Davina McCall, 58, reveals she is stepping back from full-time work after her ‘frightening’ breast cancer ordeal

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Davina McCall is reducing her workload after receiving a frightening breast cancer diagnosis, which made her re-evaluate her priorities.

The 58-year-old TV presenter said a major lifestyle change was necessary after recently battling both a rare brain tumor and breast cancer.

On Monday’s Miss Me? podcast, the Masked Singer judge openly shared that recent health issues had made her realize she’d spent her life avoiding change and pushing herself too hard.

She admitted that she’d always avoided change. It truly frightened her, and she preferred things to stay the same – she felt safe and comfortable when she knew what to expect.

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 issues have profoundly changed how she sees things, and she realizes her biggest personal improvements have come from overcoming challenges.

She explained that her biggest achievements have always followed periods of significant, and sometimes difficult, change.

Oh my gosh, Davina is just so incredibly brave! She recently got married to Michael, which is amazing, and she’s been sharing her health journey. It’s just… heartbreaking. She said at first, when she found out about the brain tumor, she thought about slowing down, you know, reducing stress. But then… then she got the breast cancer diagnosis, and that was it. That really made her realize she had to make some big changes. I’m just so in awe of her strength and honesty!

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.

Okay, so after my surgery – getting that brain tumor gone – it was like a lightbulb went off. Seriously, everything clicked. I finally understood I was completely burning myself out, and I had to find a way to chill out and de-stress. It was a massive realization, honestly!

It’s funny, I came to understand that, but then being diagnosed with breast cancer – which was incredibly scary – really pushed me to make it happen. And I finally have.

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 prioritizing self-care. It’s become my main focus, because I know I can’t help others if I’m not doing well myself.

The 14mm growth was discovered during a health scan offered as part of her menopause advocacy work.

After a six-hour surgery, Davina was in intensive care for a few days, but doctors were amazed by how quickly she recovered.

However, the relief was short-lived when she was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

The TV presenter shared last November that she discovered the issue early when she found a lump and had it examined by a doctor. This led to successful surgery to remove the lump, followed by radiotherapy as a precaution.

She has three children with her ex-husband, Matthew Robertson, who used to present the show Pet Rescue. Their names are Holly, 24, Tilly, 22, and Chester, 19.

After 17 years of marriage, the couple divorced in 2017, but they’ve continued to work together well as they raise their children.

She married Michael last month, after dating him since 2019. They had a private wedding ceremony in London, and she later revealed that going through a health scare actually brought them closer together.

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2026-01-05 20:49