Davina McCall has admitted that an infamous scene from her time hosting Big Brother was a 'tough, tough thing to experience' and believes it would not happen on TV today.
Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival before accepting an outstanding achievement award, the 58-year-old recalled the moment in series six in 2005 when housemate Kinga Karolczak, then 20, simulated masturbating with a wine bottle in the garden.
'There was one moment in my entire time on Big Brother, and I think we'll all remember it, and that was Kinga in the garden, and I was like, "Oh man, do we have to show that?"' McCall said.
Aftermath in the House
McCall said the other housemates spent the following day checking on Kinga and making sure she was okay. 'I think all of us in the end were like, that was a tough, tough thing to experience. I don't think that would happen now.'
Following her exit from the House, Kinga told McCall: 'I was very drunk. I knew immediately I would regret this moment, and the thing is, I had a lot to drink.'
After 83 complaints were made to Ofcom, a Channel 4 spokesperson said at the time: 'Kinga's antics went out post-watershed and, as always with Big Brother, there was a voice-over before the programme alerting viewers to the nature of some scenes. In tonight's show, viewers will see an embarrassed Kinga apologise to her fellow housemates, explaining she was just having a laugh and nothing happened.'
Duty of Care Defended
Although McCall is not part of the rebooted Big Brother, hosted by AJ Odudu and Will Best, she defended the show's duty of care. 'The duty of care on that show was really good,' she stressed. 'They did get followed up afterwards. In terms of other shows that I know that happen, I know that Big Brother, we learnt on the job because we were the first reality TV show, but we did really and do care about our housemates.'
She praised everyone who takes part, saying: 'Everybody that goes in that house is a total legend for doing it. Whenever I was interviewing someone, it didn't matter what they'd done or how they'd behaved. I was always in my head, "Remember to be grateful," because whatever they did, they still entertained us. Even if it was being angry, we put them in there, and we should treat them with respect.'
Life Beyond Big Brother
McCall, who also fronts The Masked Singer UK, Long Lost Family and the podcast Begin Again, said her children were 'p***ed' that she was not in the cast of Celebrity Traitors, not believing her until the last moment. 'I would never say never, but I'm really busy. It's mental life at the moment,' she said.
She said Begin Again, which has featured interviews with Alexandra Burke, Patsy Kensit and Gillian Anderson, came about after she had an operation on her brain. 'I really thought about dying and looking at my life, and would I be okay with dying? And I came up with a resounding yes, because I wouldn't change anything, even the bad bits. The bad bits got me to where I am today.'
She added: 'I have laughed a lot. I've had big disappointments, but I've had huge successes. I have loved. I have been loved. I've had a lovely family, which I always wanted. I just thought, my side of the street is clean. I apologise when needed. I was like, I'm ready to go. I have no burning things that I need to do.'
McCall is currently watching the second season of Beef, starring Carey Mulligan and Oscar Isaac, describing it as 'dark' and 'brilliant'.
