Jane McDonald's fiancé Eddie Rothe died of lung cancer in March 2021 at age 67, according to multiple reports. She became his full-time carer during the final stages of his life, major media sources indicate. McDonald has since relocated from her bungalow in Wakefield, according to major media.
McDonald and Rothe first dated as teenagers in Wakefield, Yorkshire, before reigniting their romance almost three decades later, major media reports. They announced their engagement in 2008, according to major media. Rothe's funeral took place under pandemic restrictions, major media reports.
If I could bring back Ed, I would give everything up and have him back.
After relocating, McDonald bought a seaside property, according to major media. She lived with close friend Sue Ravey after moving, major media reports. McDonald had to sort through two decades' worth of belongings when relocating, major media indicates.
Professionally, McDonald's new album 'Living The Dream' is her 11th studio album, multiple reports confirm. She will promote the album with a 2026 UK tour later this year, according to major media. McDonald appeared on Monday's episode of The One Show, major media reports.
My life has just gone: boom! That is a gift from him. So why wouldn't I celebrate him? And not be sad. I don't want to be sad about Ed. He was a wonderful, beautiful soul.
McDonald recently performed her song 'Beautiful Soul' on Woman's Hour as a tribute to Dame Jenni Murray, who died recently at age 75, according to major media. McDonald's mother Jean passed away three years before Rothe's death, major media reports. The singer's relocation and album release mark significant steps in her personal and professional life following these losses.
I feel like he's with me all the time. And now, with the songs, he will be.
Suddenly, Ed cleared his throat and put his hand in his pocket. 'Jane, you are definitely the one for me, and I should have done this 26 years ago,' he said. 'Will you marry me?'
I found it difficult. There was too much history there.
We all need peace in our lives and I've got that now.
It's the first time I've written about Ed. 'How can I move on?' is all about hearing his voice on a voicemail and wearing his sweater, just to feel a bit closer to him, then asking, 'How can I move on?'
Another song, 'Beautiful Soul' - God knows how I'm going to sing that! I'm going to have to think, 'I'm the channel for other people,' and this is for them, to remember their loved ones. My shows are very emotional, but they're full of laughter and disco as well. You get a bit of everything. It's like therapy - and that's just for me!
People my age have all joined the club where we've lost loved ones. Grief is always going to be there, right at your side, and it doesn't get any better or easier. What you have to do is fill your life with a load of joy, to sit alongside it. I feel like my mum and Ed are still with me because I talk about them all the time. I'm still full of love from them, and that's a lovely place to be.
It wasn’t slow, because we didn’t know. He had no symptoms. As daft as it sounds, I’m thankful it was during Covid because I was there with him. Nobody else was. But that was the hardest thing. I had no nurses or doctors come in. I had to learn how to do it all myself.
I had him at home as long as I could. Then I took him to the Wakefield Hospice, which is a beautiful place. I’ll be forever grateful to them.
Oh my goodness me. I've never been that emotional because we've been talking about the lovely Jenni, who lived just down the road from me in Barnsley. And it was... so many messages were coming in and I started to sing. Then I realised that it was Ed's anniversary coming up as well, which is who the song's about, and then I realised that actually I'm just a vessel for everybody else's beautiful souls. It made me feel so emotional thinking how many people are going to listen to this song and think about the people that they love. And it's, oh...
It was very, very emotional, and so it was poignant for all of us in the studio this morning.