Singer and presenter Jane McDonald on Christmas hits and her Scottish family memories of the big day

The secret of a good Christmas dinner is timing.

Make sure the turkey has been in the oven long enough. Try to remember to put the veggies on at the right moment. And, finally, switch on Radio 2 at 12pm.

Jane McDonald is making her Christmas Day debut on the station tomorrow and is well aware of the critical festive role she has.

The singer and TV presenter will be bringing a host of Christmas songs, festive memories and a strong Scottish flavour to the airwaves tomorrow, whether you’re endeavouring to make sure the spuds have just the right amount of goose fat or you simply have your feet up.

© BBC

“I’m aware there’ll be people ready to throw their radio out the window at that point tomorrow,” Jane, 60, said. “It can all be so tense, can’t it?

“I think you should always have the radio on when you’re cooking. Well I do, anyway.

“Did I just say I cook? Why did I lie? I’m not a very good cook at all…

“But I’m looking forward to the show. I know a lot of people maybe have days planned that they’re not looking forward to.

“Hopefully I can help them get through it a little bit. It’s just one day, we can all get through it!

“Don’t worry, I’ll get you in the festive spirit.”

Jane’s Scottish family

Jane may have grown up in Wakefield, in West Yorkshire, but her mum, Jean, and dad, Peter, were Scottish, and so were the McDonald family Christmases when she was growing up.

“We were a massive Scottish family, it was only me and my brother that were born down here. Everybody was Scottish,” she explained.

“I grew up with the Andy Stewart Show and Moira Anderson, they were always on.

“When I’m touring in Scotland I always sing Donald, Where’s Your Troosers? and people think it’s hilarious. I’m going to have to play it tomorrow, that’s it decided. It’s the law, and I’ll be singing along.”

The key to a Scottish Christmas, according to Jane, is the soup which, north of the border, can often be decided by committee.

“The thing about Scottish soup at Christmas is you just keep throwing ingredients in all week,” she said.

“My favourite is the ham hock, absolutely gorgeous with lentils and leeks.

“Things have changed now, of course, there are microwaves and I guess we’ll have more air fryers used for Christmas dinner this year than ever.

“But, just to be clear, I am shocking when it comes to cooking. Shocking.

“You want a cooking tip? Get someone else to do it, which I will continue to do.

“I just can’t do the timing of things, turning those vegetables and keeping an eye on other ones…it feels like you need a degree.

“When I do it I always end up leaving something in the microwave.

“I can’t stand the stress of it, so I just play the piano, sing a few carols and top up everybody’s drink!”

© Dave Hogan/Hogan Media/Shutterst

Jane will be spending Christmas with her sister, as well as friend and back-up singer Sue.

“Thankfully my sister’s a really good cook, and we’ve got some fabulous restaurants around here if we want to dine out,” she explained.

“Sue lives with me in the same house and she’s a fab cook.

“I’m aware I have landed on my feet with these two. Sue even has one of those containers you would get with school dinners that keeps your food warm. She’s so organised and used to making big meals. All I can say is, you go girl!”

Christmas plans

Once the radio show and the turkey are out of the way, Jane will aim to settle down in her favourite Christmas jumper in front of the telly.

“You’ve got to have sparkle on Christmas day so my advice would be to invest in a good jumper that doesn’t bring you out in a rash by 7pm,” she said. “Although you’re usually lathered by that point, aren’t you?

“The Two Ronnies are always hilarious, I like to put that on, maybe after It’s A Wonderful Life when I’ve had a good cry.”

Although she grew up in a Scottish family, Jane’s ambition to experience Hogmanay here has been unfulfilled, until this year.

“Next week I’m coming up to Scotland for Hogmanay for the first time,” she said. “We’re going to go to Aviemore and I’m taking all my mates. This has been on my bucket list for ages and I really can’t wait.

“Friends, whisky, what more could you want? Hogmanay is so massive for us Scots.

“People can get really down at the end of the year. You often hear people getting a bit maudlin.

“I tend to think that it’s the end of the year, so get rid of that one, and what’s next?”

© Shutterstock Feed

Speaking of what’s next, in 2024 Jane returns to the stage with a UK tour next year, including dates in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

“I’m aiming to bring love in 2024, at least my show is called With All My Love,” she said. “I recently realised that’s what we’re all after, whether it’s a dog, cat, husband, you know, mother, father, brother, sister.

“If you’ve got someone in life who loves you, I think you’re made.

“I’m going to be writing again, producing, I’ll probably have an album out.

“As for the show, there’ll probably be all sorts of stuff in there that’s really fun.”

Love of performance

It’s evident how much Jane, who found fame in the late 90s reality TV series The Cruise, relishes performance.

You might not have spotted it at the time but the younger version of Jane, the one who wowed holidaymakers and then Channel 5 viewers by performing on the luxury cruise ship Galaxy, was wracked with nerves.

“Those feelings are the respect you pay your audience,” she said. “I used to be so nervous I’d be throwing up when I first started all those years ago. I actually thought, ‘why the heck am I doing this?’

“But, all of a sudden, something clicked in my brain and those nerves turned into excitement.

“And now, as soon as I hear that intro, it’s like a bullet and I just think ‘COME ON!’

“It’s just the best vibes now; I can’t wait to see the band and get back touring.

“I’ll be back with a vengeance next year.”

As she toasts the New Year with a glass of whisky next week, Jane will dive into 2024 with a few resolutions prepared.

“I’m gonna try to be competent on the piano because I’m playing it on tour,” she said.

“And I’m going to really enjoy the music and try to chase whatever brings me joy.

“And I’m going to be around people that I really love.

“You’ve got to have a good time, because none of this is a dress rehearsal.”

A slice of internet fame

After enjoying a little bit of cake, Jane became an unwitting viral sensation last year. In a manner of speaking.

While visiting Barbados she performed Cake By The Ocean by pop-rock band DNCE for a television show and quickly became an internet sensation, due to the song’s apparent secret meaning.

True to her sense of humour, she’s incorporating it into her forthcoming show.

“I didn’t quite realise what I was singing about, I’ll be honest,” she laughed. “I thought it was about eating some cake by the ocean, it turns out it has another meaning!

“Two of my favourite things are cake, and the ocean. I like eating cake and I like doing it by the ocean!

“So I might just have a cheeky Cake By The Ocean in there, as well as a few other surprises.”

As well as a knowing wink, Jane is bringing her trademark repartee to the stage.

“I think the show is more about me, the artist, now the writer, the cheeky person and, obviously, I still can’t stop talking,” she added.

“There’ll be big showstoppers, because that’s what I do, and the disco medley, because it’s the law.

“And it’ll be emotional. You’ll feel like you’ve had therapy when you leave. Well, I will, anyway!”

---

Jane McDonald With All My Love is touring the UK next autumn. Tickets and info cuffeandtaylor.com

Christmas with Jane McDonald, Christmas Day, 12-2pm, on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds