Jane Tucker
Encyclopedia
Jane Tucker is a singer, song writer and pianist. She is best known for being part of the musical trio Rod, Jane and Freddy
. Jane was born into a family with an artistic background. Her grandmother was an opera singer, her mother a pianist, and her father was Rex Tucker
, the drama director for the BBC. She first started to play the piano when she was three, having been given lessons by her mother. Jane's first ambition was to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a concert pianist, but as a teenager she decided she would rather be an actress. This ambition is what lead her to be trained at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where she continued her piano and singing whilst embarking on a full time drama course.
After graduating, she followed the classic route of repertory theatre, touring, TV, and radio, where she met and eventually married Rod Burton
.
to do their own show, plans went through and The Rod, Jane and Freddy show aired its first episode on 15 January 1981. In 1985 Jane and fellow trio member Freddy Marks
became a couple, and have continued to be together since. Rod, Jane and Freddy appeared in both their own show and Rainbow until 1991 when they left their position as musicians on Rainbow to focus solely on The Rod, Jane and Freddy Show.
In 1990 RJF took their show on the road and toured successfully for 6 years, playing every major town in the UK.
In 1996 Jane, along with Rod and Freddy, won an award from The British Academy of Songwriters (BACS) for outstanding contribution
to the music business.
's The Hall For Cornwall
in the winter of 2008/2009 and as the good fairy Azuriel in 'Sleeping Beauty' at Crewe's Lyceum Theatre in the winter of 2009/2010. Other theatre roles include starring as Beatrix Potter
in the musical Jemima Puddleduck and Friends at the Unicorn Theatre
in London. Tucker has made several TV appearances including as Anne Hathaway
in Shakespeare's England, and has done voiceovers for Disneyland and BBC Schools. Jane recently appeared in panto, playing the Good Fairy Azuriel in Sleeping Beauty at The Hexagon in Reading in the winter of 2010/2011.
In 2009, she appeared on The Justin Lee Collins Show
, as a blast from the past.
Jane is currently writing a ballet which is near completion.
In 2010 Jane shot a cameo role for an independent feature film Shadows of a Stranger, due for release in 2012.
Rod, Jane and Freddy
Rod, Jane and Freddy was the most famous name for a singing trio who appeared in children's programming on the British TV channel ITV in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. They starred both in the long-running series Rainbow as well as their own 15-minute show, The Rod, Jane and Freddy Show...
. Jane was born into a family with an artistic background. Her grandmother was an opera singer, her mother a pianist, and her father was Rex Tucker
Rex Tucker
Rex Tucker was a British television director in the 1950s and 1960s.He was born in March in the Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire. Amongst his work, he was a driving force during the formative stages of Doctor Who in 1963, acting as a caretaker producer prior to the arrival of Verity Lambert...
, the drama director for the BBC. She first started to play the piano when she was three, having been given lessons by her mother. Jane's first ambition was to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a concert pianist, but as a teenager she decided she would rather be an actress. This ambition is what lead her to be trained at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where she continued her piano and singing whilst embarking on a full time drama course.
After graduating, she followed the classic route of repertory theatre, touring, TV, and radio, where she met and eventually married Rod Burton
Rod Burton
Rod Burton is a singer, songwriter, and musician best known for being part of the trio Rod, Jane and Freddy. He originally studied at the London College of Printing as a graphic designer and had a highly successful career in illustrating books, but songwriting was his main ambition so he quit the...
.
Rainbow
In 1974, Jane and Rod auditioned for Thames Television's award winning show RAINBOW, and were teamed up with Matthew Corbett to become the new musician/singers. Later Matthew would be replaced by Roger Walker, and then Freddy Marks, creating the trio's most famous incarnation: Rod, Jane and Freddy.The Rod, Jane and Freddy Show
Towards the end of 1980 the trio were approached by ITVITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
to do their own show, plans went through and The Rod, Jane and Freddy show aired its first episode on 15 January 1981. In 1985 Jane and fellow trio member Freddy Marks
Freddy Marks
Freddy Marks was born on 10 September 1949 in Birkenhead, Merseyside, England. He is best known for being part of the musical trio Rod, Jane and Freddy which appeared in children's programming on the British TV channel ITV in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. Freddy Marks has always been interested...
became a couple, and have continued to be together since. Rod, Jane and Freddy appeared in both their own show and Rainbow until 1991 when they left their position as musicians on Rainbow to focus solely on The Rod, Jane and Freddy Show.
In 1990 RJF took their show on the road and toured successfully for 6 years, playing every major town in the UK.
In 1996 Jane, along with Rod and Freddy, won an award from The British Academy of Songwriters (BACS) for outstanding contribution
to the music business.
Acting
Since leaving the Rod, Jane and Freddy tours Tucker has appeared in several Pantomimes as Fairy Snowdrop in 'Snow White' at Barnstaple's Queen's Theatre in 2006, Fairy Rainbow in 'Jack and the Beanstalk' at Newport's The Riverfront in 2007, as Fairy God Mother in 'Cinderella' at TruroTruro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
's The Hall For Cornwall
Hall for Cornwall
The Hall for Cornwall is a major venue in Truro, Cornwall having one large main auditorium which places host to West End musicals, opera, ballet, musical acts and other entertainers...
in the winter of 2008/2009 and as the good fairy Azuriel in 'Sleeping Beauty' at Crewe's Lyceum Theatre in the winter of 2009/2010. Other theatre roles include starring as Beatrix Potter
Beatrix Potter
Helen Beatrix Potter was an English author, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist best known for her imaginative children’s books featuring animals such as those in The Tale of Peter Rabbit which celebrated the British landscape and country life.Born into a privileged Unitarian...
in the musical Jemima Puddleduck and Friends at the Unicorn Theatre
Unicorn Theatre
The Unicorn Theatre is a producer of professional theatre for children in Britain. It is based in a RIBA Award–winning centre in Tooley Street, in the London Borough of Southwark, opened in 2005...
in London. Tucker has made several TV appearances including as Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway (Shakespeare)
Anne Hathaway was the wife of William Shakespeare. They were married in 1582. She outlived her husband by seven years...
in Shakespeare's England, and has done voiceovers for Disneyland and BBC Schools. Jane recently appeared in panto, playing the Good Fairy Azuriel in Sleeping Beauty at The Hexagon in Reading in the winter of 2010/2011.
In 2009, she appeared on The Justin Lee Collins Show
The Justin Lee Collins Show
The Justin Lee Collins Show is a British television talk show recently aired Thursday nights on the digital channel ITV2 starring Justin Lee Collins. Justin has a small band on the show and a continuing theme is to mention Labi Siffre as part of a joke. The series ended after one series after...
, as a blast from the past.
Jane is currently writing a ballet which is near completion.
In 2010 Jane shot a cameo role for an independent feature film Shadows of a Stranger, due for release in 2012.