Jane Anne McDonald (born 4 April 1963) is an English singer, actress, media personality and broadcaster, who rose to fame in 1998 after her appearance on the BBC show The Cruise. Known for her strong Yorkshire accent, she has since co-presented a number of daytime shows, including Loose Women between 2004 and 2014 and ITV programme Star Treatment in 2013.
McDonald was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire in April 1963. She toured many clubs in northern England, with her father acting as her roadie. She provided all of her own equipment, which she had to replace after it was destroyed in a large bar-fight. McDonald's first position on a cruise ship was on the Black Prince, and following that, the Horizon.
After her father's death, she returned to sea and began working on the Zenith. Later she was to work on the Century, where she met Henrik Brixen, who was the ship's plumber. Her time on the Century was not a happy one, due to pay delays, technical difficulties, and stressful working conditions. After this she took some time off with Brixen but was eventually tempted back to sea as a headliner on the Century's sister-ship, the Galaxy.