Jane McDonald: “I Want To Laugh And Have Fun”
By Claire Saul
TV favourite Jane McDonald talks about the positives in life and how her loving family made her the person she’s become…
Jane McDonald, the popular singer and TV presenter clearly relishes the exhilaration of being onstage as she announces a new tour later in the year, but she also knows how to enjoy herself away from the limelight.
“I have achieved so many things in my life already that I never thought I would, and I’ve got a really great circle of friends, so it’s time now to have a bit of fun,” Jane explained on Kaye Adams’ How to be 60 podcast.
Hopefully Jane will have more opportunities to relax with her loved ones as she turns 61 on April 4, 2024.
As Jane revealed in the past, “There might be new challenges, and this is my mantra: make space for great things to happen. That is what I live by. Don’t be afraid of change. I’ve changed my career so many times, I’m like a Yorkshire Madonna! You know, keep reinventing yourself. Just sit back and think to yourself, ‘What do I want? What do I want to do?’
“I want a bit of time, I want to go on holiday, I want to laugh and have fun. That’s what we are meant to do, we are meant to have fun. We are meant to be happy and you know, I think tragedy and absolute awfulness in life makes you really appreciate what we have.
My life has changed a lot, but by God, I’m going to enjoy every minute of it now, because that’s what we are supposed to do. I had some good years, I really did, and I intend to keep going and I’m going to have some even better ones. You watch me!
In her autobiography Riding the Waves: My Story, Jane describes herself as a painfully shy child, “fearful of the world beyond our front door”.
But her grandmother made a psychic prediction of Jane’s future, saying, “There are wheels: there are cars, trains and planes. You’re going everywhere, you’re going all over the world.”
This prediction well and truly came true. Her granddaughter became famous when she appeared on the BBC1 hit docusoap The Cruise, as she criss-crossed the oceans, and has since travelled widely with her touring and television work.
Jane’s beloved late mother Jean also had a clear vision for her daughter’s future and became the person who most influenced her life.
“And still does, to this day! Because everything she taught me, I still live by. I was very blessed to have her as my mum and my confidante and my person who guided – not pushed. She had a vision for me that I never saw, she knew me better than anyone. She was kind, she was fabulous, and I miss her.”
Jane’s looking forward to a brilliant 2024!
TV: The Canary Islands With Jane McDonald
Join Jane on some island-hopping adventures as she travels to the Spanish isles of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. For anyone who is a fan of these hugely popular destinations, Jane will be uncovering the wonderful local food, discovering the glorious beaches of the regions as well as learning more from the many locals she encounters.
Watch all the episodes now on My5.
With All My Love 2024 Tour
Later in the year, Jane is returning to her first love, music, with a brand new tour staring in Blackpool on October 11, 2024.
She’ll be performing at more than 20 theatres and arenas across the UK, from Scotland, right down to Portsmouth.
Jane says, “With All My Love will be filled with love, glamour, and plenty of laughter and I can’t wait. The thrill of a live audience is what I love most about being a performer and it always takes me right back to the early days of my career, so I cannot wait to get back on the road once more to see you and sing for you all again.”
You’ll find all the dates and information on Jane’s website.
Allison Hay
I joined the "My Weekly" team thirteen years ago and, more recently, "The People's Friend". I love the variety of topics we cover both online and in the magazines. I manage the digital content for the brands, sharing features and information on the website, social media and in our digital newsletters.
