Jane happy to lose Rod and Freddy to fly solo

AT THE height of their fame, Rod, Jane and Freddy were synonymous with wholesome children's entertainment.

The singing trio starred in iconic children's TV programme Rainbow and went on to secure their own show in the 1980s.

As a threesome, they later made a name for themselves in pantomime.

Now Jane Tucker is breaking free of showbiz partners Rod Burton and Freddy Marks and will be going it alone in Sleeping Beauty this Christmas. She will be starring as Azuriel the good fairy, in Crewe's Lyceum Theatre's production of the classic tale.

Not that she has much chance of breaking free entirely. The group only disbanded in 2003 and remain on good terms.

In fact, Jane was married to Rod – they divorced in 1978 – and now lives with Freddy in their Surrey home. They have been in an off-screen relationship for the past 25 years.

"I started in Rainbow in 1974," says Jane. "It lasted for more than 20 years. Freddy joined us in 1980, to replace Roger Walker.

"Throughout the 1980s, we did Rod, Jane And Freddy in tandem with Rainbow. It was a very busy time.

"I've been with Freddy for 25 years and we still see Rod regularly. He lives up the road from where we live.

"The boys have taken a back seat now because they wanted a bit of a life. I've carried on. We'd had a long run and wanted to leave on top."

Tucker has fond memories of her last visit to Crewe.

In 2002 she enjoyed a successful run of Aladdin – along with Rod and Freddy.

"It's always nice to revisit an old venue," she says. "We did Aladdin for a whole season and appeared separately to that as Rod, Jane And Freddy there at least four times. We always had very good crowds.

"The panto crew all gets on very well. It's a lovely cast.

"I play Azuriel, the good fairy, who is the adversary to Carabosse.

"I'm quite feisty, so it's quite a departure from the archetypal fairy godmother I usually play.

"Without giving too much away, Azuriel is determined to make sure that there is a happy ending."

Although Jane is a seasoned professional, as every actor knows, the seasonal schedule ahead will be tough.

"You have a lot of things to think about to start off with," says Jane, who will be staying in digs in Hough, near Crewe, during the panto season. "There are dance routines, songs and of course, lots of lines to learn.

"The first week is mad. I don't expect there will be much time for socialising once we start on the proper run of two shows a day.

"It will just be a quick drink and then home to bed."

So will she have chance to relax at all over the festive period?

"Freddy will be coming to see me in Sleeping Beauty," she says.

"It may be a tad too far for Rod. Funnily enough, he's been very faithful and has been to see me every year since I went solo, but I think he's got a lot of family commitments over Christmas.

"I'm planning a quiet Christmas Day with Freddy. I keep threatening I'm going to book him in for a meal somewhere, but there's really no point in going out because we only have one day together. I'll be back on stage the day after."

Sleeping Beauty at Crewe's Lyceum runs from Wednesday until Saturday, January 2, 2010. Telephone the box office on 01270 537333.