Jane McDonald

Loose Women' didn't axe me. I had started planning the tour and album and Loose Women saw my list of 40 dates. I wanted to back out and focus on my music career.

Being tired doesn't necessarily make me grumpy but I do find it incredibly hard to focus or get anything done.

What you have to do is be grateful for the chances you get. I've always been very humble and never take it for granted, ever. I do the best I can possibly do.

Loose Women' is fantastic. It's great working with a group of strong, feisty females, who are also your mates. It's like therapy.

ITV have been fantastic and I still have a good relationship with them, but I probably won't be back on 'Loose Women.'

I love Australia because it's a different time of day so I'm asleep through any problems back home.

Your manager is your boss and tells you what to do, what to wear and who to be, so our relationship changed. I loved him with all my heart, but felt he'd stopped looking at me as a wife. I became a product.

I spend six months of the year on cruises. Travelling the world with your mates, it's such good fun and I hope that comes across.

When I was on 'Loose Women' I never thought you have to keep it light. I had my own view. It sounds daft, but I forgot that there were cameras there because I got very heated in discussions.

Holidays are reflection time and I always take 'Excuse Me, Your Life Is Waiting', by Lynn Grabhorn.

I had the working class ethic. I wanted to make a living and there weren't many opportunities for an opera singer in Yorkshire, so I went onto the club circuit.

But it's funny, I really was quite introverted as a child. I just liked music, so mum and dad bought me a piano when I was seven - I actually got up to Grade Seven at the London College of Music on piano.