Jane McDonald
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| Jane McDonald | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jane McDonald |
| Born | 4 April 1963 |
| Origin | Wakefield, England |
| Genre(s) | Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer Television presenter |
| Years active | 1985–present |
Jane McDonald (born 4 April 1963) is an English singer, actress and television personality. She came to fame after appearing on the reality series, The Cruise in 1998. She is best known for currently presenting the daytime TV show, Loose Women.
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[edit] Background
Jane's parents are Peter and Jean. Her mother and grandmother ran a boarding house in Wakefield, and her Scottish father was a miner who did extra work as a chimney sweep. She is a Christian, as she announced on Loose Women.
Jane spent her early years listening to the radio, her favourite pastime. As a little girl her favourite place was sitting in the rainbow coloured spotlight cast through her front door's stained glass window. [1]
Jane toured many clubs in the north of England, with her father acting as her roadie. She provided all of her own equipment, which she had to replace after it was destroyed in a large bar-fight.
Jane's first position on a cruise ship was on the Black Prince, and following that, the Horizon. After her father's death, she returned to sea and began working on the Zenith. Later she was to work on the Century, where she met Henrik Brixen. Her time on the Century was not a happy one, due to pay delays, technical difficulties, and stressful working conditions. After this she took some time off with Henrik, but was eventually tempted back to sea as a headliner on the Century's sister-ship, the Galaxy. Shortly after accepting the position, Jane was contacted by Chris Terril of the BBC, who asked her to be the star of his docusoap, The Cruise. The Cruise was watched regularly by 14 million viewers, and after years of hard work, Jane became a celebrity overnight. Her wedding to Henrik Brixen in 1998 was televised by the BBC and watched by a large audience, although the couple have since divorced.
After signing a major-label recording contract, McDonald began to carve out a mainstream Showbiz career, first as a guest presenter on BBC's National Lottery and subsequently with her debut album Jane McDonald, which spent three weeks at #1 in the UK Album Chart.
In 2000, McDonald released her autobiography Follow Your Dreams published by Harper Collins.
In 2002, McDonald appeared in a run of Romeo and Juliet - The Musical at the Piccadilly Theatre in London's glittering West End. She has also performed in productions in Kirkby Lonsdale and Basingstoke.
In November 2006 she began a UK tour, which featured a number of special guests including the massed voices of Sing Live UK. The tour ended on 2nd November 2006.
2007 Jane commissioned up and coming Yorkshire fashion designer, Haute Couture dress maker and talented seamstress Kaye Heeley of Angel Couture to help with the Jane McDonald Collection.
A new tour and album are expected in 2008.
For the past 4 years Jane has been a regular presenter on the ITV show Loose Women - a popular daytime TV show.
[edit] Television Career
As well as appearing on The Cruise, Jane presented the television programme, Star For A Night, which helped launch the singer Joss Stone. She is also a regular panellist on the afternoon TV talk show, Loose Women and briefly Five's The Wright stuff. She has also appeared on the reality shows, Have I Been Here Before and Drop the Celebrity. Jane also appeared in the Wicked Women concert and sang "This Is The Moment" from the Broadway musical Jekyll and Hyde. Jane appeared on one episode of Never Mind The Buzzcocks.
Jane joined Loose Women in 2004, and is now a regular favourite on the show. She frequently mentions her home town, Wakefield, on the show for various reasons, usually when talking about her childhood.
Jane appeared on a celebrity special of Ready Steady Cook. She and her fellow chef won over the audience with their dish of 'half baked carp' with a cheesy sauce, and Jane claimed the cash prize. She donated all the money to Wakefield Hospice, a local charity of her home town.
Jane is to appear in a documentary called "Return to the Cruise" in the spring, which will celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Cruise and find out how much Jane is enjoying her fame and success. She was a special guest on Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway on the 22nd of March, with Christopher Biggins in 'Grab the Ads' playing Tarzan and Jane.
[edit] Music Career
Jane McDonald started her showbiz career performing in pubs and clubs around her local area, then gaining a contract with a label after being discovered.
As well as performing to packed theatres Jane also writes a number of her own songs. These include If I Knew Then, Not A Day Goes By, Time For Love, Some You Win Some You Lose, The Hand That Leads Me, Winner, I See It In Your Eyes, When I Look At You, Kiss Me One More Time, Behind Closed Doors, and Sweet Talker.
[edit] Albums
- Jane McDonald - #1 (UK) July 1998
- Inspiration - #6 (UK) June 2000 (Co-Produced by Djamel Badaoui Sony BMG)
- Love at the Movies - #24 (UK) October 2001 (Co-Produced by David Sandcastle Sony BMG)
- You Belong to Me - #21 (UK) February 2005
- Because You Loved Me - 18 track, Best Of Collection
- From Me To You - Limited edition 4 track CD of Jane's own songs - available from the official website
[edit] Singles
- Cruise Into Christmas Medley #10 (UK) (Includes the songs 'Winter Wonderland' & 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town')
[edit] DVDs
- Jane McDonald In Concert (1999)
- Jane McDonald Live in Las Vegas (2001)
- Being Jane (Special DVD only available at her concerts or via her management team)
