This Morning's Holly Willoughby, Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary send their love to Davina McCall

By SEAN O'GRADY FOR MAILONLINE 14:11 15 Nov 2024, updated 14:58 15 Nov 2024

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Holly Willoughby, Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary have led the celebrity tributes to Davina McCall after she revealed she's undergoing brain surgery to remove a benign tumour.

The TV presenter, 57, shared the news in an Instagram post, saying she has a 'very rare' colloid cyst that affects only three in a million people. 

She explained that she received the diagnosis by chance after booking in for a 'health scan'. 

In a video, she said: 'I'm posting this. It will be Friday morning, and I'm doing it because a few months ago, I did a menopause talk for a company, and they offered me a health scan in return, which I thought I was going to ace, but it turned out I had a benign brain tumour called a colloid cyst, which is very rare, three in a million.

'And so I slightly put my head in the sand for a while, and then I saw quite a few neuro surgeons. I got lots of opinions, and I realised that I have to get it taken out.'

Following her announcement, members of the This Morning family including Holly, Alison and Dermot sent their love to Davina.

Holly wrote: 'I'm sending you all the love and then a whole lot more ❤️'.

On Friday's episode of This Morning, Alison and Dermot, who both know Davina through Big Brother, sent their well wishes.

Alison said: 'Just want to say, all our thoughts are with Davina. We're thinking about you and you are so strong. Even in the Instagm post, she is just incredible.'

Dermot said: 'The good thing is it's benign. said the chance of having it was three in a million. Sending you all our love and prayers Davina and Michael.'

This Morning contributor Vanessa Feltz also added that Davina is an 'incredible person' and wonderful friend' and they're sending lots of love to her.   

Other stars including Amanda Holden, Carol Vorderman, Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts and Olympic heptathlon gold medallist Dame Denise Lewis reached out to the presenter.

Amanda Holden said: 'Sending so much love,' while former Big Brother winner Kate Lawler wrote: 'I'm in awe of your positivity Davina. Wishing you all the love and healing prayers post surgery. See you soon.'

Carol wrote: 'Wishing you every success with the big op. And love in recovery on the other side ❤️. You help and continue to help so many people and for that so many of us are grateful. Please take your time. Everyone will be here when YOU are ready ❤️'.  

Dame Denise Lewis said: 'Love you darling. You've got this. See you on the other side of the op.'  

The former Big Brother presenter said she is having the tumour removed through a craniotomy, a surgical procedure on the brain, and she is in 'good spirits'.

In reply, Ashley said: 'All the love gorgeous one. Sending all the healing vibes. Love you.'

Fellow bandmate, Kimberly Wyatt said: 'Oh babe, thinking about you - I can only imagine what you must be feeling.

'Keeping you in my heart and on my mind, take it easy lovely one.'

Former Holby City star Lisa Faulkner added: 'Sending all my love to you. Best wishes and all positive prayers for a speedy recovery.'

Comedian Alan Carr wrote: 'Big love my darling!' while BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac described Davina as a 'gorgeous woman' and said she was sending 'every ounce of love'.

In the Instagram post on her account by Davina's partner, Michael Douglas, he said he would keep fans updated on her condition.

Another fellow presenter Rylan, who won the 11th series of Celebrity Big Brother and later presented spin-off Big Brother's Bit On The Side, also replied, saying: 'We're all thinking of you beautiful.' 

Actor and presenter Denise van Outen added: 'Big love to you too Michael.'

Davina has been dating celebrity hairdresser Michael, 49, for five years and though the pair are blissfully happy, they have no plans to walk down the aisle together. 

With the pair having both been married before, Davina explained that they didn't need to 'rock the boat' by tying the knot, insisting that for now, marriage is 'off the table'. 

Speaking to The Sun, she responded 'no' both times when asked if she was engaged to Michael or planned to marry down the line.

Giving her reasons for her refusal, she went on: 'That's not even on the table, it's just not. He's been [married before] so we both just feel like we are happy, let's not rock the boat. Let's just keep things on the down-low.

WHAT IS A COLLOID CYST? 

A colloid cyst is a slow-growing tumour typically found near the center of the brain. 

The benign growth contains gelatinous material.

Most patients present with headaches, although other symptoms including vertigo, memory problems and double vision can occur.

If large enough, a colloid cyst obstructs the movement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain.

This results in a build up of CSF in the ventricles of the brain and raises pressure in the skull.

Surgery may be required promptly in order to reduce the relatively high risk of sudden death.

Source: UCLA Department of Neurosurgery 

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'We're not interested. I knew Michael for so many years [before we got together] that there were no questions to ask like that. I know him. It was easy.'

Shutting down any further questions about her love life, Davina concluded by saying: 'I love Michael. And I always feel like it's too precious to just talk about in public. I just want to keep it for me.'

Davina and Michael were old friends and first met when he styled her hair during her Big Brother presenting days.

