Masked Singer's Davina McCall's 'major career decision' after brain tumour op

Davina McCall has experienced a life-altering "realisation" following her recent operation.

At 57, after undergoing surgery to remove a benign brain tumour, the beloved TV personality is now in recovery. The Masked Singer star had to confront a colloid cyst in her brain that was around "14 mm wide" and needed it removed urgently. Now almost two months on from the scare, Davina is healing well.

Her partner Michael Douglas, 49, gave an update last month, saying that Davina was planning to ease back into work by mid-January. Making her first public appearance since the operation at a Brain Tumour Research Campaign event, Davina couldn't hide her emotions, telling the crowd: "I'm crying already, that didn't go well," before touching on her intimate links to the cause including her sister's death from a brain tumour in 2012 as well as her own recent ordeal.

Those close to Davina hint that facing her mortality has shifted her outlook significantly, sparking a newfound appreciation for spending quality time with family and entertaining thoughts of a more relaxed lifestyle, potentially scaling back on professional duties.

An insider revealed to Heat magazine that the well-known TV star is taking a step back to reassess her once relentless schedule, which included a mix of television work and brand deals, as well as her commitment to staying fit.

The source shared: "Now she's had time to reflect, and she's realised what she wants is a simpler life and to spend quality time with the people she loves as well as more rest and downtime."

Davina, who is mum to Holly, 23, Tilly, 21, and Chester, 18, from her previous marriage, has apparently decided "health comes first". It's believed that the celeb now feels she's been "put on the planet for a reason".

Davina recently opened up after being diagnosed with a "very rare" cyst on her brain. Addressing how this shaped her conversations with loved ones, the TV star discussed the shift in her perspective on life. Recalling the pain of losing her father Andrew last year and her sister Caroline to cancer in 2012 at just 50 years old, the 57 year old presenter shared her comfortability with the thought of mortality, asserting, "It doesn't frighten me."

Davina has also been proactive in preparing for the worst, making sure her family understands her feelings. With a positive spirit, Davina emphasizes celebrating life, noting, "I spend a lot of my time now telling the people I love what a f****ing great life I've had. So that if something were to happen to me suddenly, they'd know – I've loved my life."

A vocal proponent for openness, Davina previously discussed the importance of presence at significant moments when chatting about Emma Willis's show, Delivering Babies. While speaking to The Observer, she reflected, "It's a privilege to be at someone's birth and it's a privilege to be at someone's death. And I feel like I'm quite good at it."

Thanks to today's medical technology, craniotomy operations boast impressively high success rates and last month, despite her ongoing treatment, Davina returned to The Masked Singer but rather than appearing on the panel – she was unmasked as contestant Star.

Davina managed to keep her identity hidden by coordinating with the production team, ensuring her appearance remained a secret. During the performance, she avoided using her usual deodorant and perfume and adopted a voice inspired by her sister-in-law from Virginia.

Panellists Jonathon Ross, 64, and Mo Gilligan, 36, were left in disbelief when they were joined by guest judges Jennifer Saunders, 66, and Dawn French, 67. Jonathan commented: "There is absolutely no way, we thought you couldn't sing that well. I'm glad you're OK, but to me you are now dead." Davina responded: "I thought you might get me with the DVD one. It has been a ball, thank you!"

The star delivered an incredible performance, energetically jumping around the stage in her spectacular costume. Davina later changed into a sparkling red dress to join the panel for the final performance by winner Holly Johnson, who was dressed as the Nutcracker. Joel joked, "I said you had diarrhoea and couldn't be here." Davina called the experience one of the best of her life. She shared a photo on Instagram from the stage, captioning it: "Well, that was a blast!!!!!"

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