Davina McCall was visibly moved to tears during Comic Relief’s broadcast as she opened up about her brain tumour ordeal. The 57 year old TV presenter said, “I had a pretty mad year. Doctors found a benign brain tumour by chance and after a lot of deliberation I had it removed. It has quite possibly been the hardest thing I’ve ever been through.” Reflecting on the profound impact of her health scare, Davina shared, “This whole experience, kind of weighing up all the risks and all the positive things about having this tumour removed made me really think deeply about what life is all about, and what really, really matters when things get tough.” Overcome with emotion, Davina spoke of the incredible support system that helped her through her difficult time: “I needed the brilliance and the skills of lots of experts to make me okay. And oh my goodness, I’ve needed the love and support of friends and my family, and in particular, my Michael to get me through.”
Davina broke down during Red Nose Day talking about her ordeal
She then highlighted the plight of those less fortunate, saying, “And tonight has really made me think that there are so many people who are scared, they’re in trouble, they’re in danger…. so many. And they don’t have the friends or the family or the money or the support that I did. I know that I was so lucky, but not everybody is.” In autumn 2024, Davina took a step back from her busy schedule to have brain surgery for a colloid cyst and is currently recuperating at home. Her podcast, ‘Begin Again’, which launched in September 2024, features a series of pre-recorded episodes that Davina prepared in advance to ensure her fans could stay connected throughout her recovery period, reports the Mirror. Following her surgery in November, Davina McCall has recently updated fans on her health journey and the support she received from her partner Michael Douglas during the frightening ordeal. Opening up to Hello magazine, Davina couldn’t help but express how her perspective on life has transformed, saying: “You have a new look on life, gratitude, love for people, love for nature, love for architecture – everything looks beautiful. It’s different in that way, but not in personality or anything.”
Davina underwent surgery in November 2024 to have a tumour removed from her brain
(Image: Instagram/ @davinamccall)
The beloved Channel 4 presenter also reflected on how the crisis felt like a mere moment for her, while for Michael, it was an enduring battle. She shared insight into their contrasting experiences, noting: “obviously the first two months I had no short-term memory.” Davina made a heartfelt appearance on The One Show on Monday 17 March, discussing Red Nose Day in what was her first live interview post-surgery. She described her return as “amazing” sharing her joy: “I am so happy to be back it was like the final piece of the jigsaw! I was recovering at home in my bedroom a lot, going for a couple of walks a day.” She went on to reveal her initial apprehension about resuming work, admitting: “But I was kind of stuck in my bedroom, it became my safe space. I kind of didn’t want to leave. I got a bit nervous about going back to work and I kept thinking in my head: ‘Well I could just make a bit of an excuse.'” Davina recalled the encouraging words from Michael that helped her overcome her fears: “And Michael said to me: ‘I know you, I know how much you loved work and how much it means to you. I know you’re scared but this is the final piece of the jigsaw and I think it’s going to make a big difference when you go back.'”
