DURING a dark period where Davina McCall fought two life-threateningillnesses, she was supported by two men in her life – her adoringhusband Michael Douglas and a celebrity knight in shining armour shehardly knew.
The star of Big Brother, The Masked Singer and Long Lost Family wasbattling a brain tumour in 2024 when she was unexpectedly called up bycomedian Peter Kay.
Davina McCall has opened up about the famous man she barely knew who helped her through cancer battle Credit: Getty
Peter Kay helped Davina when she was in hospital with a brain tumour Credit: Getty
Not only did he help Davina, 58, get through one trauma, he stayed byher side and helped her when, the following year, she developed breastcancer.
She said: “Do you know who really helped me, actually, and it wasreally strange. Peter Kay. He called me when I was in hospital with mybrain tumour.
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“I really don’t know him that well but he was unbelievably supportive.“When I had my breast cancer diagnosis he just talked me through whatto do. He said: ‘What do you want to do? How do you feel about it?’
“And he said: I think you know what you want to do. And I was like:‘Yeah I want to talk about it.’”
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But Davina, who was talking as she received the OutstandingAchievement Award at the Edinburgh TV Festival, was quick to point outhow incredible her husband, Michael, 50 had been throughout.
She admits that it wasn’t easy on their relationship either, andgetting the brain tumour had put a strain on their dynamic.
Remarkably getting breast cancer actually brought them closer than ever.
She said: “At the end of brain-tumour-gate, cancer brought us together.“The tumour pushed us apart because I had no short term memory – I wasover here trying to get better and he was over worrying if I was evergoing to come back.
“But cancer smushed us back together in such a weird way, it was justa beautiful way for us to just reconnect and rebond.
“I was almost grateful for that experience, and I caught it early so Idid make a full recovery but there was something about it that weneeded.”
It hasn’t been the only health challenge she’s faced in her life. Shealso had to cope with going into peri-menopause aged 44, an eventwhich persuaded her to start campaigning for more treatments andawareness.
As well as her entertainment shows she’s also made documentaries aboutthe menopause and is proud to be the pin-up for something soimportant.
Standing proud on the stage wearing a leaopard print mini-skirt,Davina yelled: “I am living my best f***ing life! and I am going tocarry on doing that so you can see that it is going to be ok. But I’vebeen reborn.
“I’m a woman who can no longer have children, but can hopefully mentorother women through what is a difficult journey.
“Being a woman is challenging right, but that is why it’s so f***inggreat.
“And that’s why I love all f***ing women because we all gothrough those challenges.”
