Davina McCall has revealed she named her brain tumour, and even threw it a party.

A rare colloid cyst in her brain, though benign, carried the risk of sudden death before the TV presenter underwent life-saving surgery in November 2024.

The former Big Brother presenter, 57, shared on her podcast Begin Again: ‘I called my brain tumour Jeffrey.

‘I needed to name it something. And I didn’t have any personal friends that were called Jeffrey, so it seemed like a good name to call him. And we had a Jeffrey happy birthday party with friends.’

She said her boyfriend, hairdresser Michael Douglas, 49, ‘played the piano and sang some songs and sort of did speeches. And we all kind of talked about things and I talked about the fact that I was a bit scared, but “I know I’m going to do it”.

‘And if it was going to happen to anybody, it was good it happened to me because I am robust mentally and I can handle it.’

Davina McCall has revealed she named her brain tumour, and even threw it a party

The My Mum Your Dad presenter had her tumour picked up at a private clinic when she was offered a health check after taking part in a talk about menopause 

The mother-of-three was so fearful of dying that she ensured her affairs were in order.

‘I wrote letters of wishes to all the children, and put those in my will.’

‘What I wanted to do was to try and find a way that they would all find a way through if I didn’t make it. They make me very proud’, she said.

The Long Lost Family host believed that ‘in my head, I was literally the healthiest person in the world… And I had this head-to-toe scan.  

‘And they came back and they went, “Okay, we’ve got your results. Um… we’d like to talk to you.”’

Despite the severity of her condition, she was determined to avoid pity.

‘I just did not want the drama, right? I felt like the drama would make it a hundred times worse for me. I don’t want limp necks. “Oh my God, oh my…” I don’t want pity. Because a lot of people have said to me since, “When you told me, I thought you could die.”

‘And I thought, “I don’t want people looking at me like I could die. I’m dealing with that myself.” I just want positivity.’

She said her boyfriend, hairdresser Michael Douglas ‘played the piano and sang some songs and sort of did speeches’ 

      WHAT IS A COLLOID CYST? 

A colloid cyst is a slow-growing tumour typically found near the center of the brain. 

The benign growth contains gelatinous material.

Most patients present with headaches, although other symptoms including vertigo, memory problems and double vision can occur.

If large enough, a colloid cyst obstructs the movement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain.

This results in a build up of CSF in the ventricles of the brain and raises pressure in the skull.

Surgery may be required promptly in order to reduce the relatively high risk of sudden death.

Source: UCLA Department of Neurosurgery 

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Davina has been open about her health scare and previously gave an emotional update in an Instagram video as she urged others to get private health checks if they can afford it 

Now, as she recovers, the author sees life with a fresh perspective.

‘I feel like life’s never going to be the same again, but in rather a good way.’

She added: ‘A life lived in fear is a life half-lived. Write your bucket list now. Don’t wait until it’s too late.’

Davina has been open about her health scare and previously gave an emotional update in an Instagram video as she urged others to get private health checks if they can afford it.

The My Mum Your Dad presenter had her tumour picked up at a private clinic when  she was offered a health check after taking part in a talk about menopause.

Discussing her progress after the surgery, she explained: ‘I really feel a lot more myself now. I feel way better.

‘My sense of graтιтude is growing by the day, I’m crying a bit less which is good. I’m really looking forward to Christmas.

‘I want to talk about the place I did my health check. I didn’t sing about it from the roof tops is it costs more than most people could afford. It’s expensive – BUT it did save my life. But it is prohibitively expensive for most.

‘The NHS also offers loads of other checks too. So get them – get the health check. Preventative medicine is better than reactive medicine.

‘Eat well, do exercise, be less stressed. I just feel so grateful now. I’d like to say a mᴀssive thank you to all the staff at the clinics – I’m pretty sure you saved my life.’

Brand new episodes of Begin Again drop Thursdays at 8am GMT wherever you get your podcasts.