SQUARE EYES ON THE GOGGLE BOX
She is TV Royalty and a National Treasure now, at least according to one recent red-top article, but what is the secret of her success? I am writing of course about Jane McDonald, who I have known a very long time and who has recently taken an entirely new direction in telly-terms.
Back in 1988 I managed to secure a gig at The Huntsman pub in Normanton Yorkshire for a local singer called Jane Mc Donald. My late father came along to see her in action at this pub gig and he predicted “That girl would look great on telly”.
Skipping on to 1998 and Jane arrived back in the UK after appearing on a cruise ship and filming her part in a TV docu-soap show called The Cruise, which would make her a star. I was producing a major charity show at a venue called Samsons Club near Wakefield when Jane arrived and asked if I could squeeze her into the line-up, so that she could announce her forthcoming telly show starring role to her home audience. Jane appeared on the night and the rest as they say is history!
Moving on more than a quarter of a century and Channel 5 made Jane McDonald My Yorkshire was such a delight, especially for someone like me who also hails from Jane’s hometown of Wakefield. I never actually met Jane until 1986, when I introduced her to her first agent, a man called Les Parker.
The episode within the series where Jane explores Wakefield proves that, although she is five years younger than myself, she and I worked and played in the same streets and even worked the same clubs, frequently together.
I am ashamed to say that I have never entered the 12th century Chantry Chapel, but I plan to, especially having seeing Jane’s telly show as she entered this stunning landmark, situated on the bridge where visitors to the City of Wakefield have crossed for almost a thousand years.
The City of Wakefield is famous for many things. Its curious industrial amalgam of mills and coal mines, its Rugby League heritage, The Hepworth Centre which attracts visitors from all over the globe and now of course Jane McDonald.
Pic: Jane McDonald
Mark Ritchie
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