Davina split from her ex-husband Matthew Robertson in 2017 after 17 years of marriage. She was also briefly wed to Andrew Leggett in 1997.

She shares three children with Matthew: Holly, 22, Tilly 20, and 17-year-old son Chester.

While Davina is famed for presenting shows such as Big Brother, My Mum Your Dad and  The Biggest Loser, in recent years she has been campaigning for more awareness and treatment for the menopause. 

Speaking about her experience, Davina shared: 'It's so lonely [going through menopause], I thought I was disappearing and my world was getting smaller and smaller. I felt very lonely and isolated,' she said.

'It's only when you come out of the grey, you think, I haven't belly laughed for months... It can be a fantastic time in your life, of freedom. It's just the next stage.'

Davina explored menopause in a documentary entitled Sex, Mind and the Menopause - the follow-up to her 2021 programme Sex, Myths and the Menopause.

The show further explored more of the burning issues raised in her first documentary – including menopause myths and the taboo around HRT.

It also took a deeper look at whether women are being sidelined, sacked or forced to go part-time when hit by menopause symptoms at work.

In January, Davina was awarded an MBE for services to broadcasting following a television career spanning more than two decades. 

The TV presenter heaped praise on the Princess Royal after being made an MBE for services to broadcasting.

She said Princess Anne had always been one of her favourite royals and shared her 'gung-ho' attitude to life.

The presenter added that she was 'terrified' before the investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, but that it was an 'honour'.

When asked by the Princess Royal how she got into broadcasting, the presenter replied that she had wanted to be a singer but 'wasn't good enough'.

Princess Anne then quipped that 'The Masked Singer is perfect for you!'

Davina began her TV career presenting in 1994 on MTV Europe, before moving onto Hitlist UK the year after.

But her big break came in 2000, when she landed the role of then-contemporary Channel 4 reality show Big Brother.

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She went on to present the popular British show until 2010 as well as several series of the weekly eviction spin-off and celebrity edition.

Shortly after Davina began hosting weight-loss show The Biggest Loser on ITV though the series was cancelled in 2012.

Her latest project, announced launched last year saw her star in the 'midlife Love Island, My Mum, Your Dad, which was hugely successful in its first season.

As well as her programme presenting duties, Davina is also known for her social justice and charitable work, though she has occasionally combined the two.

Since 2005 she has often been part of the celebrity presenter line-up for Comic Relief's Red Nose Day and was only yesterday confirmed to be returning this year.

As well as that, in 2021 she featured in the Stand Up To Cancer telethon, during which she gave an emotional tribute to her friend – Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding.

Davina is also passionate about health and fitness and is in the shape of her life after devoting herself to ritualistic daily workouts.

Speaking to The Mirror, the presenter revealed she sets her alarm for 6:15am each day and immediately pulls on her Lycra workout gear, because it motivates her to exercise, even when she doesn't want to.

'I just put on a workout outfit because it means that I'm always ready,' she said. 'If I start my day in civvies I am not going to work out, it's never going to happen.'

After hopping out of bed at the crack of dawn Davina hits the shower, before applying a variety of gels and patches - prescribed by her doctor to treat issues such as 'brain fog and libido.'

Then comes breakfast, but bacon, eggs and a piping hot cup of coffee are most definitely not on the menu for the health conscious star.

'I have the powdered bovine collagen,' she admitted. 'I'd probably have granola and milk for breakfast, but sometimes, if I'm naughty, I'll do a crumpet.'

Davina is also teetotal, having previously struggled with addiction. 

She began taking drugs when she was a teenager and, by her 20s was an addict, previously describing heroin as her 'drug of choice'.

The Million Pound Drop host, who chooses not to drink in case it leads to drug use, also had a turbulent relationship with her mother, Florence Kock, who as well struggled with addiction.

Having tried heroin for the first time aged 15, Davina reflected on the sense of false comfort the substance gave her, revealing that using was 'like coming home.'

'When you are on it nothing else matters so you don't care about meeting someone on time or picking up your kids from school, luckily I didn't have any,' she said in a podcast.

After pushing her loved ones away and losing everything to prioritise her drug use, she said: 'Heroin became my best friend. It's like the biggest, warmest, softest cuddle.'

After 10 years of substance abuse, Davina got help following an intervention from a friend and began attending ongoing NA meetings and therapy sessions, later achieving sobriety.

Davina described her life as 'a crazy adventure,' adding, 'I don't think I'd be as grateful as I am if I hadn't had a tough time.'

She previously explained that as a teetotal recovering addict, she doesn't even like to take over-the-counter tablets for headaches, so she avoided going down the medical route.

Davina told how she took up exercise and took herbal remedies to help but these didn't 'cut it', telling how she planned to 'battle through' before finally getting educated about the menopause, with a private gynaecologist eventually prescribing HRT for her.

For confidential help and support with drink and drug problems talk to FRANK on 0300 123 6600