The Masked Singer star Davina McCall was visibly emotional during the radio interview, as she revealed her idea behind a potential new project
Samantha Masters Content Editor
18:00, 26 Dec 2025
Davina McCall was visibly emotional after hearing Chris Evans talk about death
The Masked Singer panellist Davina McCall was recently moved to tears while discussing a potential new book project. Earlier this year, the television presenter launched Birthing, co-authored with midwife Marley Hall, which provides compassionate guidance and empowering advice about every phase of childbirth.
While promoting the book on Chris Evans’ Virgin Radio Breakfast Show, Davina, 58, spoke of the driving force behind the venture. “Sometimes if you don’t get the birth you want, you feel like a failure, and I really didn’t want women to feel like that,” she explained.
“So, I thought I need to write an all-encompassing book, no judgement, not telling you how to do it. However you want to do it is fine by me, by us, me and Marley.
“But, we want to give you the knowledge and power around every type of birth, so whatever happens to you, you’ll feel supported. I really am proud of the book.”
After the launch of Birthing, which followed her previous work on the menopause, Chris quipped that Davina was “joining the dots backwards”.
Davina McCall apologised as she wiped away tears (Image: VIRGINRADIO)
Chuckling, she responded: “I’ve done a prequel.”
Davina then revealed she’s already planning her next literary chapter. When questioned about its subject matter, she answered: “Dying – how to have a positive end to your life.”
Initially caught off guard, Chris then shared words frequently expressed by spiritual leader The Dalai Lama.
“The Dalai Lama always talks about that,” he remarked. “He says that if you were having a dinner party and wanted to go out, it’s probably a good idea to organise it – you’ll have a better time while it’s happening.
“First of all, you surrender to the fact that we’re all going to die. Then you sow the seeds of having the best marginal decade you can. The marginal decade is the last decade of your life, and you don’t know [when] it is until it happens.
“You can only count back once it ends, but if you improve your health, wellbeing and perspective on life enough to have a great marginal decade, then you’re already accepting that you’re going to die – and setting up the greatest celebration of your life that your relatives can possibly have,” he went on to say.
Touched by his profound words, Davina found herself struggling to reply as she dabbed away tears. After taking a deep breath, she then told Chris: “I mean, that was really good.
“That was really well put,” the presenter added, before offering an apology for her emotional reaction.
Mo Gilligan, Davina McCall, Joel Dommett, Maya Jama and Jonathan Ross on The Masked Singer (Image: ITV)
Davina’s concept for the new publication is believed to have stemmed from her recent brain tumour experience. In November 2024, she had surgery to remove a 14mm colloid cyst – an uncommon, benign brain tumour situated near the central area of her brain.
The cyst is believed to have impacted the brain’s short-term memory pathway, resulting in Davina experiencing memory challenges after her surgery. Looking back on her health crisis, she confessed that while thoughts of death had entered her mind, she harboured no fear of it.
In conversation with The Guardian, she revealed: “The best thing to come out of it is not being frightened of death any more. I wasn’t terrified of dying, but I didn’t want to die. I love life, love living, and definitely wanted to be around for my kids while they were young.
“I think if I’d got ill when my kids were little it would have been very different, but I looked at my three kids and, although I didn’t want to leave them, I did think: you’d all be OK if I did.”
The Masked Singer: Christmas Special airs tonight at 7.30pm on ITV and ITVX.
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