I love Who Cares Wins but hosting makes me really nervous – and this year there’s an extra reason, says Davina McCall
From Big Brother to Long Lost Family, Davina McCall has hosted a variety of famous TV shows.
But she says hosting The Sun’s Who Cares Wins Awards is one of her most nerve-wracking TV gigs.
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The Emcee returns to host our annual, star-studded celebration of the nation’s healthcare workers and volunteers who have given their best.
Davina, 55, said: “I think what makes me a bit nervous is that they are heroes.
“You want them to have a great night.
“They want them to meet their dream stars and have a great, fantastic celebration with everyone.
“I want it to be really fun and wonderful and heartwarming.
“I just want to do a great job.”
Our awards, sponsored by the National Lottery and in partnership with NHS Charities Together, will be broadcast on Channel 4 next Sunday.
And this year the show will feel even closer for Davina as her daughter Holly is training to become an NHS nutritionist.
Davina says proudly: “My daughter works in the NHS.
“She works as an intern in hospitals.
“She will do another internship at Christmas, then she will write her dissertation before graduating next June.
“Then she goes straight to the NHS.”
Davina, who is also mother to Tilly, 19, and Chester, 16, added: “I’m obviously proud of all my children.
“Holly probably realized when she was 11 or 12 that she wanted to do something to help people.
“She loves cooking, eating and trying to help people with food.
“So it was a given.”
“Like in trenches”
Davina says she was impressed by the stories Holly, a dietetic student at Newcastle University, told her about the NHS workers she shadowed during her placement.
She says: “It’s so lovely to listen to her talk about the people she’s worked with.
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“Sometimes it’s like being in the trenches – it’s so hard that it’s tiring.
“It brings you all very close.”
As the NHS celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, Davina believes it is more important than ever to recognize the contribution of our doctors, nurses, paramedics, hospital porters and cleaners who selflessly care for us in times of need.
She says: “I think the NHS has had a pretty hard time with complaints, waiting times or anything like that.
“But whoever works in it, it’s not his fault.
“They give everything they have.
“I’m sure the people who work in the NHS understand that they’re not angry with them, but they bear the brunt of a lot of things.
“All they want to do is help people.
“You don’t do it for fame or money.
“They do it because it is a calling.
“You were born to help people.
“We know how difficult it is for the people who work there.
“And if we can do anything to celebrate and thank these people, then that is one of the most valuable things we can do.”
It has been a turbulent few years for our healthcare system as it struggles to cope with the Covid-19 backlog.
But Davina says the eventful anniversary is still an important moment to pause and give thanks.
She says: “If you ask anyone in the UK what one of the things they are most proud of it would be our NHS.
“If there is one thing that Covid has taught us and that will stay with us, it is that without it we are finished.
“This idea of treatment being free for everyone is so unique and so valuable.”
She added: “I mean, 75 years of the NHS – that’s really something to celebrate.”
Davina – whose new dating show Your Mum, My Dad is currently airing on ITV1 – has been dating hairdresser Michael Douglas, 49, for five years.
She told The Sun earlier this month that she and Michael, who has two sons from a previous marriage, live together in what they like to call a “patchwork family”.
Fitness fanatic Davina, who is also a judge on The Masked Singer, knows she’s lucky to have trainee nutritionist Holly on hand to prepare healthy, home-cooked meals – but she reveals she’s not the only cook is in their household.
She proudly explains: “Chester and Michael are great chefs too. #
“So me and Tilly sit back. We do the cleaning.
“I’m good at cakes, stews and things like that.
“My son made a great chimichurri sauce last night.”
And Davina will be under extra pressure because Holly will also be in the audience for Who Cares Wins.
She says: “The thing that will make me most nervous is that my daughter and her friend are coming.
“I try to keep her out of the public eye because she doesn’t want to be a famous nutritionist or anything like that.
“She just wants to work in the NHS.
“It will be nice to have them there to take part in the event.”
A total of 11 gongs will be awarded to the awards’ most inspiring nominees – including Best Doctor, Best Nurse, 999 Hero and Unsung Hero.
Davina said: “I was impressed by the quality of the nominations this year.
“There are some incredible stories.”
You can read all about the amazing people who made the shortlist in our spectacular 12-page extract in next Saturday’s newspaper.
“We all come together”
Davina is thrilled that among them are some healthcare workers and volunteers who have dedicated decades to caring for others.
She says: “I don’t know of many other professions that retain skilled workers like the NHS does.
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“It’s certainly not about fame or money.
“It’s out of love for your team and your patients.
“It’s about that feeling of community, that feeling of love – that ‘we all come together when the saying hits the mark’.”
The NHS is the largest employer in the UK. 1.3 million people in England dedicate their working lives to caring for others.
Black and minority ethnic people make up almost a quarter of the total workforce.
Davina says: “I think it’s one of the most diverse professions and something to be proud of.”
The star is particularly inspired by our Young Hero nominees – and last year’s winner, Jayden Sorhaindo, was no exception.
Jayden looked after her mother Natasha as a 12-year-old and saved her life after she almost drowned in the bathtub.
Davina says: “Any child who takes care of their parents, even though they are supposed to be just a child, is a beautiful thing.”
World boxing champion Anthony Joshua presented Jayden with her award.
The 1.80 meter tall boxer, who is also on this year’s jury, praised her that evening as “my little angel” – and made it her mission to take a selfie with each nominee.
Davina says: “That was incredible.
“This man is such a nice person.
“He’s half fight, half heart.
“He has a lot of time for people.”
Another outstanding moment was the moving speech by Dr. Ahmed Hankir, who took home the Caroline Flack Mental Health Hero gong.
NHS psychiatrist Dr. Hankir, who works at Maudsley Hospital in Camberwell, south-east London, was forced to leave his home in war-torn Lebanon as a child.
While trying to qualify as a doctor, he ended up sleeping on the streets of Manchester, which caused him to have suicidal thoughts.
Now he uses his experiences to help others and eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health.
Davina remembers: “His speech was absolutely amazing.”
From her vantage point on stage, she can see most of the audience in tears on what is always an emotional evening.
She says: “There is a room full of people – celebrities, journalists, television people and politicians – but you find it hard not to feel moved by some of the stories you hear that evening.”
Davina can’t help but be affected, but as a professional, she tries to maintain her composure throughout the ceremony to ensure the winners remain in the spotlight.
She explains: “It’s not about me.
“I don’t want to cry because if we were celebrating someone, it would be terrible if they tried to comfort me.”
And the host is looking forward to mingling with this year’s incredible nominees.
She says: “I will go out into the audience and meet as many as I can before and after the ceremony.
“They are absolutely the stars of the show and everyone treats them like that, which is nice to see.”