Jane McDonald repeatedly told 'not now Jane' as she's snubbed in BBC appearance

Jane McDonald was left reeling after a series of on-air snubs on a BBC programme.

The cruising superstar, 61, made her Top of the Pops debut back in 1998, after rising to fame on documentary series The Cruise where she showed off her vocal talents. By Christmas that year, she’d been invited onto TOTP to perform straight after Celine Dion’s rendition of My Heart Will Go On.

But in a cheeky jab at Jane, hosts Jamie Theakston and Kate Thornton repeatedly told her: “Not now, Jane!” when she appeared – dressed as Mrs Claus – at the side of them, ready to belt her lungs out.

Jane was elbowed out of the way to make way for acts including Robbie Williams, Boyzone and the Spice Girls, looking bereft until it was finally her turn to perform.

Jamie introduced her by saying: “Now our next turn also found fame on a boat this year. In fact, she’s cruised her way to the top. Shall we give Jane her chance now?”

Kate agreed: “Yeah, I think opportunity knocks for the star of The Cruise. At number 10 this week, making a grand entrance on this very sleigh, it’s Jane McDonald!”

Jane performed her medley Cruise Into Christmas, kicking off with White Christmas and traversing into Walking in a Winter Wonderland.

To date, Jane has released a total of 10 studio albums, plus five compilation albums and a live album from the London Palladium. But in 1998 she was just starting out – and her self-titled debut album topped the charts for three weeks after BBC show The Cruise aired.

Jane even landed a role in the stage musical Cats in 2015, playing the role of Grizabella. She’s also done everything from Loose Women to Jane McDonald: My Yorkshire.