Beloved singer and television presenter Jane McDonald has made the heart-wrenching decision to sell her cherished family home in Wakefield, a property she lived in for two decades, following a period of profound personal loss.
A Home Filled With Painful Memories
The 62-year-old star has parted with Cleevethorpe House, a five-bedroom detached bungalow valued at around £1 million. She had lovingly renovated the property over many years, but it ultimately became a painful reminder of her grief. Jane's mother, Jean, passed away just before Christmas in 2018. Then, in March 2021, her fiancé, Eddie Rothe, lost his battle with lung cancer at the age of 67.
"I found it difficult. There was too much history there," Jane confessed in an emotional interview. She described her mother's death as a light in her heart being extinguished. Her romance with Eddie, which first began in the 1980s, was rekindled in 2008, and he proposed later that same year.
Moving Forward With New Traditions
The process of leaving the home was a monumental task, involving sorting through twenty years of possessions. Jane revealed it took seven skips to clear everything out, a process she found challenging due to the distressing memories attached to many items. She credits her close friend and housemate, Sue Ravey, for her support, saying Sue would encourage her to take photos of sentimental objects and then let them go.
Jane has since purchased a smaller house in the same area and a seaside retreat, where she now finds peace. "We all need peace in our lives and I've got that now," she shared. This year, she broke with tradition by spending Christmas with friends instead of hosting a large family dinner at the old home, stating she is now "making new traditions."
Finding Freedom and a Positive Future
Despite the immense grief, Jane is looking ahead. "There is a positive side to grief, which is freedom. I can now choose to do what I want, when I want," she explained. She and Sue, whom she met as a fellow singer in their twenties and appeared with on Celebrity Gogglebox, remain inseparable and plan to spend time on the coast together.
The star's emotional journey was also highlighted during the filming of her travel show, Jane McDonald: Lost in Japan. She was moved to tears after receiving a positive traditional fortune, or O-mikuji, which spoke of comfort with family and future success, providing a poignant moment of hope during a difficult period.
