While TV presenter Davina McCall celebrates her recent marriage to hairdresser Michael Douglas, her former husband has revealed the profound personal struggles he faced following their split.
A Life Unravelled: Divorce, Loss, and Business Collapse
Matthew Robertson, 56, was married to the former Pet Rescue presenter from 2000 until their divorce in 2017. The couple, who met while Davina was walking her dog, share three children: Holly, 23, Tilly, 21, and Chester, 19. Robertson had been running an adventure holiday guide business, but it was devastated during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Records from Companies House show his company, Momentum Adventure, went bust with debts of £408,500 in August 2021 and is due to be formally dissolved in January 2023. This professional catastrophe compounded a period of intense personal grief, following the loss of his father and the breakdown of his marriage.
Rock Bottom and a Turning Point in Nature
On the website for his new organisation, Momentum Men, Robertson explains how his mental health crumbled. He describes being conditioned by stoicism and male pride, which prevented him from seeking help. In his despair, he contemplated taking his own life.
"But the outdoor place I planned that tragic event emerged as a catalyst," he writes. "Nature unexpectedly became my guide on a journey back to health." In a podcast, he elaborated on this moment, stating he believed his late father intervened to stop him. "In that moment I believed that he was there," he said.
Building Momentum Men: Uplifting Others Through the Outdoors
From this crisis, Robertson's current venture was born. Momentum Men offers guided trips and produces podcasts with a mission to ‘uplift and energise’ men through the ‘power of the outdoors.’ The initiative aims to provide the support he found so difficult to access, combating isolation and promoting mental wellbeing through shared activity and nature.
His story highlights the acute challenges many face in silence, particularly concerning male mental health after significant life upheavals. Davina McCall, meanwhile, has moved on, marrying celebrity hairdresser Michael Douglas earlier this year, with the couple recently appearing together at high-profile events like The BRIT Awards.
For confidential support, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123, and further resources are available at www.thecalmzone.net/get-support.
