Davina McCall, a television host and podcaster, has recovered from a brain tumor and is back in style this year. She also acknowledges that while she is frightened of passing away, she has “comed’ with it.”
TV presenter Davina McCall has told how her brain tumour affected her life and family relationships – and she urged them to bond together if she died. The 57-year-old TV host underwent an operation to remove a benign brain tumour that has left her “not afraid of dying any more”.
In a new interview with Good Housekeeping UK, Davina opened up on her earlier fears: “I’ve been terrified of dying my whole life – my mum died quite young, my dad died quite young, and my sister died very young.
What must I do to make that okay since I have to accept the fact that I might not make it? I had to accept the outcome and sleep soundly without experiencing the utter horror of death.
“If I go, I really need you to stay plugged in to the kids (Holly, Tilly, and Chester), who she shares with her ex-husband Matthew Robertson,” she told her partner, Michael Douglas.
We told one another that, even though we were both scared, we were open to it. Knowing that everything was ready made things easier.
In April, the former Big Brother presenter confirmed her “final MRI” had shown a colloid cyst, which she had removed in November 2024, is “not coming back”, after it was found when she was offered a health check-up as part of her menopause advocacy work. Davina also spoke about how she and stylist partner Michael told her children about the tumour in the interview.
She continued, “Michael and I just had a leisurely conversation in the kitchen.” Look, we know what it is and where it is; it’s quite uncommon, but we’ve found someone who has had the operation before and feels confident.
“I didn’t talk to them about dying, but I did write a letter to each of them and made my will.” I said, “You’re all great kids and you’ll all be fine if I don’t make it.” Of course, I want to make it, but if I don’t, you’ll all turn out great.
I don’t want to read the letters right now because I feel like I’ve passed away, but I do want them to know how proud I am of them. “Davina spent time in intensive care following her surgery, and now she is recovering at home with the assistance of her long-term partner. She recalled how her partner responded to her short-term memory issues following surgery and how happy she was that their relationship was now back to normal.
Michael has been incredibly helpful with all of this. Looking after someone who is sorely needed and vulnerable is exhausting. I once found his behavior to be a little odd, but I had no idea why. I said to him, “Michael, I’ve noticed you don’t want to be around me much.” I get it if you have a different opinion of me. He claimed that it was because I was “annoying at the moment,” and that I had never felt so relieved to be told I was annoying. Because I kept asking the same questions over and over again, I knew I was. At that, we both had a sharp laugh.
She spoke about the removal of the tumour while co-presenting this year’s Red Nose Day for Comic Relief and said it was “the hardest thing I’ve ever been through”.
According to the NHS, non-cancerous brain tumours are more common in people over the age of 50, and symptoms include headaches, vision problems and drowsiness, and some can be “difficult to remove without damaging surrounding tissue”. Looking ahead, Davina insisted she was stepping into a new chapter with courage and a reclaimed sense of who she is:
She said, “I’ve told myself I’m not smart, and I’ve talked myself down my entire life.” I had a hard time getting my math grade A level because I was very unhappy and was taking a lot of drugs at the time. However, as a result of all of this, I’ve had verbal and nonverbal reasoning memory tests, and I came out really well. Although it shouldn’t have to be taken in that way, I’ve come to the realization that I’m much smarter than I think.
“Nothing makes me feel afraid right now.” I’ll even retake my math A level the following summer. If you’ve always wanted to do something and can afford it right away, “f*** it!”
Davina, the host of new BBC romance reality show Stranded On Honeymoon Island, has long advocated for women’s health issues, and has presented a documentary called Sex, Myths And The Menopause and another on contraception called Davina McCall’s Pill Revolution.
She received a special award at the National Television Awards in 2024 for her broadcasting career and received an MBE in the King’s Birthday honors in 2023.
* Good Housekeeping UK’s October issue contains the full interview.
