Davina McCall has opened up about her heartfelt engagement to Michael Douglas in her first public interview since announcing her breast cancer diagnosis.
The 58-year-old TV icon revealed that Douglas proposed during a summer getaway in Ibiza, ushering in a joyful new chapter after a challenging year that included emergency brain surgery to remove a benign tumour.
Davina told HELLO! with a smile that the proposal “completely took me by surprise.” She explained that Michael had spent the past two years jokingly pretending to propose, tying imaginary rings on her finger, so when he finally did it for real, she feared he was joking — only to discover he had planned something truly thoughtful.
The celebrity hairstylist, whom Davina met during Big Brother, popped the question on a quiet evening in Ibiza. “We were hugging, kissing, crying — and then swimmers started shouting, ‘Yay, congratulations!’ It was perfect,” she recalled.
Despite their deep love, Davina says she’s avoiding tradition. “I always said I don’t want an engagement ring,” she shared, adding that their wedding will be “very small and private.”
Davina’s engagement marks a fresh chapter following the end of her 18-year marriage to Matthew Robertson, with whom she shares children Holly, Tilly, and Chester. She describes this new stage as “different” and “meaningful,” embracing midlife with newfound peace and confidence. “Getting married at this stage of life is so different… it’s a big deal,” she reflected.
At HELLO!’s Second Act Power List event, where she was celebrated as one of the leading women thriving beyond 40, Davina exuded optimism despite her recent health challenges. “I’m grateful for every minute,” she said. “I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. I’m in such a good space, and age has given me that.”
Just days before the event, Davina shared that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer after spotting a lump while filming The Masked Singer. She underwent a lumpectomy and will have five days of radiotherapy in January as a precaution.
“I was very angry when I found out,” she admitted, “but I’ve let go of that. I’m in a much more positive place now.”
Her message to fans is clear and urgent: “Know your boobs. Notice any changes. Don’t put off checkups. And never ignore a niggle.”