Davina McCall has disclosed that comedian Peter Kay provided significant private support as she navigated a brain tumour diagnosis and subsequent breast cancer battle.
McCall, 58, underwent surgery in 2024 to remove a benign brain tumour and was diagnosed with breast cancer the following year. She described Kay, 53, as an "unlikely champion" who offered help despite their limited prior acquaintance.
"He called me when I was in hospital with my brain tumour," McCall recounted. "I really don't know him that well but he was unbelievably supportive."
She further explained that Kay continued his support after her breast cancer diagnosis. "When I had my breast cancer diagnosis he just talked me through what to 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.'"
McCall shared these revelations while accepting the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Edinburgh TV Festival. She also spoke about the role her husband, Michael Douglas, played during that period.
McCall explained that while the brain tumour diagnosis negatively impacted her short-term memory and distanced them, the breast cancer diagnosis ultimately brought them closer. "The tumour pushed us apart because I had no short term memory – I was over here trying to get better and he was over worrying if I was ever going to come back. But cancer smushed us back together in such a weird way, it was just a beautiful way for us to just reconnect and rebond."
She stated, "I was almost grateful for that experience, and I caught it early so I did make a full recovery but there was something about it that we needed."
McCall and Douglas married in December at Marylebone Town Hall with close friends and family present. This wedding occurred weeks after McCall revealed her breast cancer diagnosis and underwent surgery for a lump she had detected.
She had disclosed her breast cancer diagnosis last year, emphasizing that early detection through noticing a lump led to a successful lumpectomy. McCall recently completed a course of preventative radiotherapy, becoming emotional as the treatment concluded.
While not retiring, McCall is stepping back from full-time work, viewing her health scares as a significant wake-up call. She described this life overhaul as essential after facing the brain tumour in 2024 and cancer. Speaking on the "Miss Me?" podcast, she admitted the double health blow forced her to confront a history of avoiding change and overworking.
McCall elaborated that while the brain tumour initially prompted thoughts of de-stressing, it was the breast cancer diagnosis that compelled her to implement these changes. She connected this to her earlier breakthroughs in overcoming addiction in her twenties and after her brain tumour removal, noting, "I realised that I needed to de-stress my life. Interestingly, I realised that - but then 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."