Jane McDonald was overcome with emotion as she paid a touching tribute to her mother and late husband on Thursday.
The TV personality apologized for losing her composure while appearing on The One Show to talk to Jane McDonald about her new travel show Holidaying.
Watching a clip from the series in the studio, Jane became emotional as she reflected on the loss of her husband Eddie Rothe to cancer last year and their mother Jean in 2018.
Emotional: Jane McDonald was overcome with emotion as she paid a touching tribute to her mother and late husband on Thursday’s episode of The One Show
One Show hosts Alex Jones and Roman Kemp shared a clip from Jane’s new series showing her releasing baby turtles, which she named Ed and Jean in honor of her late husband and mother, into the sea during her trip in Mexico.
In the clip, she said, “You have no idea how special this feels. And we will release them, I’m quite emotional.’
Speaking of the special moment in the studio, she said: “I recently lost my partner and my mother at the same time. I just thought this is new life. Go out.’
Heartbreaking: Jane’s husband Eddie – who was the drummer for Sixties band The Searchers – was 67 when he died of lung cancer last April (pictured 2016)
Fighting back tears, the singer said: “Sorry my throat went there, it always does when I talk about it.
“You just have to think at the end of something, something beautiful is coming in a new life, and that’s all we have to remember.
“It was quite an emotional part for me. And they all went down to the ocean, so I was so pleased to see them go.’
Grief: The TV personality apologized for losing her composure while appearing on The One Show to talk to Jane McDonald about her new travel show Holidaying.
Eddie – the drummer for ’60s band The Searchers – was 67 when he died of lung cancer last April, and Jane commented that his death “took our future”.
“When you lose a lot of love — I lost my mom and Ed — and you just think, ‘I’m never going to fill that hole again,’ but you do.
“I was a mess but they just got me through it. They really did. You can find love in many different ways — it can be a pet, it can be your fans, it can be your family or your friends,” she admitted.
Emotional: The singer fought back tears as she got very emotional, saying: “Sorry my throat went there, always does when I talk about it.”
The former cruise singer recently revealed some of the drastic changes she made while living alone in the home she shared with her late husband.
The TV presenter invited longtime friend Sue, 71, to move in with her as both women live alone.
“I just took a few years off touring because it’s hard work. Sometimes you have to step back and make room for great things to happen.
“That’s my motto in life. Sometimes you have to make a difference, and my life for the last seven years has been touring, recording, television, recording,” she explained.
Another loss: Jane’s mother Jean died in 2018 (pictured with her mother in 2013)
But nearly a year after the tragic death, the former Loose Women panelist showed resilience as she is “doing so much better” after significant ups and downs.
“I’m so much better and you realize how important your family and friends are. I now have more good days than bad days and I’m enjoying those now,” she said.
“I’ve been very lucky – I’ve always had a very busy life without a partner so I’ve just been able to keep going and my fans have been just amazing.
“When you lose a lot of love — I lost my mom and Ed — and you just think, ‘I’m never going to fill that hole again,’ but you do. It’s coming from other places and that’s why you have to let the light in and I’m doing that.”
Jane also revealed that her niece paid Ed a touching tribute – by naming her son after him – and she is obsessed with the new arrival.
Eddie proposed to Jane on Christmas Eve 2008 after becoming an item earlier in the year.
The pair dated briefly years ago and split in 2002 before rekindling the romance six years later – but never had the chance to tie the knot before his tragic death.
‘I’m so much better’: A year after the tragic death, the former Loose Women panelist showed resilience as she is ‘so much better’ after significant ups and downs