should share Barrowman! There’s a very dirty joke at the end of that, but I won’t make it. [laughs]