Jane McDonald has been confirmed as the host of this year’s British Soap Awards after Phillip Schofield stepped down from ITV.
The singer-songwriter and television presenter will present the ceremony which takes place on Saturday, June 3. McDonald shared a statement on Instagram, saying: “Everyone knows how much I LOVE my soaps, this year I’ve been honoured to be mentioned in Corrie, EastEnders and Emmerdale so this is just a dream come true.
“I can’t wait to see all our wonderful soap nominees and celebrate all their hard work with them - roll on the awards, I can’t wait.”
This isn’t Ms McDonald’s first foray into the spotlight. She has had chart-topping albums, starred as Grizabella in the musical Cats and won a BAFTA.
Schofield had previously said that he would host the awards, having presented them every year from 2006 to 2022. He then stepped down from hosting when he left ITV, after it was revealed he was having an affair with a younger colleague.
He said: “I have therefore decided to step down from the British Soap Awards, my last public commitment, and am resigning from ITV with immediate effect expressing my immense gratitude to them for all the amazing opportunities that they have given me.
“I will reflect on my very bad judgement in both participating in the relationship and then lying about it.”
Who is Jane McDonald?
Jane McDonald was born in 1963, in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. In 1998, she married Henrik Brixen, a ship’s plumbing engineer, and later her manager. They split in 2003.
McDonald’s career started after appearing on docusoap, The Cruise in 1998. The show followed staff on a luxury cruise ship and featured McDonald on four different cruise experiences.
Following her TV start, McDonald was picked up by independent label Focus Music International in the same year. She released her self-titled debut album Jane McDonald which hit number one on the UK Albums Chart. She also released a Christmas single, “Cruise into Christmas” which reached the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart.
The entertainer later went on to appear as a guest presenter on the BBC National Lottery and in 2004, become a regular Loose Women presenter.
McDonald became engaged to musician Eddie Rothe in 2008. He was an old acquaintance from her teenage years and a member of merseybeat band The Searchers.
In April 2021, McDonald announced that Rothe had passed away after a battle with lung cancer. She shared her experience on Loose Women, thanking her family and friends for their support.
“I’m doing so much better, and you realise just how important your family are, and your friends are. And I have more good days now than bad days and I relish those now.
“I was very lucky as well; I’ve always had a very busy life without the partner, so I’ve been able to just carry on.”
Today, McDonald often tours the UK doing solo shows.
In 2018, she won a BAFTA Award for Best Feature, for Cruising with Jane McDonald. It was the first ever win for a Channel 5 show.
