Davina McCall has announced she is undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumour.
The TV presenter and Masked Singer judge is having the operation to remove a 14mm benign brain tumour, which she discovered during a recent health scan.
She shared the news in an Instagram post on Friday, revealing she had a colloid cyst that affects only three in a million people.
In a new video posted to her Instagram account, McCall explained: “A few months ago I did a menopause talk for a company and they offered me a health scan in return, which I thought I was going to ace, but it turned out I had a benign brain tumour called a colloid cyst, which is very rare.”
McCall explained that upon learning about the tumour, she put her “head in the sand for a while” but then sought out advice from neurosurgeons and got different opinions.
“I realised that I have to get it taken out,” she said. “It’s big for the space – it fills the space. It’s 14mm wide. And it needs to come out because if it grows it would be bad.”
The presenter will undergo a craniotomy – a surgical procedure to remove part of the skull to access the brain – to take out the cyst.
“Say a prayer for me,” she said.
McCall’s partner Michael Douglas then arrived in the video to assure fans he was taking care of her, and that she would be “off the grid” until she recovers. She will be in hospital for nine days in total.
“I’m just letting people know that I will have my eye on her throughout the procedure,” said Douglas, before joking, “In fact, I offered to do the operation to make sure it was done properly – but they won’t let me.”
McCall remarked they had both “been through a lot” but they remained in good spirits. “I’m going to be off my phone for a while, so Michael might fill you in,” she added.
She assured fans that she is in good hands, and that she has total faith in her surgeon and his team.
“I’m handing the reins over to my surgeon, he knows what he’s doing and I’m going to do the getting better bit after,” McCall said. “I’ll see you on the other side.”
Douglas wrote alongside the video on Instagram: “Hey everyone. Michael here. @davinamccall will be ‘off grid’ for a bit while she recovers from this brain operation. She is in great shape and in very good hands. I’ll do the odd update from her account here for anyone interested.
“I’m sure she’ll read all the comments when she’s able to so feel free to send love. The support of people is amazingly powerful. Have a great day everyone.”
According to the London Neurology Partnership, colloid cysts are small fluid-filled sacs located in or around the lateral and third ventricle of the brain.
McCall’s celebrity colleagues have been sharing their well-wishes online, with singer-songwriter Kimberly Wyatt writing, “Oh babe, thinking about you – I can only imagine what you must be feeling. Keeping you in my heart and on my mind. Take it easy lovely one.”
BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac added, “You gorgeous woman. Sending every ounce of love xx,” while TV presenter Amanda Holden said she was “sending so much love” to McCall.
TV presenter Rylan said: “We’re all thinking of you beautiful.”
Former Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts added: “All the love gorgeous one!! Sending all the healing vibes. Love you!!”
A spokesperson for The Brain Tumour Charity issued a statement saying it had been supporting McCall in the lead-up to her surgery.
“All of us at The Brain Tumour Charity wish her the best possible outcome for this procedure. As an inspiration to so many, we’re grateful that Davina has chosen to raise awareness of this unique devastating disease.”
