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Jane McDonald
Jane McDonald
Jane McDonald first appeared on our screens ten years ago as the resident cabaret act in the BBC docu-soap The Cruise. Since then she has gone on to r
"Itââ¬â¢s all about big dresses and big songs. Iââ¬â¢ve always given audiences what they want."
So The Cruise has come back into your life?!
Yes, BBC2 just showed Return to The Cruise. I wasn’t keen at first then I thought, ‘Hold on a minute, lady, that’s what got you where you are today.’ It was very cathartic going through it. They revisited the series and you’re looking going, ‘What have you done to the hair?’ I’m a bit more polished now. I’ve grown into myself!
Do you still perform on cruise ships?
Yeah, but I do Silverseas now, which is small, intimate ships pure luxury. I love the cruise ships but not for a relaxing holiday for me. I still perform sometimes, because it’s like fish ‘n’ chips now, Jane McDonald ‘n’ cruise ships!
You’ve done so much since The Cruise, do you think people forget you’re a singer first and foremost?
Yes, it’s good that the programme came back on because although I endlessly tour and this is my seventh album coming out, people think of me as a TV presenter. It’ll be really good to say this is what she does really. I’ve had gold, silver and platinum albums. And it’s coming back up again. It’s amazing really.
Do you think there’s still a market for your kind of cabaret act in 21st century?
Definitely. Variety’s coming back and because I’ve never changed who I was: diva, big orchestra, dresses, glitz, mirror balls, the lot. I think camp is what I’m trying to say. And that’s now deemed to be trendy so now my concerts are bigger than they were. And everyone comes. I get a lot of teenagers come, a lot of women my age because they’ve been through everything I have and it’s a giggle and disco and then I’ve got my boys. It’s all about big dresses and big songs. I’ve always given audiences what they want. I’ve never tried to be clever about it or be hip.
You had a very public marriage on The Cruise and subsequently a very public divorce, how did that affect you?
It was a big shock. You see things happening and you think, “This isn’t right but maybe it’s normal when you’re in a relationship.” Things like not getting on great and arguing all the time and you think, “Well, maybe this is normal.” I think you can ride through it and then one day he just said, “I can’t do this anymore. I’m going.” Right out of the blue. And I just thought, “But what about me?”
How did you pick yourself up again after your divorce?
Well divorce was the best diet for me! I learnt that it’s not actually that bad being on your own as well. I had a great time. A brilliant time being on my own.
But you did have a relationship with someone much younger didn’t you?
He was 27 and I was 39, so that’s 12 years younger. He was my saxophone player on a cruise ship and I thought, Sod it love, why not?! He brought a lot of sunshine back into my life and brought my confidence back and it lasted three years, or four. Same as my marriage. It must be the contract they have to sign: Sign here for four years and maybe we’ll renew at the end!
What did you think when you were first offered a regular spot on Loose Women?
Well, when the first asked me I was just a guest, so I’d done it two or three times, then when they asked me I didn’t think I was the right person because you have to talk politics and all sorts and be quite brainy. I thought, ‘I’m going to have to read now’ but then I found my niche on it. Carol’s very bright, Linda’s very grand and I’m just the ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about’ and that works for me because I’m bright but I’m not brilliant.
The discussions on Loose Women often get rather intimate, do you ever think, I wish I hadn’t said that on live TV?!
Oh, every day love. It’s like a Carry On film ‘cause it’s all innuendo. And the fact that it’s naughty and saucy, you can take it which way you want.
Do you go out with the Loose Women?
Well Carol’s a lightweight, so I don’t mind going out with her. I didn’t really start drinking till I was 43 anyway. Then I tasted good wine and good cognac and champagne and I was like, “This is it!” For the last few years I’ve been going way over my units, it didn’t even touch the sides! But luckily my new man doesn’t drink and I’ve become aware of how I was getting to really like it, so that’s a good thing.
How are the 40s treating you?
I love it. It’s the best time of my life. The 40s for me is great, it’s all about confidence. I look better than I ever have done. I enjoy my life more now, which is something I never did before. I embrace my life more than I have done. And I love it, I have such a great time. And I like who I am. And that only comes with age and experience.
‘Jane’ the album is out now and Doncaster Pride, which has Jane McDonald’s official patronage, takes place on 17th August.
