Davina McCall says return to work after brain tumour âfeels amazingâ
The 57-year-old spoke about her return to TV on The One Show.
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TV presenter Davina McCall has said returning to work after she was diagnosed with a brain tumour âfeels amazingâ.
The 57-year-old, who will co-host Comic Relief on BBC One on Friday, underwent surgery last year to remove a benign tumour, known as a colloid cyst, which was found after she was offered a health check-up as part of her menopause advocacy work.
Speaking about her return to TV on The One Show, the former Big Brother presenter said: âI am so happy to be back, it was like the final piece of the jigsaw.
âI was recovering at home in my bedroom, a lot, going for a couple of walks a day, but I was kind of stuck in my bedroom, and it became my safe space, and I kind of didnât want to leave.
âAnd I got a bit nervous about going back to work, and I kept, kind of, in my head, thinking, âWell, I could just make a bit of an excuseâ.
âAnd Michael (Douglas, her partner) said to me, âI know you, I know how much you love work and how much it means to you, I know youâre scared, but this is the final piece of the jigsaw, and I think itâs going to make a big difference when you go backâ.
âAnd 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.
âIt felt like something normal that I could do that I love.â
Davina McCall and her partner Michael Douglas (Ian West/PA)
PA Wire
She said her appearance on the BBC One magazine show was a âbig dealâ as it was her first live programme since the operation.
McCall and Douglas attended the Brit Awards together last Saturday.
The presenter, who is known for hosting Big Brother between 2000 and 2010 during its Channel 4 run, has long advocated on womenâs health issues, and presented documentaries on contraception and the menopause.
She has also co-presented BBC Comic Relief and Sport Relief, Channel 4âs Stand Up To Cancer, The Million Pound Drop, Long Lost Family and dating programme My Mum, Your Dad.
According to the NHS, non-cancerous brain tumours are more common in people over the age of 50, and symptoms include headaches, vision problems and drowsiness, and some can be âdifficult to remove without damaging surrounding tissueâ.