Television presenter Davina McCall has once again found herself making headlines, but this time the spotlight isn’t on her TV career or her advocacy work—it’s on her heart. On September 13, 2025, reports surfaced confirming that McCall, one of Britain’s most familiar television personalities, is engaged to celebrity hairdresser Michael Douglas after seven years together. The news, first reported by The Sun and confirmed by McCall’s representative to BBC, comes as a surprise to many, especially considering her recent public statements about not wanting to marry again.
The engagement marks a joyful milestone after a year defined by resilience. In November 2024, McCall underwent surgery to remove a benign brain tumor—a colloid cyst discovered during a health check-up related to her menopause advocacy. The operation, which required part of her skull to be removed, was described by McCall in a tearful interview as "the hardest thing" she had ever experienced. Throughout this ordeal, Douglas was by her side, caring for her at home and offering what friends described as unwavering support. He later told BBC that her recovery had been "a huge journey."
For McCall, who has long been open about her health struggles, the engagement represents more than just a romantic commitment—it’s a symbol of recovery, gratitude, and renewed perspective. Friends close to the couple have said that her health scare fundamentally changed her outlook. As one source confided to The Sun, "She came to the conclusion that life is too short a year after her scary brain tumour experience." Another friend revealed, "She got a ring but only wears it in private. Nothing but good news and elation for everyone who is familiar with them. They are indeed the most beautiful couple that really do love each other."
McCall’s decision to keep the engagement private at first was deliberate. According to ITV insiders, she wanted her family and closest friends to be the first to know, even keeping her bosses at ITV out of the loop. "She isn’t the type of person who likes to talk about her complications, so she wanted to make sure that all of her loved ones were the first to know," a source explained. Only recently did the couple choose to share their happiness more widely, making their first public appearance as an engaged couple at the National Television Awards (NTAs).
The story of McCall and Douglas is one of friendship blossoming into romance. The pair first met in the early 2000s on the set of Big Brother, where Douglas was styling McCall’s hair. Their relationship remained platonic for years, only turning romantic after McCall’s 2018 divorce from Matthew Robertson, her husband of 17 years and the father of her three children. McCall was previously married to Andrew Leggett from 1997 to 1999. By January 2023, Douglas had moved in with McCall, and their partnership—both personal and professional—deepened further.
Together, McCall and Douglas co-host the successful podcast Making The Cut, where their easy banter and genuine chemistry have won over listeners. Douglas, a respected figure in the beauty industry, is known for his expertise and affable demeanor, but those close to him say his relationship with McCall is built on more than public appearances. For Douglas, it’s about building a life grounded in mutual respect, trust, and love—qualities that McCall’s late father once told her were the cornerstones of any successful relationship. McCall herself has echoed this wisdom, saying, "If love is missing any of those things, it can’t grow. And I really think he was absolutely right."
Interestingly, the engagement comes after McCall had repeatedly expressed reluctance to marry again. In interviews as recent as a month ago, she told The Mirror, "We go on honeymoons all the time but without getting married. We are still in the honeymoon phase after all these years. I couldn’t be more happy. There is also sometimes the feeling of why change?" She added, "We’re in the honeymoon period even after all these years. I couldn’t be happier. And sometimes there’s an idea of why change anything?" Yet, friends say that her health ordeal shifted her perspective, making her realize the importance of embracing happiness and not taking time for granted.
McCall’s career, which has spanned nearly three decades, continues to flourish. She is currently hosting Stranded on Honeymoon Island for the BBC, adding another hit to a resume that includes Big Brother, The Million Pound Drop, and Five Minutes to a Fortune. At the 2024 NTAs, she received the Special Recognition Award, with friends and colleagues like Dermot O’Leary, Alison Hammond, and Claudia Winkleman offering moving tributes. The award, she later revealed, had special significance as it came just six weeks before her brain tumor surgery. "I knew I had a brain tumour last year and that I was going to have surgery in six weeks," she told The Mirror. "It was so meaningful to me when I was presented with the award. Everybody else knew the reason why it meant so much to me—it just meant the world to me because I wasn’t quite sure what my situation was going to be six weeks later."
Since her surgery, McCall has shared updates on her recovery, including an April Instagram post with Douglas where she announced that recent MRI scans showed the surgery "got everything out." The couple expressed their "heartfelt" thanks to the medical teams and to friends and family who supported them during the ordeal.
The couple’s engagement has been met with widespread joy from fans and friends alike. Social media has been flooded with messages of congratulations, many noting how McCall’s openness about her struggles and her relationship has inspired others facing their own challenges. For many, her story is a reminder that even after adversity, love and resilience can prevail.
As for the future, McCall and Douglas seem content to enjoy their happiness without rushing down the aisle. Whether or not a wedding is imminent, their engagement stands as a testament to the power of partnership, the importance of cherishing loved ones, and the possibility of new beginnings—no matter what life throws your way.
Davina McCall’s journey from health crisis to heartfelt engagement has resonated with many, offering a story of hope, courage, and the quiet strength found in love that endures through life’s toughest moments.
