Jane McDonald

Jane Anne McDonald

(1963-04-04) 4 April 1963
  • Singer
  • television presenter

1998–present

Henrik Brixen
(m. 1998; div. 2003)

Walter "Ed" Rothe (2008–2021; his death)

Early life[edit]

McDonald was born in Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire.[3]

Career[edit]

After appearing on Chris Terrill's docusoap The Cruise, she was taken on by independent record label Focus Music International[4] to make a covers album[5] and a Christmas single. The self-titled album Jane McDonald spent three weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart, while the single "Cruise into Christmas" (a medley of Christmas classics) reached the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart.[6]


After her number one success on an independent label, McDonald signed a recording contract with UMTV (Universal's catalogue and compilations division),[7][8] and appeared as a guest presenter on BBC's National Lottery.


Beginning in 2004, McDonald was a regular presenter on the ITV daytime television programme Loose Women, appearing on the show three times a week. It was confirmed on 16 July 2010 that McDonald would depart Loose Women in the summer, for at least a year to concentrate on her music career and to tour Australia and New Zealand. Although an Australian tour never developed into anything official, she proceeded to tour the United Kingdom in 2011. She returned in 2012 before leaving the series permanently in January 2014 to focus on her music career. She has since made many guest appearances. She continues to tour the UK with her solo shows & has introduced Christmas themed arena shows into her work schedule.[9]


Cruising with Jane McDonald won the 2018 BAFTA Award for Best Feature, making it the first win for a Channel 5 show.[10]


On 1 June 2023, McDonald was announced as Philip Schofield's replacement as the host of the 2023 British Soap Awards.[11]

Personal life[edit]

McDonald spent most of her early and adult life living with her mother, whom she regarded as her "best friend" latterly they shared a bungalow near Newmillerdam[12] in Wakefield, until Jean died in 2018.[13][14][15]


In 1998, McDonald married Henrik Brixen, a ship's plumbing engineer, from Denmark, who later became her manager. Their relationship was detailed in a special edition of Terrill's docusoap, called The Cruise Special: Jane Ties the Knot,[16] which was broadcast on BBC One on 10 July 1998. Brixen later admitted that he did not understand the music industry. The couple divorced in 2003, largely for the sake of her career.[17][15][13][14]


In 2008, McDonald was reunited with musician Eddie Rothe, whom she briefly dated at seventeen, in 1980. He was a drummer and member of The Searchers. They became engaged on 24 December 2008 after Rothe proposed.[17][18] Rothe died of lung cancer on 26 March 2021.[19]

Jane McDonald in Concert (1999)

Jane McDonald Live in Las Vegas (2001)

Being Jane (filmed 2005)

The Very Best of Loose Women (2008)

Late Night with the Loose Women (2009)

Jane McDonald – Live at the London Palladium (18 October 2010)

Jane McDonald – A Live Christmas Concert Special (15 November 2019) (No. 2 in the DVD music charts)

Jane McDonald – Follow Your Dreams, (2000)

autobiography

Jane McDonald – Riding the Waves: My Story, autobiography, Virgin Books (2019)

Awards[edit]

In 2011, Wakefield Council awarded her a star in the form of a pavement plaque for outstanding achievement from an entertainer.[22]


In 2018, McDonald was awarded a British Academy Television Award for her television series Cruising with Jane McDonald.[23]

Official website

Profile at ITV.com

discography at Discogs

Jane McDonald

at AllMusic

Jane McDonald