Jane McDonald reveals her backup job if showbiz career failed
Jane McDonald become a household name after she sang on a ship in the BBC docuseries The Cruise in 1998.
Jane McDonald would have become a supervisor at Marks+Spencer if her showbiz career failed.
The 62-year-old star has entertained millions of people with 10 bestselling albums and a successful TV career after Jane shot to fame singing on a ship in the BBC docuseries The Cruise in 1998.
Jane told the new issue of Woman magazine: "I've always had two jobs - singing and TV. If one doesn't work, the other one will.
"If both had failed, I was going to be a supervisor at Marks+Spencer. Mainly for the staff discount. I love M+S!"
Since The Cruise, Jane has done sell-out tours, spent a decade as a panellist on ITV's Loose Women and bagged herself a BAFTA for the Channel 5 travelogue series, Cruising with Jane McDonald.
And the singer credits her late mum Jean - who died in 2018 - for her illustrious career.
Jane explained in the new issue of Woman's Weekly magazine: "She's sorted it out from somewhere else, wherever she is, without a doubt. And I'm living the dream for her as well. Because that was her main thing - just go and do it.
"She knew there was something different about me, and she encouraged that; she was very supportive."
And the TV star gets “great comfort” in speaking every day to Jean - who died three years before Jane's longtime partner, musician Eddie Rothe, died of lung cancer aged 67 in March 2021.
Jane - who was engaged to The Searchers drummer 12 years before his death - continued: "I have a big portrait of her in my house, and every morning I walk past her and say, 'Morning, mum, isn't it a lovely day today?'
"I talk to her all the time, and I feel like she talks to me. It gives me great comfort."
And with all of Jane's success, the star feels like she is living the dream - also the title of her 11th studio album.
Jane said: "How many people get to travel like I do - all over the world - on yachts and fantastic ships - and singing in front of an audience on tour?
"I'm the first one to hold my hand up and say, 'I've got the best job in the world!'"
