Entertainment
Jane McDonald thanks fans for support after death of fiancé Eddie Rothe: ‘I know that better days are ahead’
Jane McDonald has thanked fans for their outpouring of love since the death of her partner Eddie Rothe.
Rothe, 67, died in March after a battle with lung cancer, with the TV star announcing his death on the day of his funeral last month.
Speaking directly about her heartbreak for the first time, she shared a message on her official website, saying she had been ‘touched’ by every message of condolence she had received.
In a post titled ‘A Huge Thank You’, Jane also thanked those who had donated to Wakefield Hospice in memory of her partner.
Her message ended on a hopeful note as she sympathised with those who had told her they had also lost loved ones, writing ‘better days are ahead’.
Jane wrote: ‘I want to thank everyone most sincerely for the wonderful cards and messages of support that I have received since the awful news was announced that I had lost my beloved Ed. I’m so touched by each and every one.
‘All the kind thoughts and words have meant so much to me and many of you have let me know that you are going through the same thing as me having lost loved ones and I wish you all love and strength back.
‘I’m hugely grateful for everyone who very kindly donated to the Just Giving page for Wakefield Hospice in Ed’s memory.
‘It’s been a tough time for us all recently and I know that better days are ahead.’
Rothe was the former drummer of 60s band The Searchers, and he and Jane initially dated in 1980 when she was 17. The couple later reunited and got engaged in 2008.
Jane documented her engagement to Eddie in her 2019 autobiography Riding The Waves: My Story.
‘Suddenly, Ed cleared his throat and put his hand in his pocket,’ she wrote. ‘”Jane, you are definitely the one for me, and I should have done this 26 years ago,” he said. “Will you marry me?”
‘I was so overwhelmed that I started crying. Then Ed started crying!
‘People around us were mortified – thinking we’d split up.’
In November 2019, Jane opened up about her relationship with Eddie in Good To Know magazine.
‘He is very funny and he makes me laugh every day,’ she told the publication.
‘He also brings me a cup of tea every morning, no matter what.’
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