Davina McCall has revealed that having singing lessons for The Masked Singer ‘saved her’ during her terrifying brain tumour battle.
The TV presenter, 57, told fans in November how doctors had discovered a ‘very rare’ colloid cyst that affects only three in a million people.
She later underwent surgery as doctors operated to remove the cyst, which medics feared could cause serious problems if it grew any further.
In April, Davina confirmed a ‘final MRI’ scan had shown that the colloid cyst was ‘not coming back’ after the surgery to remove it in November 2024.
Now the TV star, who is a judge and finished second on the reality show as Star in the 2024 Christmas special, has said she was ‘very grateful’ for singing lessons as it was a ‘type of therapy’.
Davina told The Mirror at the National Television Awards: ‘You know what? Being apart of The Masked Singer during that time actually healed a huge part of me I think.
Davina McCall has revealed that having singing lessons for The Masked Singer ‘saved her’ during her terrifying brain tumour battle
The TV presenter, 57, told fans in November how doctors had discovered a ‘very rare’ colloid cyst that affects only three in a million people and confirmed in April a scan showed that it will ‘not come back’ after the surgery to remove it in November 2024.
‘You see, they gave me singing lessons. I always thought I could sing and wanted to be really good at it, so when I was diagnosed, I took lessons.
‘Singing really kept me going, and it was almost like a certain type of therapy for me. It was wonderful and I’m very grateful for those lessons,’ she added.
It comes after Davina revealed that she initially resisted the health check that uncovered her rare brain tumour.
Appearing on BBC Woman’s Hour, explained how she was hesitant to have the health check after it was gifted to her following a menopause talk she gave for a company.
She recalled thinking: ‘I don’t need a health check, I’m Davina.
‘I’m healthy, I’m fitness lady, that’s what I’m known for. I felt fantastic, I felt the best I’ve felt in years.
‘And they went ‘well look they do a Dexter scan,’ and I hadn’t done a Dexter scan, I thought ‘oh, well that would be quite useful’.
‘And a mole map, and I thought ‘oh that’s quite useful, I was sunbed queen in the 80s… I’m ashamed of that.
Now the TV star, who is a judge and finished second on the reality show as Star in the 2024 Christmas special, has said she was ‘very grateful’ for lessons as it was a ‘type of therapy’
She said: ‘Singing really kept me going, and it was almost like a certain type of therapy for me. It was wonderful and I’m very grateful for those lessons’
So I had the health check and what had flagged up is I heard the word benign.’
She continued: ‘And I just want to say to anybody listening, that knows anyone with a benign brain tumour, benign does not mean fine.
That’s a really important thing to say because benign cysts can be devastating.
‘They can be inoperable, they can kill you.
‘Just because it’s not cancerous doesn’t mean it’s not deadly.’
It comes after Davina revealed why she broke down in tears when she was awarded the Special Recognition prize at the NTAs last year.
The presenter was given the gong for her near three-decade long career on screen, and received a standing ovation from the crowd at London’s O2 Arena.
In an emotional VT, telly pals Dermot O’Leary, Alison Hammond and Claudia Winkleman opened up about their friendships as they heaped praise on her career.
It left Davina in tears as she collected the award from Hannah Waddingham.
Now, Davina has revealed the reason she was so emotional, opening up on her terrifying brain tumour ordeal that saw her go under the knife.
It comes after Davina revealed that she initially resisted the health check that uncovered her rare brain tumour
She told The Mirror: ‘Last year, I knew I had a brain tumour and I knew I was being operated on six weeks later, and I picked up the award which meant so much to me.
‘Everybody else knew why it meant so much to me, it just meant the world to me because I wasn’t sure where I was going to be six weeks later.’
Davina’s journey was part of a Channel 4 documentaries.
The documentaries were among the work that were noted as being behind the decision to hand her the Special Recognition gong last September.
Breaking down in tears in front of the crowd, Davina told audiences: ‘This means so much, I can’t even begin to tell you, I don’t even know where to start’
Davina joined a list of prestigious stars who have previously collected the Special Recognition Award.
Sarah Lancashire, Sir Lenny Henry, David Dimbleby and the late Paul O’Grady have all previously won the award.
