The Voice UK winner Ava Mannings has revealed she was diagnosed with a brain tumour just weeks after winning the ITV singing competition in 2024. The 21-year-old returned to Instagram for the first time in nearly two years on Tuesday, September 22, sharing a photo of her surgery scar alongside a video message to fans.
Diagnosis weeks after victory
Ava was 21 when she took part in the thirteenth series of The Voice UK in 2024. During her audition, she impressed judges will.i.am, LeAnn Rimes, Sir Tom Jones, and McFly duo Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones, with all of them turning their chairs. She chose to join the McFly boys' team and went on to win the series, beating Deb Orah, Storry, and Billy and Louie in the final. Her prize included £50,000 and the release of her single The Long Winding Road.
In her first social media post in nearly two years, Ava wrote: “Hello. I'm sure this is a little hard for me to say, I'm not sure how to put it into words. So unfortunately, Miss Ava here was diagnosed with a brain tumour back in October 2024, about a week after everyone found out that I had won The Voice.”
Major surgery and positive outcome
She explained that the diagnosis was the reason she disappeared from public view so quickly. Ava, who worked as a dog groomer before joining The Voice, said she went through major surgery and received a very positive result. She added: “So that's why I disappeared so quickly. Yeah, I'm not going to get into that whole experience because it's still something that, you know, it's quite life changing. I went through some major surgery and I managed to get a very positive result from the surgery.”
Ava also revealed plans to return to music following her health battle. She continued: “So catch me on a journey that I have no idea how to experience... I don't really know what to say because obviously this is quite a hard video for me to make but I'm back so watch out everyone.”
Support from famous friends and fans
Ava received an outpouring of support from famous friends and fans. Danny Jones commented “Avaaaa” alongside a red heart emoji, while Tom Fletcher's wife, Giovanna, wrote “So much love for you, Ava.” One fan posted: “Aww it's so lovely to see your face!! Sending you so much love.” Another wrote: “I'm so glad you're back! But also hope you really took the time to recover and heal, you're a bada*s through and through!”
One fan commented: “So sorry to hear about the news!! Glad your back and doing well, sending all my love.”
