Broadcaster Davina McCall has revealed she is reducing her working week to four days, prioritising her own well-being after a series of significant health challenges.
The 58-year-old, a familiar face from her extensive television career, recently underwent surgery for breast cancer in October, a diagnosis that came after a procedure to remove a benign brain tumour nearly a year ago.
Speaking on the Miss Me? podcast, McCall explained that these experiences have prompted a profound shift in her approach to life, leading her to “de-stress” and focus on self-care.
“Change was something that really frightened me. I always loved the status quo, knowing what I was doing and feeling safe in that,” she admitted. However, she now recognises the transformative power of adversity.
“What has happened, actually is that I have realised that all my really big growth has come from change, and often quite painful change.”
McCall reflected on past personal breakthroughs, including her journey to sobriety in the early 90s and the profound aftermath of her brain tumour removal, both of which initially highlighted the critical need to de-stress her life.
“Interestingly, I realised that, but then the breast cancer, which I thought was a very, very frightening thing, made me realise that I really had to put that into place, and I have now,” she stated. This culmination of experiences has led to her decision to work a four-day week.
“I feel so much better now about my life and trying to get it more balanced,” McCall added, describing her current focus as her “latest project.” She emphasised, “me, because I can’t take care of anyone else if I’m not OK.”
According to the NHS, breast cancer remains the most common type of cancer affecting women in the UK. While it can affect anyone, those at higher risk include individuals over the age of 50, those with dense breast tissue, a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, or elevated levels of the hormones oestrogen, progesterone, or testosterone.
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Beyond her personal journey, McCall continues her public roles as a panellist on ITV’s The Masked Singer and host of the Begin Again podcast.
She is also widely remembered for presenting Big Brother on Channel 4 from 2000 to 2010 and has long been a vocal advocate for women’s health issues, fronting documentaries on contraception and the menopause.
