Singer and the Cruise star Jane McDonald talks about singing for the Queen ahead of her concert at Europe's largest open air theatre this summer

Jane McDonald may well be the honorary Queen of Yorkshire, but she can’t deny her excitement ahead of headlining a special concert celebrating Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this summer.
Yorkshire’s Platinum Jubilee Concert will see a sea of red, white and blue take over at Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Saturday, June 4 – with Jane flying the flag for her beloved home county, alongside a host of special guestsYorkshire’s Platinum Jubilee Concert will see a sea of red, white and blue take over at Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Saturday, June 4 – with Jane flying the flag for her beloved home county, alongside a host of special guests
Yorkshire’s Platinum Jubilee Concert will see a sea of red, white and blue take over at Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Saturday, June 4 – with Jane flying the flag for her beloved home county, alongside a host of special guests

“If there is one thing, one presence, one person who has been consistent, throughout my life – all of our lives really – it’s Queen Elizabeth… and I am so honoured to be celebrating her,” said Jane.

Yorkshire’s Platinum Jubilee Concert will see a sea of red, white and blue take over at Scarborough Open Air Theatre on Saturday, June 4 – with Jane flying the flag for her beloved home county, alongside a host of special guests.

“What an occasion to be celebrating just how much work she has done over so many years,” said Wakefield-born Jane said.

“We have all grown up with her, as individuals, and as a nation, and she is still there, at 96-years-old everything she possibly can in her role, her duty, and that really should be celebrated.

“And I’m very much a Yorkshire girl – you know I’m always banging on about it – so to be doing this concert in Scarborough, in Yorkshire, where I have such a wonderful, loyal fan base is so lovely.

“The warmth of a home audience, as well as everyone being there to celebrate, well – you can’t fail with that.”

While Jane’s heart has always been firmly in her home county, it was travelling the world as a cruise ship singer, featured on BBC docusoap The Cruise back in 1998 which made her a household name.

Since winning the nation’s hearts, Jane became a regular face on TV, on the Loose Women panel and performing at no fewer than three Royal Variety Shows. She’s released 10 studio albums and has toured extensively including sell-out shows at the Royal Albert Hall and the London Palladium, as well as The MGM in Las Vegas.

Now with nostalgia in the air, as she celebrates HRH The Queen 70-year reign, Jane will be taking a trip down Memory Lane when she heads to the coastal resort too – revisiting childhood holidays with her family.

Being on home ‘sand’ for a right Royal knees up – Jane’s living the Yorkshire dream as she prepares for the one-night only concert, where she will be joined by a host of special guests.

“It’s going to be amazing. A really rousing night, full of song,” she explained. “I’ve been going through what we are going to do with my musical director.

“We’ve got to keep it under wraps, we want it to be a big surprise! But what I can say is it will be a real sing-along event – bring your voices, and it’ll be emotional, without a doubt. A good old party.

“Of course, it’s a celebration of The Queen’s life, but also all our lives and life in general after the past couple of years. A celebration of life as we know it.”

Tickets are on sale now from scarboroughopenairtheatre.comSCARBOROUGH OPEN AIR THEATRE GIGS

May 27 Sam Fender

May 29 Ru Paul’s Drag Race: Werq The World

June 4 Yorkshire’s Platinum Jubilee Concert with Jane McDonald and special guests

June 11 Crowded House

June 25 Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

June 30 Michael Ball & Alfie Boe

July 1 Bryan Adams

July 3 a-Ha

July 9 Elbow

July 14 The Script

July 16 Tears For Fears

July 22 Simply Red

July 23 Westlife

July 26 Tom Jones

August 2 Christina Aguilera

August 11 Lewis Capaldi