Davina McCall Reveals Cardiovascular Disease Diagnosis
Television presenter Davina McCall shared her new health diagnosis on her podcast, offering an update following her battles with a brain tumor and breast cancer.
Davina McCall has revealed she is living with cardiovascular disease, sharing the news in a recent episode of her podcast, "Begin Again."
The 59-year-old presenter, who previously disclosed her diagnoses of a rare brain tumor in 2024 and breast cancer in November 2025, spoke with heart attack survivor Louise McGill on a British Heart Foundation-themed episode. McCall shared her own experience with high cholesterol, which she has managed for two decades since her first pregnancy.
"I had high cholesterol and I'd had it for quite a long time and it was deemed because I had high good cholesterol that that offset the bad or something," McCall said on the podcast, reflecting on her health check results that mirrored McGill's experience. She questioned whether high cholesterol serves as a significant warning sign.
According to the NHS, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a broad term encompassing conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels, often linked to the buildup of fatty deposits in arteries, known as atherosclerosis. It is a leading cause of death and disability globally, with heart attacks and strokes accounting for a significant portion of CVD-related fatalities.
Risk factors for CVD include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, diabetes, inactivity, and obesity. The risk also increases with age, particularly for individuals over 50. Maintaining a balanced diet, regular exercise, and managing cholesterol levels are recommended for heart health.
McCall's health revelations come after she announced a shift in her career focus, stepping back from full-time work. She stated that her health battles had prompted a reevaluation of her life, leading her to prioritize self-care and a more balanced approach to her work schedule, including a move to a four-day work week.
"Once you’ve been ill, you think 'Oh, I thought I was invincible'," McCall reflected on her cancer experience, emphasizing that anyone can become unwell. She noted that while her brain tumor diagnosis prompted her to consider reducing stress, it was the breast cancer diagnosis that compelled her to implement significant life changes.
McCall has previously spoken about managing her high cholesterol through diet and specific food swaps, highlighting the importance of regular check-ups for this often-undetected condition. She identified her first pregnancy as the point when she first became aware of her cholesterol levels.
