Davina McCall 'out of the woods' and planning return to work in January, says partner
The My Mum, Your Dad presenter has been diagnosed with a rare brain tumour and is back home after having surgery.
Davina McCall is now "out of the woods" after undergoing brain surgery following a diagnosis with a rare tumour, her partner Michael Douglas has shared.
On Instagram Live, the celebrity hairdresser said the Long Lost Family presenter is very tired and taking long naps while she focussed on rest and recuperation. He also said that she plans to be off work until mid-January while she recovers.
"She's off [work] until mid-January," Douglas shared. "She's got a lot of time to relax and recuperate. It's been a very, very emotional and quite an incredible experience. We're definitely out of the woods.”
Earlier this week McCall posted her first video after returning home, where she thanked her loved ones and fans for their support and said she felt "unbelievably grateful".
The My Mum, Your Dad presenter, 57, was diagnosed the benign brain tumour — a colloid cyst — a few months ago when she was offered a check up for doing a talk about menopause. McCall told her following that it is "very rare, three in a million".
Ahead of the surgery, she asked fans to pray for her but she said she was in good spirits. Her partner Michael Douglas has been keeping people updated on how she is doing on social media. The couple have been romancing since 2019 but their friendship stretches back longer. They first met when McCall was presenting Big Brother and Douglas was her hairdresser.
27 November: Davina McCall is feeling 'stronger and stronger'
Davina McCall shared her own update on Instagram on 27 November, saying her post-surgery short-term memory loss is "really improving a lot every day" as she recovers at home from a brain operation.
The former Big Brother presenter wrote on Instagram that she is feeling "stronger and stronger", as well as "so lucky, grateful" and "blessed".
In an accompanying video, McCall said: "I am feeling much better now that I’m home. I’m being brilliantly looked after by Michael and Gaby, my (step)mum, and just to say that, I’m now just trying to sleep a lot and get better.
"My short term memory is really improving a lot every day, and it has been an example to me on how much sleep helps me recover from everything.
"So if I feel a bit confused or I’m struggling to kind of concentrate, I just go to sleep and I wake up completely renewed and refreshed so I know that my brain needs lots of sleep, and (I) just wanted to thank you all for your ongoing support, thanks so much.”
25 November: Davina McCall is struggling with 'short term memory loss'
On Monday, 25 November she shared an emotional update to fans, McCall posted a video from her bed to say that she was back home and thanked everyone for their well wishes.
The TV presenter gave "an enormous, heartfelt thanks" and fought back tears as she said: "It's meant the world. It's been mad and it's just really nice to be back home.
She added that her short term memory was "remiss" but that it was something she would be able to work on and said she was writing down everything she had been doing to help with her recall.
McCall said she was being supported by Douglas and her stepmum Gabby: "Big up the stepmums. I don't really say thank you to Gabby enough, she's been an amazing rock my whole life."
She also said that she was feeling very grateful, adding: "I've always been grateful, I've been very lucky in my life, but I feel unbelievably grateful right now. So thanks all of you, I'm on the mend, I'm resting, I'm feeling really good. I just feel very lucky."
Many of McCall's friends commented on the post as Ruth Langsford wrote: "Good to see your lovely face. Rest up and let those lovely people take care of you."
Olly Murs added: "Awww so happy you’re back home Davina x we all love ya!!" and Craig David wrote: "You’re amazing Davina. And we all love you so much."
Paloma Faith commented: "What a brilliant and beautiful woman you are … we are all rooting for you xxx"
The video was the first update from McCall herself. When she came out of ICU, her partner wrote on social media: "Update folks. Thanks so much to all the well wishers. ❤️❤️❤️ She really has made an enormous leap forward in the last 24 hours. She is out of ICU She is “loving awareness” ❤️🌈🪐🌎💥💕 Thank you xx Michael."
In a previous update, Douglas had revealed the star had been out of surgery and was recovering in intensive care.
What are the symptoms of a colloid cyst?
Medics in McCall's case found the colloid cyst by chance. A colloid cyst is a fluid-filled cavity in the centre of the brain, according to The Brain Trust charity. They account for less than 2% of all primary brain tumours.
According to the NHS, non-cancerous brain tumours are more common in people over the age of 50. Symptoms can include headaches, blackouts, behavioural changes and loss of consciousness.
Read more: What is a colloid cyst? Different tumours explained after Davina McCall undergoes brain surgery (The Independent, 3-min read)
Davina McCall's diagnosis
McCall revealed she was undergoing brain surgery as she shared details of her benign tumour diagnosis in a post on Instagram.
In a piece to camera, 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."
McCall said the tumour was "big" and 14 mm wide. She said: "It needs to come out, because if it grows, it would be bad."
The former Big Brother presenter had craniotomy which is a surgical procedure that temporarily removes part of the skull.
Read more: Davina McCall undergoes surgery to remove brain tumour (The Telegraph, 2-min read)
Support for Davina McCall
There has been an outpouring of support for McCall, including her celebrity friends. Among them, Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden said: "Sending so much love."
Ashley Roberts said: "All the love gorgeous one. Sending all the healing vibes. Love you."
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."
BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac said she was sending "every ounce of love".
Read more: Like Davina, I had surgery for a benign brain tumour and it changed me forever
