From Big Brother to My Mum Your Dad: How Davina McCall became one of TV’s most popular presenters

IT'S FAIR to say that Davina McCall is one of the most recognisable faces on the box.

The TV presenter has enjoyed an incredible rise to fame which has seen her front some of the UK's biggest shows, including My Mum, Your Dad.

Born in Wimbledon on October 16, 1967, Davina McCall is a much-loved television presenter.

She shot to fame in the 1990s, thanks to her work with MTV.

As a child, Davina was raised by her grandparents after her parents split when she was three, before later moving in with her dad as a teen.

While still at school she had hopes of being a singer, and performed in a band called Lazy Bear.

However, she later landed a job at Models 1 on the men's desk as a booker.

Davina also ran a restaurant for two years before briefly moving to Paris as a Moulin Rouge-style cabaret performer.

When she returned to London she worked on the nightclub scene as a hostess.

Then, in 1992, Davina landed her first presenting role on Ray Cokes' Most Wanted on MTV Europe.

This led to her bagging her own show in 1998 called Streetmate, and has continued to become a familiar face on screen ever since.

Big Brother

Davina became a household name when she landed the job as presenter of new Channel 4 show Big Brother in 2000.

She also fronted the celebrity spin-off of the iconic show.

However, due to a decrease in viewing figures, Channel 4 axed Big Brother after the 11th series in 2010.

Davina felt the time was right to leave the show and did not return when it was picked up by Channel 5, before moving to ITV.

Popstars: The Rivals

Following the success of Big Brother, the top TV gigs started rolling in.

In 2002, Davina landed the job of hosting ITV's primetime talent show, Popstars: The Rivals.

Unlike Popstars, which resulted in the formation of one winning group, the rivals created Girls Aloud and One True Voice.

Girls Aloud went on to reach number one on the singles chart during Christmas 2002.

Don't Try This At Home

She then co-presented four series of Don't Try This At Home for ITV during the primetime TV Saturday spot.

It featured real people facing tough challenges such as swinging under a bridge.

Her co-presenters were Kate Thornton, Paul Hendy and Darren Day.

The show ran from 1998 to 2001, which was based on the Australian show, Who Dares Wins.

The Million Pound Drop

Davina has also tried her hand at several quiz shows and even featured in them herself.

The Million Pound Drop ran from 2010 to 2012.

The show used social networking sites to advertise and find contestants.

In January 2012, as part of the Channel 4 Mash-up, Davina played the game with Andrew, her father, with Phil Spencer from Location, Location, Location, stepping in to host.

Eventually, the show went from a million pound prize fund to £100k.

Davina also presented The £100,000 Drop in 2018, before the show was dropped the following year.

Got To Dance

From 2010 to 2014, Davina presented the Sky One dance competition show Got To Dance.

Ashley Banjo and Kimberly Wyatt were judges in the series, along with Adam Garcia.

Adam was later replaced by Aston Merrygold.

It was axed after five seasons.

The Biggest Loser

The Biggest Loser is a spin-off of the American reality television show of the same name.

Davina was at the helm of the show between 2011 and 2012 for its fourth season.

However, in September 2012, it was announced that the show would be cancelled.

Long Lost Family

The star has also been part of a swathe of heartwarming shows including Long Lost Family.

Since 2011, Davina and co-presenter, Nicky Campbell, have been helping to reunite families after years of searching and separation.

With the support of the stars, each relative is guided and supported through the process of tracing a member of their family they have been desperately seeking.

In both 2014 and 2021, the show received a Bafta for Best Features Programme.

The Masked Singer

As well as becoming a popular presenter, Davina has also become a familiar face on judging panels.

Since 2020, she has been a judge on The Masked Singer.

She was also on the panel of spin-off, The Masked Dancer, but this has since been "rested".

My Mum, Your Dad

In 2023, Davina launched a brand new dating show with a difference called My Mum, Your Dad.

The heartwarming series sees a group of parents searching for love again, and being guided by their children.

The series proved so popular that it returned for a second season in 2024.

Meet the children

Davina has three children - Holly, born in September 2001, Tilly, born in September 2003, and Chester, born in 2006.

The presenter enjoys a private personal life and keeps her children away from the limelight.

She shares her kids with her ex-husband, Matthew Robertson.

Davina's ex-files

Like his ex-wife, Matthew started out in TV hosting the popular show Pet Rescue.

He met Davina when they appeared together on Sam’s Games.

The series was a comedy which began in 2001 and tracked the lives of four friends who got involved in each other’s lives while renting flats in a large house in London.

Davina starred as Sam, and Matthew played a guy in a cafe who had a crush on her.

I am very sad to say Matthew and I have separated. Our amazing children are our number one priority.

Davina McCall

They worked together again in 2000, just as Davina's career with Big Brother began.

The pair - who stayed close for almost two decades - married the same year on June 29, 2000, at a lavish ceremony at Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire.

They >renewed their wedding vows in April 2015 after 15 years of marriage in a low-key ceremony at the Little White Wedding Chapel.

During the renewal, Davina said: "I'm very lucky, because as far as I know I've married a really faithful guy."

Davina announces her divorce

However in 2017, The Sun exclusively revealed that Davina McCall announced her marriage was over.

She admitted: "I have made so many mistakes in my life."

Davina shared a motivational quote with her online followers in November 2017, which said: “Every morning we get a chance to be different. A chance to change. A chance to be better.

“Your past is your past. Leave it there. Get on with the future part.”

Davina added on Instagram: “I really know about this one. I have made so many mistakes in my life. But there is always a new day.”

She then confirmed she had split with Matthew after 17 years of marriage.

She said: “I am very sad to say Matthew and I have separated. Our amazing children are our number one priority.”

Finding love again

Davina is not married but is in a relationship with former hairstylist Michael Douglas.

The couple are believed to have started dating in 2019.

The smitten pair have even launched a podcast called Making The Cut together, with Davina previously admitting she sees Michael like a "therapist".

First marriage

The presenter's first marriage was to shop manager, Andrew Leggett, in 1997.

The couple got hitched after a whirlwind romance.

In one of the very few interviews she's given about her ex, Davina told The Mirror in 2006 that she realised pretty soon into that she'd made a mistake.

The relationship lasted just three months, and not much else is known about him.

She said: "I fell madly in love, but it was wrong, so I got out quick.

"I won't talk about it because he's not a celebrity and it's not fair on him.”

The pair first met in March 1997, tied the knot six months later and then split in December.