Davina McCall reveals severe memory loss following brain tumour surgery

British broadcaster Davina McCall has shared details regarding her recovery from a benign brain tumour operation, describing the period as the “hardest year” of her life. During an appearance on the “Mad, Sad & Bad” podcast with Paloma Faith, McCall revealed that the surgery left her with severe memory loss that she compared to “advanced Alzheimer’s symptoms.”

McCall noted that she struggled to remember basic information, such as her own name or the fact that she had undergone surgery. The memory issues were so profound that she could not follow movies or read books, as she would forget the plot or the previous page within minutes. She also described instances where she would not recognize her partner, Michael Douglas, even after he had been in the room.

To aid her recovery, McCall utilized music as a form of “mind physio,” stating that music was instrumental in her healing process. She noted that her cognitive clarity began to return significantly by October.