Davina McCall has revealed the severe memory problems she experienced after surgery to remove a benign brain tumour in 2024. The 58-year-old television presenter shared her experience on the Mad, Sad and Bad podcast with Paloma Faith. She described her memory loss as similar to advanced Alzheimer’s, explaining how it affected her everyday activities. Even watching films and reading books became difficult because she struggled to remember events from minutes earlier.
McCall explained that she did not initially realise she had undergone surgery when she woke up. Hospital staff visited her daily, but she struggled to remember their names when they asked questions. Moreover, she often forgot conversations and interactions shortly after they happened. The presenter said her memory difficulties created significant challenges during her recovery.
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Her condition also affected her husband, Michael Douglas, who regularly visited her in hospital. McCall recalled that he would spend two hours with her, but she often forgot his visit when he briefly left the room. When he returned, she reacted with surprise because she could not remember seeing him earlier. She described 2025 as the hardest year of their lives because of the difficulties they faced together.
The presenter also revealed that she could not properly follow films for around six months after her operation. She struggled to remember what had happened in a movie just 15 minutes earlier. Reading books was equally challenging because she could not recall the previous page. However, music eventually became an important part of her recovery and helped her regain her memory.
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McCall said she took singing lessons as a form of mental rehabilitation, describing the experience as her “mind physio.” She credited music with helping her gradually recover her ability to remember everyday events. Last October, she experienced a significant breakthrough when she woke up and realised she could remember what she had done the previous day. The moment marked an important step forward in her recovery.
In August, McCall revealed that comedian Peter Kay had privately supported her following her brain tumour and breast cancer diagnoses. She underwent surgery to remove the benign tumour in 2024 before receiving a breast cancer diagnosis the following year. Her latest account offers insight into the personal challenges she experienced after surgery. It also highlights the importance of music and support from loved ones throughout her recovery.