'MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE CRYING OUT FOR GUIDANCE'

DAVINA MCCALL INVESTIGATES THE WIDER EFFECT OF THE MENOPAUSE AND SHARES MORE PERSONAL AND CANDID EXPERIENCES IN A POWERFUL NEW DOCUMENTARY

- IANNE ISON

CALL FOR ACTION

Whether you've watched her fangirling outside the Big Brother house or fighting back tears as she delivers heart-wrenching news on ITV's Long Lost Family, there's no denying that a huge part of Davina McCall's appeal is her relatability.

So when the 54-year-old presenter started experiencing early signs of menopause when she was just 44, it was no surprise she did what she always does - tackled it head-on with refreshing honesty.

After opening up about her own tough experience on social media, Davina went on to front her first documentary Sex, Myths And The Menopause, which aired on Channel 4 last year.

The mum-of-three spoke candidly about her journey, which began in 2012 when she spotted early signs such as hot flushes and insomnia.

"One night I was suddenly unable to sleep," Davina explained. "The day after, I felt like I had aged 10 years overnight."

But Davina knew she wasn't alone and used her time in front of the camera to find out more, meeting with other women, as well as experts, to bust open the many taboos surrounding menopause - from sex to hormone treatment such as HRT.

The response to the documentary was overwhelming, as Davina encouraged others going through this to shout about their experience.