Beloved singer and television presenter Jane McDonald has made the heart-wrenching decision to sell her cherished family home in Wakefield, a property she had lived in for two decades. The 62-year-old star parted with Cleevethorpe House, a five-bedroom detached bungalow valued at around £1 million, following a period of profound personal loss.
A Home Filled with Painful Memories
Jane McDonald's difficult choice stems from a series of devastating personal tragedies. Her mother, Jean, passed away just days before Christmas in 2018, a loss Jane described as feeling like a light going out in her heart. Tragedy struck again in March 2021 when her fiancé, Eddie Rothe, lost his battle with lung cancer at the age of 67.
The couple had a long history, first dating in the 1980s when Jane was 17. They rekindled their romance in 2008, and Eddie proposed later that same year. The Wakefield bungalow, which Jane had lovingly renovated over the years, became a painful reminder of these losses. "I found it difficult. There was too much history there," Jane confessed in an emotional interview with the Daily Mail.
Clearing Out and Moving Forward
The process of leaving the home was an enormous undertaking. Jane revealed it took seven full skips to clear out two decades of accumulated possessions, many tied to deeply distressing memories. She was aided by her close friend and former singing partner, Sue Ravey, who moved in with Jane after Eddie's passing.
"She's still my bezzie mate," Jane said of Sue, with whom she also appears on Channel 4's Celebrity Gogglebox. Sue provided crucial support, encouraging Jane to let go of items by suggesting she take a photograph for memory before discarding them. "You've got to let it all go," Jane stated, acknowledging the necessity of the purge.
Building New Traditions by the Sea
Jane has since purchased a smaller house in the same Wakefield area and a seaside retreat where she now spends much of her time. This year, she broke with tradition by spending Christmas with friends instead of hosting a large family gathering at her old home, which once boasted the biggest table.
"Times change and you have to change with it," she reflected. "I'm now making new traditions... grief hits everyone eventually... I'm moving forward." She has found a positive side to her grief, describing it as a newfound freedom. "I can now choose to do what I want, when I want. It was hard for me to adjust to that, but now I'm embracing it."
The star also shared a poignant moment from her travel series, Jane McDonald: Lost in Japan, where she became emotional after receiving a traditional paper fortune (O-mikuji) that spoke of family and comfort. Relieved to find it was a good luck fortune, the moment underscored her ongoing emotional journey.
Jane McDonald's story is one of immense personal heartbreak, but also of resilience. By selling the £1 million Wakefield bungalow that held so many painful memories, she is taking brave steps towards peace and a new chapter in her life.
