In a heartfelt discussion about love after loss, Jane McDonald reflected on her journey following the death of her fiancé, Ed Rothe. The beloved 61-year-old presenter experienced profound grief when Ed, a talented musician and her partner in life, passed away in 2021 after a short battle with lung cancer.
Currently facing her single life, Jane resides with her best friend, Sue Ravey, who appears alongside her on Celebrity Gogglebox. When considering her future, Jane expressed that while she remains open to romance, no one could ever replace Ed. “I’m not saying I’d never date again, but it’s way down on my list of things that I want to do,” she shared in an interview with Heat Magazine.
Jane expresses gratitude for her beautiful relationship with Ed, accepting that another date isn’t essential for happiness
Having previously discussed her struggles with PTSD, Jane remarked, “I was very lucky; I had the most amazing relationship with Ed, and not many people get that in life. So, if I never have another date in my life, that’s fine. If I do, that’s also fine,” as reported by the Daily Record.
Emphasizing her independence, Jane stated, “I’m not shutting the door, but I have a great life without thinking I need a man in it,” concluding that being single can be a liberating experience. During the same interview, she clarified that starting a new romantic chapter would not require Sue to move out.
Praising her best friend, Jane shared how Sue “came in like a superwoman” after Ed’s death, expressing uncertainty about how she would cope without her support. At Jane’s home, they enjoy their independence by maintaining “their own sections,” which fosters a harmonious living arrangement, primarily coming together in the kitchen to film segments for Gogglebox.
Ed, a former member of The Searchers, had battled cancer for “a few months” before his death. Jane and Ed’s love story began in their teenage years, marked by youthful romance, but they eventually went their separate ways.
Their paths crossed again in 2008 at ITV studios, with Ed appearing on This Morning while Jane was a panellist on Loose Women, leading to their reconciliation. Before Ed’s passing, they had been engaged for an extensive 12 years, just three years after Jane faced the loss of her mother.
Jane described the time of loss as “the lowest point in my life,” revealing in an exclusive interview with OK!, “The two guiding lights in my life were Ed and my mother, and I suppose losing both of them so quickly was the hardest thing I’ve ever been through. But I’ve joined a club of so many people who have faced similar situations. I tell anyone now, ‘Don’t wallow for too long.'”
Speaking about grief, she acknowledged, “[It] takes a while and will creep up on you when you least expect it, but if you can chase joy as much as possible, it’s allowed. You don’t have to feel guilt if you’re laughing. We often think, ‘I can’t possibly feel happy because I’ve lost them,’ but we must live the life they wanted for us. Otherwise, what was the point?”
