Wednesday, October 14, 2026 -British television presenter Davina McCall has revealed the frightening extent of her memory loss following surgery to remove a benign brain tumour. The 58-year-old star said she initially struggled to remember people around her, including her husband, Michael Douglas, describing the experience as feeling like “advanced Alzheimer’s.”
In an emotional interview on the Mad, Sad, Bad podcast with Paloma Faith, McCall explained that she did not even remember having undergone the operation when she first woke up. Her candid account has brought renewed attention to the challenges she faced during recovery.
McCall explained that her memory problems affected everyday activities for months. She struggled to follow films because she could not remember what had happened just 15 minutes earlier, while reading a book became difficult because she kept forgetting the previous page.
The presenter underwent surgery in 2024 to remove a rare 14mm colloid cyst discovered during a health check. Although the operation was successful, her recovery involved significant memory difficulties that took time to improve. She later described singing lessons as a form of mental rehabilitation that helped her reconnect with her memories.
In a hopeful development, McCall said her memory began showing a major improvement in October 2025, when she woke up and realised she could remember what she had done the previous day. Her experience highlights the emotional and practical challenges that can follow major brain surgery, while underlining the importance of patience and appropriate medical support during recovery.
The presenter has also faced breast cancer, which was detected early and treated with surgery and radiotherapy. By speaking openly about her health struggles, McCall is encouraging wider conversations about recovery, resilience and the importance of taking changes in health seriously.
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