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Cruising With Jane McDonald returning to Channel 5

Jane McDonald is set to return to her ‘Cruising With…’ travel shows.

The 56-year-old singer stepped away from her Channel 5 shows – including the ‘Holidaying With…’ spin-off – to "spend time in the UK" focusing on her music career and other projects, but the coronavirus pandemic halted her plans and she’s set to return.

However, Channel 5’s Director of Programming Ben Frow told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "I just signed off on the first of her new cruises. Where there’s an opportunity to cruise, we’ll cruise."

The news comes a few months after it was revealed Susan Calman would replace Jane on the two shows.

Back in March, she said: "I’m over the moon to be working with Channel 5 on such a prestigious group of shows.

"I can’t wait to go on exciting voyages and incredible journeys and take the wonderful viewers with me. It’s the start of a magnificent chapter and I can’t wait to get going."

Ben added at the time: "Susan was my first and only choice for these shows and I am absolutely cock-a-hoop that she is doing more with Channel 5.

"I have encouraged her to make both shows uniquely hers and I am genuinely excited to see how she evolves them in her own, inimitable style. The world is, literally, her oyster and I can’t wait to travel it with her."

The news came a week after Jane announced she was quitting Channel 5 after four and a half years.

In a post on her official website, she wrote: "By now you will have seen the news about me stepping away from my shows on Channel 5.

"It’s been an incredible four and a half years of travelling, 38 Cruises and over 100 flights.

"It’s now time for me to spend some time in the UK, concentrate on my music and tours and exciting new projects."