‘Who dreamed I’d be where I am now?’
Singer, presenter and cruiseship legend Jane McDonald opens up about love, what keeps her grounded, and how she deals with heartache…
Singing sensation and former Loose
Women panellist Jane McDonald, 56, spends six months of the year travelling via her favourite means of transport – cruise ships. When the bubbly brunette is on dry land, however, she still maintains there’s no place like home – her beloved Yorkshire, where she lives in Wakefield with her partner of 12 years, musician Ed Rothe.
Living the dream
‘Never in a million years did I dream that I’d be where I am now! I thought I’d be back singing on the ships within the first 10 months after The Cruise [the reality TV show that first introduced us to Jane in the late 90s]. All those years ago, a person like me never would have made it: I was a cruise ship singer who worked the clubs. My job is to bring a smile to people’s faces. I’ve found that when there’s tragedy in the world, people need escapism even more. We all have difficult days. You’re allowed to be sad sometimes and you’re allowed to have a bad day. Sometimes, you need those to be able to bounce back. Last year, I had all this amazing success going on in the background, but it was the worst time in my life; nothing hits you like losing your mum and I’ll never feel that bad again. I think that’s what’s keeping me going, the fact that everybody has tragedy in their lives, and that you can have those bad days, too.
I am never going to complain about what I do, because I love it. It has taken me a long time to get here and I am going to relish every single minute of it. My working-class ethics have kept me grounded over the years. I was always someone who wanted to pay my mortgage off. I’ll be honest, I have only just managed it this year, but it is the most wonderful thing when you get to that stage. I think that drives you forward. If I knew the secret to my appeal, I would bottle it and sell it! I think it is about being true to yourself. My motto in life is, “Whether your glass is half full or half empty, it just needs refilling.” Maybe that is the secret.’
Globe-trotting
‘I’ve been all over the world, but Scotland is my favourite destination. It has Caribbean-looking beaches, with the white sand and the blue sea, and there’s so much history there. The warmth that you get from the people there is fantastic, too. When we go up to Scotland on tour, we actually feel the excitement as we cross the border in the tour bus. It’s probably to do with my roots, as my family is Scottish. It’s been three years since I had a proper break.