Davina McCall, 58, and Jamie Theakston, 55, discuss their changed feelings towards death after cancer battles as presenter reveals she finds it ‘liberating’ to no longer be afraid of dying

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Davina McCall and Jamie Theakston talked about how their perspectives on death have shifted, expressing gratitude for life after both faced cancer.

The 58-year-old former host of Big Brother received a diagnosis of a rare brain tumor in 2024, and then breast cancer in November 2025.

Jamie, 55, received a laryngeal cancer diagnosis two years ago. Thankfully, three surgeries successfully treated the disease.

Okay, so you will NOT believe this! Davina stepped in for Amanda on Heart Breakfast this Friday! I was SO excited to hear her with Jamie and Ashley – it was amazing! Honestly, I listen every morning, and Davina just totally made my day. I was worried when I heard Amanda wasn’t there, but Davina totally crushed it!

Davina mentioned it had been a long time since her last appearance on the show, before her brain tumor diagnosis. She and the other guest then discussed their experiences with cancer, with Davina sharing that she’s no longer afraid of death.

Both stars have responded well to treatment, but they shared that they still feel anxious before undergoing medical scans.

Jamie pointed out that it’s strange how, when you’re lying awake at night, your mind often focuses on all the awful possibilities.

‘I was thinking about how I was going to tell the kids and what I was going to do with work?’

Davina interrupted Jamie and asked, ‘Are you thinking about how you want people to remember you after you’re gone? Have you accepted that you’re dying and made peace with it?’

Jamie admitted he’s still afraid of dying, saying, ‘I really couldn’t handle that right now.’

I had so many hopes for the future – watching my children and grandchildren grow, and pursuing other dreams – that I simply wasn’t ready to give up on life.

Despite her ongoing health struggles, Davina has found a new perspective on life. She shared, ‘I’ve lost my fear of death, and it’s actually a very comforting feeling.’

Jamie noticed the conversation was becoming surprisingly intense for so early in the morning and joked about the shift in topic. Davina agreed, adding that it felt freeing, which she found particularly interesting.

I’m feeling really good, almost overly cheerful, and I do it because I want you to appreciate how fortunate we are. We’ve been given another chance, and that’s something to be thankful for – we’re so lucky to have it.

I was so shocked to hear about Davina’s breast cancer diagnosis, but honestly, it makes complete sense why she’s choosing to prioritize her health now. She’s always been such a driven person, but this really seems to have made her re-evaluate things and step back from working full-time. It’s a brave decision, and I fully support her focusing on what truly matters.

In a recent interview on the Miss Me? podcast, the Masked Singer judge openly shared that facing two health challenges made her realize she’d spent her life avoiding change and pushing herself too hard.

She admitted that she’d always avoided change, finding it deeply unsettling. She preferred things to stay the same, valuing the comfort and security of routine and predictability.

For more than thirty years, Davina McCall has consistently worked on a demanding schedule, hosting popular shows like Big Brother, Long Lost Family, The Masked Singer, and My Mum, Your Dad.

The mother of three shared that her recent health challenges have changed how she sees things. She realizes that she’s grown the most as a person during tough times.

She explained that her most significant achievements have always followed periods of change, and those changes were often difficult.

Davina initially thought about reducing stress after learning she had a brain tumor, but it was her later breast cancer diagnosis that really made her take action.

She shared that getting sober in the early 1990s was a turning point in her life, helping her overcome struggles with heroin and alcohol that began in her twenties.

After my brain tumor was removed, I had a major realization: I needed to simplify my life and reduce stress.

It’s funny, I came to understand that I needed to prioritize things. Facing breast cancer, which was incredibly scary, really drove that home, and I’ve since made those changes.

She explained that she’s switching to a four-day work week, and feels much more positive about achieving a better work-life balance.

I’m at a point in my life where I’m focusing on self-care. It’s become my priority – I need to be healthy and well so I can be there for others.

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2026-03-27 14:06