Jane jumps ship
PREPARE to embrace old school variety as Jane McDonald brings us an entertainment show that could be straight out of the 70s or 80s.
We’ve been promised an extravaganza as Jane sings songs, chats to the audience, welcomes guests and gives emotional surprises.
As it starts, she walks down a centre staircase in a studio, with suitably glitzy dancers behind her (some on roller skates), and belts out a song.
Then Jane embarks on a few minutes of stand-up – jokes about exercising and Corrie (she knows her audience) – before launching into another number. We are basically on a cruise ship, but as she says: “We’re fit to bursting with wonderfulness.”
You’ll either love this or hate it, but at the very least, marvel at a throwback to a time when telly was happy and we could use phrases like “prizes galore”.
Jane looks fabulous by the way, stunning in a black sequinned jumpsuit (the first of a few costume changes), and is happy to try anything, including in this episode a ‘Jiggy’ trampolining class.
Special guests tonight include American R&B and soul singer Alexander O’Neal and the newly solo Shane Filan – you’ll know him from Westlife. A live band adds to the sense of Friday night feel-good TV, as Jane performs highlights from her long singing career.
Before you can switch this over, you might find that you’ve accidentally watched the entire show.