Davina McCall has spoken about the guilt she felt after believing she had 'hurt' her co-star Jamie Theakston, whose subsequent diagnosis of stage one laryngeal cancer she initially thought she had caused. The pair, who present Heart Radio Breakfast together, reflected on their recent health ordeals during a live broadcast.
McCall, 58, admitted she had 'carried that burden' for a long time after giving Theakston a tight hug that caused him pain in his throat. Listeners had also noticed a change in his voice, prompting him to seek medical advice. However, Theakston reassured her that the hug ultimately helped save his life by alerting him to the problem.
'Without you doing that, I would not have known there was something wrong with my throat,' Theakston said. He urged listeners to take symptoms seriously, stating: 'Ignoring cancer won't beat it. Cancer loves being ignored.'
McCall also provided an update on her own health, having undergone surgery for a benign brain tumour and recently being diagnosed with breast cancer. She described the diagnosis as 'being punched in the face by the universe' but confirmed a recent scan showed 'nothing there'. She stressed the importance of regular self-checks, noting she found a lump herself despite having had a mammogram just two months earlier.
