Born and raised in Wakefield, McDonald spent much of her early career performing in local clubs and pubs before landing work as a singer on cruise ships.
Her TV travel show Cruising with Jane McDonald, which debuted in 2017 on Channel 5, has spawned eight series and earned her a British Academy Television Award.
[3] After appearing on Chris Terrill's docusoap The Cruise, she was taken on by independent record label Focus Music International[4] to make a covers album[5] and a Christmas single.
[6] After her number one success on an independent label, McDonald signed a recording contract with UMTV (Universal's catalogue and compilations division),[7][8] and appeared as a guest presenter on BBC's National Lottery.
Beginning in 2004, McDonald was a regular presenter on the ITV daytime television programme Loose Women, appearing on the show three times a week.
It was confirmed on 16 July 2010 that McDonald would depart Loose Women in the summer, for at least a year to concentrate on her music career and to tour Australia and New Zealand.