Davina McCall has shared that comedian Peter Kay provided significant private support during her battles with a brain tumor and breast cancer. McCall, 58, disclosed that Kay, 53, reached out to her while she was hospitalized for the benign brain tumor, which was surgically removed in 2024.
"He called me when I was in hospital with my brain tumour," McCall recalled. "I really don't know him that well but he was unbelievably supportive."
Following her breast cancer diagnosis the subsequent year, Kay continued to offer his counsel. "When I had my breast cancer diagnosis he just talked me through what to do," McCall stated. "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 impact of her health challenges on her marriage to Michael Douglas.
Reconnecting Through Adversity
McCall explained that while her brain tumor diagnosis initially created distance in her marriage due to her resulting short-term memory loss, the breast cancer diagnosis served to bring them back together. "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," she said. "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 noted that despite the difficult experience, she felt a sense of gratitude for the way it strengthened their relationship. McCall made a full recovery from the cancer, which she detected early after finding a lump.
A Wake-Up Call
McCall recently confirmed she completed her course of preventative radiotherapy. The experience of facing two major health scares in quick succession has prompted her to step back from full-time work.
Speaking on the "Miss Me?" podcast, McCall described the health challenges as a wake-up call that forced her to confront a pattern of avoiding change and overworking. She noted that while the brain tumor prompted reflection on reducing stress, it was the breast cancer diagnosis that compelled her to implement these changes. McCall, who has spoken openly about overcoming past addiction, indicated that these health crises were significant breakthroughs in her life, leading her to prioritize de-stressing her life.
McCall and Douglas married in December. The wedding took place weeks after McCall revealed her breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent lumpectomy.