TV personality Davina McCall has opened up about the severe cognitive challenges she faced following surgery in 2024 to remove a benign brain tumour. During an appearance on Paloma Faith’s podcastMad, Sad and Badthe 58-year-old explained that the procedure resulted in profound memory loss, leaving her with symptoms she described as akin to “advanced Alzheimer’s.” After I’d had my brain tumour taken out, I had advanced Alzheimer’s, so I couldn’t remember anything,” the former Big Brother host told singer and Celebrity Traitors star Faith. Though, problems tend to be worst early on, then stabilise and improve over weeks to months, after brain surgery.
Reflecting on her immediate post-operative state, McCall recalled she had no recollection of the surgery itself. She noted that a staff member would regularly ask if she remembered their name, to which she would consistently respond that she did not. The experience made 2025 the most difficult year for both the presenter and her partner, Michael, who faced the reality of her struggle to retain short-term information.
McCall described the extent of her memory impairment, noting she was unable to follow the plot of a film because she could not remember events from just 15 minutes prior. Similarly, while reading, she would struggle to recall the contents of the previous page. She recounted moments where her partner would leave the room for a short period, only for her to express total surprise upon his return as if he had just arrived.
The surgery, which occurred in November 2024, was performed after a colloid cyst was identified during a health check-up related to her menopause advocacy. The procedure, known as a craniotomy, required the removal of part of her skull to reach the tumour. In addition to the brain surgery, McCall shared last year that she had also undergone treatment for breast cancer.
While the NHS notes that significant memory issues are a feature of later-stage Alzheimer’s, which is a progressive condition, recovery from brain surgery typically involves a period of stabilisation and improvement. For McCall, the healing process was gradual; she finally experienced a breakthrough about a year after the surgery when she woke up with the ability to recall events from the previous day.
The presenter credited singing lessons for playing a vital role in her recovery, suggesting that music therapy helped her heal from the injury. By April 2025, MRI scans confirmed the benign tumour was not returning, marking a significant milestone in her health journey. She has continued to document her experiences with the procedure and her recovery path on her own podcastBegin Again.
The Brainstrust charity explains that while benign tumours are not cancerous, they often grow at a slow pace. The NHS adds that such growths are more prevalent in individuals over 50, with common symptoms ranging from headaches and drowsiness to vision problems.
