Singer and TV Star Jane McDonald Opens Up About Awkward Encounter with James Martin
A recent interview with Manchester Evening News has revealed that singer and TV star Jane McDonald had an awkward encounter with celebrity chef James Martin. According to the Manchester Evening News, Jane once confessed that it’s a "good job" she and James Martin never became an item, as she’d be the "size of Wakefield".
The story of the encounter was shared by Loose Women star Denise Welch on the White Wine Question Time podcast. The Manchester Evening News reported that Denise recalled how James had encountered Jane outside a house, but she "didn’t know who he was". In fact, she mistook the star of ITV’s James Martin’s Saturday Morning for the concierge, or the butler "to which she was accustomed," she joked.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, the former Coronation Street actress said: "And she just started to hand him all the bags, so he politely took several up many, many stairs, came back down, and she said, ‘You’ve left these ones’, as she swanned past him into the house."
Jane replied to the story, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News: "That’s terrible, isn’t it? I gave him a good tip. I did and I know…the funny thing is I’m really good mates with James now. And it’s lovely that he has that story to tell, and he makes the best cakes ever."
As noted by the Manchester Evening News, Jane added that she will always be thankful to James, who once wrote a culinary book titled Butter: Comforting, Delicious, Versatile’, for bringing some of his finest cakes for her to enjoy. She joked that if she and James had gotten together, she would be the "size of Wakefield".
TV chef James is a household name in the UK, best known for gracing the screen on shows such as Saturday Kitchen, Islands to Highlands, Home Comforts, and James Martin’s Great British Adventure, reported the Manchester Evening News.
In related news, Jane recently hosted the British Soap Awards, where she openly admitted flirting "outrageously" with a Coronation Street star at the London-based event at Hackney Town Hall, according to the Manchester Evening News. Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine this week, the Loose Women presenter divulged details about the ceremony and confessed being "starstruck" by the actor’s allure.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, Jane praised Emmerdale actor Jeff Hordley, who portrays Cain Dingle, calling him the "nicest man". During a chat with stand-in host Ranvir Singh, she explained that the villains are "usually are the most lovely people" before sharing her regret that Steve McFadden (Phil Mitchell) couldn’t attend the ceremony.
The British Soap Awards 2025 will air tonight (Thursday, June 5) at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX, confirmed the Manchester Evening News.
