Jane McDonald is a much-loved singer and presenter on ITV’s panel show, Loose Women, as well as hosting her many successful travel series on some of the worlds best cruise liners.
She first began her career performing in bars and clubs in Wakefield, where she grew up, before landing a job on a variety of cruise ships, including the Black Prince, Horizon, Zenith and Century.
Aged 35, Jane was approached by a producer who asked her to lead his docusoap The Cruise, in 1998. The show was seen by 14 million viewers and Jane became an overnight celebrity. She went on to present other TV shows, including joining the Loose Women panel in 2004, before departing permanently in 2014 to focus on her music career.
How old is Jane McDonald?
Jane Anne McDonald was born on 4th April 1963, currently making her 60 years old (she looks fantastic!).
Jane McDonald's TV shows
Her TV career began back in 1998 when Jane appeared for the first time in The Cruise. While there was only one season of the documentary series which followed a group of staff on board a luxury cruise ship, it catapulted Jane onto our screens and she became a very popular household name.
Since then she's appeared on Loose Women, Star for a Night, Jane McDonald & Friends plus her many travel series, Cruising with Jane McDonald, Holidaying with Jane McDonald and On Safari with Jane McDonald. More recently, she's been on Celebrity Gogglebox alongside her best friend Sue.
In her most recent travel series, Jane McDonald: Lost in Japan, she explores all that the amazing country of Japan has to offer from robotic toilets to their smart subway system with plenty of karaoke thrown in there for good measure.
Jane McDonald’s fiancé, Eddie Rothe
Jane’s financé, Eddie, sadly died in 2021 at the age of 67, having battled lung cancer. He was best known for being a drummer in the English disco group, Liquid Gold and then The Searchers.
The pair had actually dated back when they were teenagers and then rekindled their romance almost 30 years later after bumping into each other during a set on This Morning, before Eddie proposed to Jane in 2008.
Speaking in an interview last year with Yours, Jane said: “When you are at the lowest of the low and you feel you can’t go any further down, the only way is up. It’s important to think about what you’ve got, not what you’ve lost. If I dwelt on how much I’ve lost, I don’t know how I’d get through another day. It’s best to shut negativity out.”
Horrendous as the last months of Eddie’s life were, Jane has also said how she gleaned some positives from caring for him during the second lockdown.
“At first, I didn’t know how I was going to do it but then I realised it was a privilege. I think you get extra strength when you’re caring for a loved one. It was just so sad that his family and his friends weren’t able to come and see him. But that’s the way it’s been for so many of us out there. So many of us have been through this and I know I’m not on my own.”
Jane shared the news of Eddie’s passing back in April with a message on her social media which read: 'It is with immense sadness that we share the news that Jane’s beloved long term partner, Ed, passed away on Friday 26th March. He had been battling lung cancer for the last few months. We would like to thank everyone for all their help and support...
It went on to read, 'during this very difficult time, especially the NHS staff and the wonderful team at The Wakefield Hospice. The funeral took place earlier today and we would please ask for your kindness in observing Jane’s privacy for her and Ed’s family at this sad time.'
Where does Jane McDonald live?
Jane still lives in Wakefield, in West Yorkshire, where she was born and raised. She shared some of her favourite spots with Yorkshire Life, including Felice’s Bella Roma, where she loves having a Sunday roast or hanging with her girlfriends at Blacker Hall Farm.
It doesn’t look like she’s planning on leaving anytime soon either, as she recently told the Mirror: “I’m sure they won’t get me over there. If you cut me in half it’ll say Yorkshire... like a stick of rock!”
Is Jane McDonald married?
Jane has been married twice. In 1987 Jane married a man called Paul, but their marriage was very short lived. “My first husband was a lovely man,” she said. “It was all my fault. I made a mistake and he deserved better. I got out as quickly as I could. I didn’t want to put us both through prolonged agony."
She then went on to marry Henrik Brixen, a plumber who worked on the cruise ship Century. The pair met there while Jane was working. They married in 1998, but divorced four years later.
How many albums has Jane released?
The singer has recorded ten studio albums and released five compilations. Her self-titled album became number one in the UK in 1998.
Does Jane McDonald have any children?
No. Jane’s previously spoken about how she would have loved to have a family of her own, however she has said in her autobiography that it sadly wasn’t in her ex-husband’s plans. She said: “Henrik and I once talked about having children but there wasn’t room for babies in his plans for me. I began to feel lonely in my marriage.
“I loved him with all my heart, but felt he’d stopped looking at me as a wife. I became a product.”
What is Jane McDonald’s net worth?
According to Celebrity Networth plus multiple other sources, Jane is worth around £4.5 million thanks to her music and successful TV career.
Is Jane on social media?
Things you might not know about Jane...
• She has sold out the Royal Albert Hall and the London Palladium twice.
• She returned to the cruise ships in 2017, this time with her own TV travel show Cruising with Jane McDonald on Channel 5. The show was so successful that in 2018 she won her first BAFTA.
• Her first album outsold her nearest rivals by four to one and gained Jane a place in the Guinness Book Of Records. It remained at No.1 for three weeks and achieved platinum status staying in the Top 10 for eight weeks. Each of Jane’s subsequent four major albums have all reached gold and silver status.
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Lorna White is a Senior Digital Writer at Yours.co.uk. She was previously a writer at Yours Magazine writing features and news stories before joining the digital team. Lorna loves the great British countryside and likes to spend her spare time out and about in her home of Nottinghamshire walking her dog, Pippin.