Jane McDonald parties in Cuba

Jane McDonald: Lost in Japan premieres on Channel 5 tonight (Friday, August 25) and will see the well-loved presenter explore the bustling city of Tokyo as well as the bright lights of Osaka.

The British Soap Awards host will be experiencing the country’s temples, robot cafes, karaoke bars and Ninja schools as part of the programme.

The 60-year-old has been making travel programmes for many years, but how did Jane become a household name and what are the standout moments in her life?

Jane was born and raised in Yorkshire and began her singing career on the pub and club circuit. She was accompanied by her father Peter and toured across Northern England.

After he died in 1993 Jane secured a job as a cruise ship singer and became the headline act on the Century’s sister ship, the Galaxy.

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Her life changed forever when a producer called Chris Terrill asked the then 35-year-old if she’d be part of his BBC series The Cruise.

The first episode of the show aired in 1998 and followed staff on board the Galaxy as it travelled to the Caribbean.

Jane was the show’s breakout star and became a celebrity after it averaged an audience of 13 million for its 12-episode run.

That year, Jane signed for Focus Music International and released a self-titled record.

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It was quite the year for Jane who got married to her first husband Henrik Brixen after meeting on the Galaxy.

She married the Danish plumbing engineer as part of a spin-off episode named The Cruise Special: Jane Ties the Knot. The episode was viewed by millions.

However, the couple parted ways four years later, with Jane revealing Hendrick wanted to end their marriage.

But she found love again with her teenage sweetheart Eddie Rothe who was the former drummer of The Searchers.

They lived together in Wakefield and Eddie proposed to Jane on Christmas Eve in 2008 at the time she was a Loose Women panellist.

Eddie tragically died in 2021 when he was 67 after a battle with lung cancer, which broke Jane’s heart.

Jane told Best magazine following his death: “At my age, I know how important friendships and family are and you want to do as much as you possibly can. Trust me, I’m on a mission to live my life to the full and that’s my advice to everyone, don’t wait. Don’t wait for any experiences, just do it.”

The BAFTA-winner has continued to make travel programmes for Channel 5 in the wake of Eddie’s death and often reflects on their precious time together.

Jane McDonald: Lost in Japan airs on Channel 5 tonight at 9pm.

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