Beloved television presenter Davina McCall has announced a significant reduction in her professional commitments, moving to a four-day working week after a series of serious health diagnoses forced a major life reassessment.
A Stark Wake-Up Call from Two Health Scares
The 58-year-old star, known for fronting shows like Big Brother, Long Lost Family, and The Masked Singer, faced two major medical emergencies in quick succession. In 2024, a rare colloid cyst brain tumour was discovered during a scan related to her menopause advocacy work. Following a successful six-hour operation and a remarkable recovery, she was dealt another blow last year with a breast cancer diagnosis.
Speaking openly on the Miss Me? podcast, McCall confessed that the cumulative impact of these scares served as an undeniable signal to slow down. "Change is something that all my life, I spent running away from," she admitted. "I absolutely hated it. Change was something that really frightened me."
From Overwork to a New Focus on 'Me'
For over three decades, McCall maintained a relentless and punishing work schedule. However, her perspective has shifted dramatically. She now recognises that her most profound personal growth has emerged from painful periods of change, including overcoming heroin and alcohol addiction in the 1990s.
"What has happened, actually, is that I have realised that all my really big growth has come from change - and often quite painful change," she reflected. While the brain tumour prompted initial thoughts about reducing stress, it was the breast cancer that cemented her decision.
"The breast cancer, which I thought was a very, very frightening thing, made me realise that I really, really had to put that into place. And I have now," McCall stated. "I'm going to work a four-day week."
She emphasised that her latest project is herself, stating: "So now, really, as I hit this stage of my life, I want to take more care of myself. That is my latest project: me, because I can't take care of anyone else if I'm not okay."
Personal Life and Moving Forward
McCall's health battles have unfolded alongside significant personal milestones. Last month, she married her long-term partner, hairdresser Michael Douglas, 49, in a small London ceremony, noting that facing illness together strengthened their bond.
The mother-of-three shares children Holly, 24, Tilly, 22, and Chester, 19, with her ex-husband, former Pet Rescue presenter Matthew Robertson. The pair divorced in 2017 after 17 years of marriage but maintain an amicable co-parenting relationship.
McCall's breast cancer was detected early after she found a lump, leading to a successful lumpectomy and preventative radiotherapy. Her story highlights the critical importance of early detection and the profound impact health can have on life's priorities.
