Davina McCall Describes 'Advanced Alzheimer's' Symptoms After Brain Tumour Surgery
At 58, Davina McCall revealed her significant memory issues following surgery for a benign brain tumor in November 2024, comparing it to "advanced Alzheimer's." On Paloma Faith's podcast, she described her forgetfulness regarding the surgery and her daily encounters with hospital personnel. The craniotomy was performed to remove a colloid cyst discovered during her menopause advocacy. Additionally, McCall disclosed her breast cancer surgery in November 2024, labeling 2025 as the "hardest year" for her and her partner, Michael. Throughout her recovery, she faced challenges with memory, struggling to watch movies or recall previous pages in books. A year later, her memory improved, and in April 2025, MRI scans indicated her tumor was "not coming back." McCall shared her journey on her podcast, Begin Again.
Key facts
- Davina McCall, 58, had surgery in November 2024 to remove a benign brain tumour.
- She described post-surgery memory loss as feeling like 'advanced Alzheimer's'.
- The operation, a craniotomy, removed a colloid cyst found during a health check-up.
- She could not remember having had an operation or recognise hospital staff daily.
- She could not watch a movie for six months due to memory problems.
- In November last year she revealed she had also undergone breast cancer surgery.
- In April 2025 she said MRI scans showed the tumour was 'not coming back'.
- She believes singing lessons 'healed' her, citing music therapy for brain injuries.
Entities
Artists
- Davina McCall
- Paloma Faith
Institutions
- NHS
- Brainstrust
- Comic Relief
- Big Brother
- Celebrity Traitors
- The Masked Singer
Locations
- United Kingdom