It's so healthy to share our emotions

TV presenter Davina McCall on managing both her mental and physical health

- GEMMA CALVERT

Davina McCall was recording the latest series of ITV's Long Lost Family when she received a text, but didn't have her reading glasses, and struggled to fathom its contents, so she showed it to the camera assistant instead. Davina, 55, reveals, 'He said, "You've got an MBE!" and I replied, "Are you kidding? Check that. Check it again!" Then I burst into tears. I was like, "What is going on?!"

In the King's first Birthday Honours list last month, the mum of three was recognised for her services to broadcasting, following an on-screen career spanning more than 30 years.

'It feels so huge and was something that I genuinely didn't think was going to happen for me, so when it did, it was an enormous shock. It is the greatest honour.' 

Best known for working on programmes including Big Brother, The Jump, Celebrity Bake Off and ITV's hit show The Masked Singer, Davina has more recently became celebrated for her taboo-breaking documentaries that champion women's issues, including contraception and menopause. After her second C4 documentary, Davina McCall: Sex, Mind and the Menopause, aired in May last year, she published her award-winning book, Menopausing.

But now the mum is enjoying a well-earned relaxing summer break. 'What's next is a rest, Davina smiles. 'It's always the same with me. Lots of work during term times then I try to take some time off in the [school] holidays I've really tried to be super strict about that.'