Jane McDonald’s life off screen from fiance’s tragic death to ‘new man in her life’

Jane McDonald has stepped in for Phillip Schofield to host this years’ British Soap Awards, after the beleaguered daytime TV presenter was forced to pull out in the wake of revelations about a relationship he had with a younger colleague.

The iconic singer and broadcaster, 68, is a fitting substitute and has plenty of experience on the small screen – and she’s already said it’s her “dream job”.

Jane first rose to fame in 1998, when she appeared on BBC series The Cruise, and has gone on to work on the likes of Loose Women and a couple of her own series, including Holidaying with Jane McDonald and Jane McDonald and Friends.

She’s also had a successful music career after launching her first album, which shot straight to number one in the charts, in 1998.

Jane McDonald has stepped up to host The British Soap Awards 2023 (Image: Getty) Read More Related Articles Read More Related Articles

The star has since gone on to release eight studio albums and some of her biggest hits include Let’s Get Loud, Maybe This Time and Let The Light In.

The star has enjoyed a hugely successful career, and has reportedly build a fortune of around £4.5 million pounds over the years.

But what is her life like when she’s away from the spotlight?

Jane has been married twice.

The star wed for the first time in 1986, but it didn’t last very long and the pair split just a year after tying the knot.

Jane McDonald is hosting this year’s British Soap Awards instead of Phillip Schofield (Image: Getty Images)

Jane opened up about her first husband, who is known to the public only as Paul, and said: “My first husband was a lovely man. It was all my fault. I made a mistake and he deserved better.”

She added that she decided to end things “as quickly as I could” rather than put the pair through “prolonged agony.”

Jane got married again in 1998, the same year she shot to fame in the UK, to a Danish man named Henrik Brixen, who was also her manager.

Jane first dated Eddie back in the 1980s when she was just a teenager (Image: HANDOUT)

However, Jane revealed that Henrik had made a lot of “enemies” in the industry and had warned her that she’d never have a career if she stayed with him.

The pair eventually called it quits for good and divorced in 2002.

Jane then found love again after reconciling with an old flame, The Searchers drummer Eddie Rothe, who she had first dated when she was just a teenager.

The pair got back in touch in 2008 and found lasting love.

Jane has admitted she has no plans to move on after the death of her fiance Eddie (Image: Getty Images)

They later got engaged but, tragically, Eddie lost his battle with lung cancer in 2021, leaving Jane absolutely heartbroken.

In December 2022, Jane shared that she had no intention of dating after the death of her fiance, but revealed that she did in fact have a “new man” in her life.

She shared that her niece Katie had had a little boy who she had named after Ed, and Jane is over the moon.

“He’s just so beautiful, I can’t believe it. My niece Katie has had a little boy and they’ve called him Ed. I’m so in love, I didn’t know you could feel that,” she said at the time.

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