Singer and TV presenter Jane McDonald has announced the death of her fiancé Eddie Rothe, who passed away at the age of 67 after battling lung cancer. Rothe, a drummer known for his work with Liquid Gold and later The Searchers, died two weeks ago, with his funeral taking place on Wednesday.
In a statement on McDonald's Twitter page, the couple thanked everyone for their support, particularly the NHS staff and the team at Wakefield Hospice. The pair first met as teenagers in a Wakefield nightclub, where McDonald worked as a waitress and Rothe performed with Liquid Gold. They rekindled their romance nearly 30 years later after a chance meeting on the set of This Morning, eventually becoming engaged in 2008.
Rothe enjoyed chart success throughout his career. Liquid Gold reached number two in 1980 with 'Dance Yourself Dizzy', a song McDonald later covered. The band narrowly missed out on representing the UK at Eurovision in 1981, losing to Bucks Fizz. Rothe later spent over a decade as drummer for The Searchers, the 1960s band known for hits like 'Sweets For My Sweet'.
McDonald, who rose to fame with her number one debut album and later appeared on Loose Women and hosted her own Channel 5 cruising show, has paid tribute to Rothe in her new album. The Loose Women team offered their deepest condolences, noting that Rothe was considered part of their family and appeared on the show numerous times.
