Davina McCall has revealed she has cardiovascular disease, opening up about her own health concerns while discussing the potentially life-threatening risks of high cholesterol in a new episode of her podcast.

The former Big Brother presenter, 59, shared the news during a special episode of her Begin Again podcast produced in partnership with the British Heart Foundation. Speaking to heart attack survivor Louise McGill, Davina explained that she had also been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease and wanted to highlight why conversations about heart health are so important.

“I just also wanted to let you know that I also have cardiovascular disease,” she said. “This is a very important conversation to have.”

The revelation comes after an exceptionally difficult few years for Davina, who underwent surgery for a rare brain tumour in 2024 before being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025. She received the all-clear in April.

THE CHOLESTEROL WARNING THAT HIT CLOSE TO HOME

During the conversation, Louise explained that a health check before her heart attack had revealed slightly elevated cholesterol levels, despite her being considered at low risk.

Davina recognised the situation, revealing that she had experienced similar results after living with high cholesterol for many years.

“I had high cholesterol and I’d had it for quite a long time,” she explained, recalling how she had been reassured that her high levels of good cholesterol might offset the bad.

She questioned whether elevated cholesterol could serve as an important warning sign that people should take seriously, even when they otherwise feel healthy.

Louise encouraged women to have their cholesterol checked, particularly during menopause, when changes in health can make regular monitoring especially important.

Davina has spoken publicly about her cholesterol for years. In 2021, she revealed that she had first discovered the problem around 20 years earlier, when she was pregnant with her first child. She has continued to undergo regular checks to monitor her levels.

At the time, she described high cholesterol as a hidden danger because people may have no obvious symptoms and may not realise they have it.

She also stressed that it can be managed, making early detection and medical advice important.

‘YOU SUDDENLY FEEL VULNERABLE’

Davina also reflected on how her cancer diagnosis changed her outlook on life, admitting that serious illness had challenged her previous sense of security.

“Anyone can get sick,” she said. “When I had my cancer experience, you just suddenly feel vulnerable in a way you weren’t before.”

She added: “Once you’ve been ill, you think, ‘Oh, I thought I was invincible.’”

Her comments echo what she shared earlier this year about the impact of her health battles. Speaking on the Miss Me? podcast in January, Davina explained that her diagnoses had forced her to reconsider her demanding schedule and the way she approached work.

After decades presenting programmes including Big Brother, Long Lost Family, The Masked Singer and My Mum, Your Dad, she acknowledged that she had spent much of her life avoiding change and relying on a familiar routine.

“What has happened, actually, is that I have realised that all my really big growth has come from change — and often quite painful change,” she said.

WHY SHE IS CHANGING HER WORKING LIFE

Davina explained that the removal of her brain tumour had prompted her to think seriously about reducing stress. However, she said her subsequent breast cancer diagnosis made her determined to put those changes into practice.

She also reflected on her recovery from heroin and alcohol addiction in the early 1990s, describing it as another major turning point in her life.

Now, the presenter says she is committed to creating a healthier balance between her career and personal life.

“I’m going to work a four-day week,” she revealed. “I feel so much better now about my life and trying to get it more balanced.”

She described looking after herself as her latest personal project, explaining that she cannot properly care for others if she is not well herself.

WHAT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE MEANS

Cardiovascular disease, or CVD, is an umbrella term for conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. It includes coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral arterial disease and diseases affecting the aorta.

High cholesterol is one of several factors that can increase cardiovascular risk, alongside high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, physical inactivity and obesity. Cholesterol levels alone do not determine an individual’s overall risk, which is why regular health checks and advice from a healthcare professional are important.

Davina’s disclosure has brought renewed attention to a condition that can remain unnoticed for years. By sharing her experience alongside Louise’s story, she has highlighted the importance of understanding personal risk factors and taking heart health seriously — even when a routine check appears reassuring.