Jane McDonald Opens Up About Life After Heartbreak and the Cheeky Flirt That Caught Her Off Guard

Jane McDonald has always worn her heart on her sleeve, and since losing her beloved partner Ed Rothe in 2021, fans have been rooting for her as she navigates life without him. The telly star, now 62, was with Ed for more than a decade. Their love story began as teens in the 80s and came full circle when they reconnected by chance in 2008. They got engaged that Christmas Day, but heartbreak hit in 2021 when Ed sadly passed away at 67 after a short fight with lung cancer.

Since then, Jane’s remained single, sharing her home with her best mate Sue Ravey, who viewers will recognise from their hilarious appearances together on Celebrity Gogglebox. While she’s not rushing to jump back into the dating pool, Jane’s been refreshingly honest about where her head’s at when it comes to finding love again.

In 2023, she was asked whether she was open to a new romance, two years on from Ed’s passing. Her answer was as honest as ever: “I’m not bothered. I’m really not. I don’t feel like I need someone in my life to make it fulfilled,” she told MailOnline.

Jane made it clear she’s found strength in her friendships, saying, “We have a coping mechanism. I have a great group of girlfriends now, who are all in the same situation, we have a great time, we go out, we have dinner, drinks, parties round each others’ houses.” She added, “We’re all in the same boat and it’s lovely to know that there’s someone there that you can call at three o’clock in the morning and say, ‘I’m having a bad day.’ I don’t feel like I need anyone.”

That said, she hasn’t completely closed the door on romance. In an interview from October last year, Jane gave a little glimmer of hope to those rooting for her to find love again. “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 admitted.

She reflected on the deep bond she shared with Ed, saying, “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.” Speaking to Heat Magazine, Jane added, “I’m not shutting the door, but I have a great life without thinking I need a man in it. Singledom can be quite liberating.”

But that doesn’t mean she can’t have a little cheeky fun now and then. Earlier this year, Jane popped up on Lorraine to talk about hosting the 2025 British Soap Awards and let slip that she had a bit of a flirt with a familiar face. When host Ranvir Singh asked who she gets starstruck by, Jane grinned and said, “I was a bit starstruck and flirted outrageously.”

She admitted it was with Coronation Street star Kit Green and even teased him about bringing handcuffs. “He’s just beautiful,” she said, laughing. “And it’s funny because he’s quite a villain in Corrie.” Kit Green, played by Jacob Roberts, only joined the soap last year, but he’s already clearly caught Jane’s eye.