Davina McCall, the much-loved British TV star, made a triumphant return to live television on Monday night for the first time since her brain surgery.
Just four months after undergoing an operation to remove a benign brain tumour identified as a colloid cyst, the 57-year-old presenter joined The One Show in what marked her first live appearance post-surgery. Davina had disclosed back in November 2024 about battling a 14mm tumour that was removed through surgical intervention.
The beloved presenter’s comeback saw her discuss the forthcoming Red Nose Day and share her joy at returning to work. The One Show’s host Alex Jones warmly welcomed Davina, declaring: “We are so pleased to see you, we haven’t seen you since you had your operation to remove a benign tumour. We were just saying how worried we all were.”
The conversation took an emotional turn as Alex, 47, conveyed sweet messages from viewers. Upon reading out one such inquiry: “Ems has been in touch, she asks: ‘How does it feel to be back at work after your operation?'” to which Davina responded with heartfelt enthusiasm: “It feels amazing!”
She elaborated on how delighted she felt, confessing: “I am so happy to be back it was like the final piece of the jigsaw! I was recovering at home in my bedroom a lot, going for a couple of walks a day.”, reports the Mirror.
Davina McCall, the much-loved British TV star, made a triumphant return to live television on Monday night for the first time since her brain surgery (Image: undefined)
Davina further opened up about the struggles of her recovery: “But I was kind of stuck in my bedroom, it became my safe space. I kind of didn’t want to leave. I got a bit nervous about going back to work and I kept thinking in my head: ‘Well I could just make a bit of an excuse.’
“And Michael said to me: ‘I know you, I know how much you loved work and how much it means to you. I know you’re scared but this is the final piece of the jigsaw and I think it’s going to make a big difference when you go back.’
“I was so angry with him, and then when I went back, at the end of the day I sat in the car and I was like: ‘Yes!’ It felt so good to see everybody and to be back to normal! It felt like something normal I could do that I love!”
Davina then pointed out another milestone as she declared: “First live show today!” to which Alex and co-host Vernon Kay applauded her.
Davina made her first live show appearance on Monday night after undergoing brain surgery (Image: BBC)
The TV star previously recalled how she felt “angry” the tumour had “taken control” of her.
Speaking to friend Stephen Bartlett about the tumour on her podcast Begin Again, she recalled: “I felt like this thing had taken control of me and I was so angry about that.
“I couldn’t let it go, I was like, ‘How dare you control my daily life like this and make me feel every day like I’m in danger?’ … I have a newfound enormous sympathy for people who have benign brain tumours.
“I have had so many people say to me: ‘Well, at least it was benign.’ And you think: ‘You have no idea that benign brain tumours can still kill you.’
“It’s just, you don’t know when it’s going to happen. It could happen tomorrow, it could happen in years’ time. It’s different to cancer, but it is also awful. A benign does not mean fine.”
The One Show continues on weekdays at 7pm on One and iPlayer.