Davina McCall in tears after heartbreaking realisation
The presenter became overwhelmed with emotion during an on-air interview.
Davina McCall was in tears during a candid conversation with bestselling author Jojo Moyes. The Long Lost Family presenter, 58, was joined by the former journalist on her Begin Again podcast, where she explores various topics with her guests. During a recent episode celebrated author, Jojo, 56, spoke about being an only child growing up in East London, in an eccentric, bohemian household.
Her father was a sculptor who founded an art transport company, and her mother was a successful illustrator. Her childhood fostered her creativity and strong independence, though her family occasionally struggled with financial constraints and neighborhood safety.
"I read a lovely thing recently," Jojo remarked, "it was, 'I bet you turned into the adult you needed as a child.'" Her poignant words suddenly brought Davina to tears, as she replied, "Oh my God, sorry."
The presenter commented: "What are you doing to me?" as she choked up repeating the quote back to her show guest, before reaching for tissues to dry her eyes.
Jojo explained: "Like you said, our parents did the best they could with the knowledge they had at the time. My mum was very young, as was my dad. She was 19 when she had me.
"Also, they were broke so they had to work."
Jojo shared that she "would have liked to have felt less lonely" growing up.
Her words resonated with Davina, who has been open about her own childhood. Born to a French mother and English father, the former Big Brother presenter lived with her paternal grandparents after her parents relationship ended.
At four years old, her mother told her she was going on a two-week holiday but never returned. Davina still went on to have a relationship with her mum, who she has described as a "wild child", leading to a chaotic upbringing for the host.
The profound emotional impact of this unstable upbringing profoundly shaped her teenage years and adulthood and she ultimately sought therapy to process this childhood trauma.
Begin Again podcast with Davina McCall features candid, often emotional conversations with celebrity guests, everyday heroes, and experts. It is available on all podcast platforms.
