Davina McCall breaks down in tears as she is reunited with Jamie Theakston after their health battles
DAVINA McCall broke down in floods of tears as she was reunited with Jamie Theakston after their health battles.
Popular presenter Jamie, 54, returned to the airwaves for first time since being declared cancer free.
The popular presenter previously stepped back from his Heart Radio Show he co-hosts with Amanda Holden after his shock diagnosis.
Davina, who had a benign brain tumour removed in November, joined Jamie and Amanda in the Heart radio studio on Monday morning.
But The Masked Singer star was overcome with emotion when she reunited with her pal, telling him: "I was so worried about you."
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The pair shared a hug and a tearful Davina said: "I felt like I did it," in reference to her helping Jamie discover that he had cancer when she gave him a "bear hug" from behind that left him in pain back in June.
This prompted Jamie to get medical advice. And in September 2024, the broadcaster revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer.
Jamie received treatment for Laryngeal cancer, which affects the larynx (voice box), after listeners noticed his voice had changed.
After undergoing three life-changing surgeries, he revealed last week that he was free from the disease and would be back on the radio full-time.
Today he returned to his Heart Breakfast Show alongside Amanda, and it was an emotional moment for the host.
Switching on the mic for the first time in months, Jamie said: "Thanks to everyone for making this morning feel very, very special.
"Thanks for your (the listeners') messages as well.'
Amanda then added: "We are so happy to welcome him back!"
To which Jamie said back: "Four months I have waited for this moment!"
Later Amanda said: "What an amazing man you are. You really fought very hard, Jamie, you've kept your sense of humour, which is the most important thing, I think.
"And isn't it wonderful? It's a terrible thing to go through, but it's a wonderful thing to see how many people love you."
Jamie started to get emotional as messages of support from his wife, son and colleagues were played out on air.
He could be seen getting teary as he listened to their heartwarming words.
Jamie also used his return to the show as a way of encouraging listeners to check themselves, and said: 'Ignoring cancer won't beat it.
"Cancer loves being ignored. It's a coward that lives in the shadows, and I think that, if we can shine a light on that, then we can defeat the darkness."
Meanwhile, Jamie recently told fans that there was a time where doctors warned him that he could lose his voice forever.
He underwent multiple rounds of surgery after the first operation was not as successful as doctors hoped.
The presenter said the consultants' potential warnings came as an "enormous shock."
Jamie said: "I've had 'scan-anxiety' - everyone who has been through what I've been through will know you just get a barrage of statistics."
"There's a one in ten chance you won't survive it, and you kind of go 'Oh, OK' I'll take that."
As he went through more treatment, he admitted that he became more worried with each statistic.
"I had to do several surgeries, and the first surgery wasn't as successful as we hoped.
"Then there was a second surgery, and then a third, and each time I was doing more and more damage to my vocal chords."
He added: "By the third one they said, well you've got a one in six chance that you might not be able to talk again.
"I thought OK, that's like rolling a dice, I'll take that, It's just statistics after statistics."
Jamie made an emotional announcement when he first revealed the news of his shock diagnosis last year.
Addressing fans, he told them: "Hi folks, as you know - I recently had an operation to remove a lesion from my vocal cords.
"The biopsy has identified this as Stage 1 Laryngeal cancer."
Davina's battle
Meanwhile, Davina was diagnosed with a benign but very rare tumour purely by chance after being offered a scan a few months ago.
Last month the star made her first public appearance since her operation.
She attended an event at All Saints Church, Fulham to support her neurosurgeon Kevin O'Neill, along with boyfriend Michael.
Taking to the stage to make her speech, an emotional Davina said: "I'm crying already, that didn't go well."
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She said: "I know lots of you here are on your own brain tumour journey and many of you have lost loved ones to a brain tumour.
"I lost my sister to a brain tumour in 2012 and my ex-father-in-law a year ago."
Key symptoms of laryngeal cancer
THERE are six key symptoms of laryngeal cancer to look out for according to the NHS:
- pain when swallowing or difficulty swallowing
- a lump or swelling in your neck
- a long-lasting cough or breathlessness
- a persistent sore throat or earache
- a high-pitched wheezing noise when you breathe
- in severe cases, difficulty breathing
Other signs also include: bad breath, unintentional weight loss, or fatigue (extreme tiredness).
You should see your doctor if you notice you:
- have a hoarse voice for more than 3 weeks
- have lost 4 to 5 kg (10lbs) or more in a short time and you are not dieting
- are short of breath or have a cough that doesn't go away, or your breathing becomes noisy (stridor)
- have pain or difficulty swallowing
- have any other symptoms that are unusual for you or that don't go away