Singer-songwriter Jane McDonald has announced her ‘beloved life partner’ Ed Rothe has died following a battle with lung cancer.
The 58-year-old shared the tragic news with her Twitter followers, posting: “It is with immense sadness that we share the news that Jane’s beloved life partner, Ed, passed away on Friday 26th March.
“He had been battling lung cancer for the last few months. We would like to thank everyone for all their help and support during this very difficult time, especially the NHS staff and the wonderful team at The Wakefield Hospice.
“The funeral took place earlier today and we would please ask for your kindness in observing Jane’s privacy for her and Ed’s family at this sad time.”
He was 68.
Jane shared a heart-wrenching snap of the loved-up couple grinning at the camera.
Ed was the drummer of Merseybeat band The Searchers from 1998 until 2010, and played with Liquid Gold before that in the late 70s.
The group’s biggest hit came in 1980 with Dance Yourself Dizzy.
He and Jane dated briefly in the early 1980s, but properly became an official couple 26 years later when a twist of fate brought them back into each other’s lives.
A chance meeting at ITV Studios in 2008, while Jane was filming for Loose Women and Ed was appearing on This Morning.
They got engaged later that same year, though they did not marry.
The Cruising with Jane McDonald star has since been inundated with support from followers, with one writing: “Oh Jane sweetheart I am so sorry to hear this terrible news, you both were a true love story.
(Image: Channel 5 / Elephant House)
“Night night and God bless you Ed. Jane, sending you my sincere condolences and lots of love I am truly sorry for your loss.”
Another penned: “Sending you my deepest condolences you always mentioned him in your cruise shows which showed the love you shared for each other. My heart goes out to you at this sad time, may he rest in peace x”.
A third Twitter user added: “So sorry to hear this after only losing your mum so recently. I really feel for you. Sending you love and prayers.”
Someone else wrote: “Oh Jane I’m so sorry. The warmth with which you spoke of Ed in your book was so heartwarming. Thinking of you xxx”.
(Image: ITV)
Jane always spoke highly of Ed, admitting in an interview with Good to Know in November 2019 that “he is very funny and he makes me laugh every day.
“He also brings me a cup of tea every morning, no matter what.”
At the time of their chance meeting in 2008, Jane admitted she was frightened Ed wouldn’t remember her – or that he’d already be married.
She told Chris Evans on his radio show last year: “He said, ‘Look I’ve just been through a divorce, here’s my card if you want to talk to me’.
(Image: Elephant House Studios)
“I couldn’t wait,” she admitted. “I ran home from Loose Women, I couldn’t wait to talk to him because a lot had happened.
“I thought what if he doesn’t know who I am, I really did. I thought he’d be like ‘Who are you?'”
Jane sadly also lost her mum in late 2018, telling her Twitter followers at the time: “A light in my heart has gone out for a short while.”
According to The Sun, her mum Jean ran a boarding house, while her dad Pete was a miner who doubled as a chimney sweep.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
