John Barrowman has revealed his close friendship with former co-star Suranne Jones led to the actress volunteering to be a surrogate mother should he ever wish to have a child.

Barrowman formed a tight bond with Jones while starring with the actress in a stage adaptation of Hollywood blockbuster A Few Good Men at London’s Theatre Royal in 2005.

Reflecting on their friendship in his candid autobiography, Anything Goes, the Scottish-American star, 51 – who has been married to long-term partner Scott Gill since 2013 - reveals his co-star made the extraordinary offer as they relaxed over drinks one evening.

He recalled: 'One night she told me that if Scott and I ever did decide we wanted to have a child of our own, she’d be happy to accommodate us.

'Perhaps one day I might become a dad, we have a lot of love to give and I adore kids.' 

Barrowman met husband Gill at the Chichester Festival Theatre in 1993 while performing in a production of Alfred Hitchcock classic Rope. 

The couple entered into a civil partnership in 2006 before marrying after it became legal for same sex couples to do so in the state of California, where Barrowman owns two homes. 

But while the actor is ready to have children, he admits his husband isn't prepared to start a family in the foreseeable future.

'It has to be a partnership thing and I don’t think Scott is ready,' he explains in the book. 

Barrowman is currently enjoying a successful run on the current series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 

Despite spraining his ankle, the star admits he has had the time of his life while battling against the elements on the long-running show. 

'My jungle experience has been awesome,' he recently said. 'I’ve felt every kind of emotion. I wouldn’t change it for the world.' 

His husband and parents are expected to meet him when he leaves the jungle after flying out to Queensland in November.