The star had a tragic reason for moving (Credit: YouTube)

Jane McDonald has revealed the deeply emotional reason she was forced to sell her £1 million family home after 20 years — announcing that the money will now be donated to charity, transforming personal grief into a lasting legacy of love.

The 62-year-old star, who appears on The Canary Islands With Jane McDonald today, described the decision as “difficult” but necessary, admitting she could no longer live surrounded by memories tied to heartbreak and loss.

A Home Filled With Too Much Pain

Jane opened up about her grief (Credit: Sue Andrews / Flynet / SplashNews)

Jane previously owned a £1m bungalow in Wakefield, a place that once symbolised stability and family — but later became overwhelmed by grief following two devastating losses.

In 2018, she lost her mother Jean just days before Christmas. Then, in 2021, tragedy struck again when her fiancé Eddie Rothe died after a battle with lung cancer.

Jane and Eddie had first dated in the 1980s before rekindling their romance in 2008, becoming engaged that same year. They remained together until his death, a loss that Jane says changed everything.

“I found it too difficult,” Jane told the Daily Mail.
“There was too much history there. We all need peace in our lives — and I have that now.”

Turning Loss Into Purpose

Rather than holding onto the property, Jane made the decision to sell — and revealed that the £1m from the sale will now be used for charitable causes, in line with the final wishes of her late partner.

Jane explained that the rest of her life will be spent travelling, helping communities in need, and giving back in meaningful ways.

As she quietly put it:
“My love for him won’t disappear — it will be shown in a special way that I think would truly make him smile.”

For Jane, the donation is not about money — but about honouring a promise.

A New Chapter, Not a Lonely One

Despite the heartbreak, Jane does not live alone. She shares her home with her close friend Sue Ravey, whom she met in her twenties while working as a singer.

The pair later appeared together on Celebrity Gogglebox, and Sue moved in to support Jane following Eddie’s death.

Jane also opened up about the emotional challenge of moving on physically as well as emotionally.

“You would be surprised how much stuff you have,” she admitted.
“Seven skips later! I was ashamed of myself. You’ve got to let it all go.”

Learning to Live With Grief

Jane previously reflected on losing her mother in her autobiography Riding the Waves: My Story, describing grief as something that reshapes life rather than ends it.

Now, she says she is creating new traditions — including spending Christmas with friends — and embracing change.

“Let’s be honest, grief hits everyone eventually,” she said.
“If we could turn back the clock to big family Christmases, we all would. But we can’t, so I’m moving forward.

“There is a positive side to grief — freedom. I can now choose to do what I want, when I want. It was hard to adjust, but now I’m embracing it.”

A Legacy of Love

For Jane McDonald, selling her home wasn’t an ending — it was a beginning. One where pain is transformed into compassion, memory into action, and love into something that continues far beyond loss.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/