Begin Again with Davina McCall

What if life's biggest setbacks are actually blessings in disguise?

In this hilarious episode of Begin Again, comedian, actress and writer Daisy May Cooper joins Davina McCall to share the extraordinary journey behind her success, and the personal struggles that have shaped her life.

Best known for creating the hit BBC comedy This Country with her brother Charlie Cooper, Daisy opens up about growing up with very little money, her difficult experience at drama school, and the years of rejection and self-doubt that nearly ended her career before it began.

She also reflects on her parents’ unexpected separation, her changing relationship with her mum, and how family heartbreak has brought surprising opportunities for healing, growth and new beginnings.

Davina and Daisy also explore their belief in the supernatural, experiences with psychics and spirituality, and why learning to trust your intuition can change your life.

This is a beautiful conversation about resilience, family, trusting yourself, finding hope and believing that even when life falls apart, something wonderful might still be waiting.

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(00:00) Intro

(00:51) A Surprise For Daisy

(02:47) Davina's Gift For Daisy

(03:13) Daisy's New Book 'What Took You So Long'

(06:15) Her Parents Divorce

(09:39) A Letter From Daisy's Mum

(14:19) Her Traumatic 3 Years At RADA Drama School

(19:00) Starting Writing With Charlie

(21:43) Monzo GBL Ad

(24:07) Creating 'This Country'

(33:00) The Reception To 'This Country'

(35:08) Working With Her Brother & Dad

(37:14) Monzo 90 Days Ad

(40:26) Experiences With The Supernatural

(45:11) Daisy Gives A Tarot Reading

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Could you be at risk of a heart attack without even knowing it - and are the risk factors different for women?

In this special episode of Begin Again, created in partnership with British Heart Foundation, Davina McCall meets heart attack survivor Louise McGill and cardiologist and British Heart Foundation-funded researcher Dr Rouchelle Sriranjan-Rothwell to explore what every woman should know about heart health.

Louise was just 45 when she had a heart attack, despite being considered low risk after a recent health check. She shares the symptoms she initially mistook for indigestion, the moment she kissed her young daughters goodbye, and how surviving changed her relationship with life itself.

Davina also speaks to Dr Sriranjan-Rothwell who explains why cardiovascular disease in women is too often misunderstood, the connection between menopause and cardiovascular health, and why factors including cholesterol, blood pressure and pregnancy history could matter when understanding a woman’s risk. She also reveals how British Heart Foundation-funded research is working to detect silent heart disease earlier and build a better understanding of women’s cardiovascular health.

This is an emotional and potentially lifesaving conversation about heart attack symptoms in women, menopause, cardiovascular disease, recovery, medical research and the importance of listening to your body.

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To support lifesaving British Heart Foundation research, follow the links below:

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🌐https://www.bhf.org.uk/ 

SHE-HEALS is a $10m global study funded in part by BHF through the Global Cardiovascular Research Funders Forum.

00:00 Intro

01:09 Louise's Story

02:27 The Warning Signs Before Her Heart Attack

04:18 What A Heart Attack Really Feels Like

06:24 Having A Stent Fitted

10:31 Recovering Through Cardiac Rehab

11:19 Why Louise Is Grateful For Her Heart Attack

12:42 A Letter From Louise's Husband

18:03 Dr Sriranjan Rothwell And BHF's Research

18:21 Why Heart Disease Is So Dangerous for Women

20:45 The SHE-HEALS Women's Heart Health Study

Sponsored by:

British Heart Foundation funds lifesaving research into preventing, diagnosing and treating women's cardiovascular disease.

More research means more breakthroughs. And those breakthroughs can mean more time.

More time to live. More time to start over. More time to begin again.

To help fund lifesaving research, visit http://bhf.org.uk/beginagain to donate now and keep us beating.

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How do you begin again after losing someone who was a huge part of your life?

In this heartfelt episode of Begin Again, Hairy Bikers star Si King joins Davina McCall for a conversation about grief, friendship, love and finding purpose after the heartbreaking loss of his best friend and TV partner, Dave Myers.

Si opens up about the extraordinary bond he shared with Dave, from their first meeting to building the beloved Hairy Bikers together, and the devastating reality of watching his closest friend battle cancer. He reflects on navigating life without Dave and how he's slowly learning to embrace a new chapter while keeping Dave's memory alive.

He also shares his own remarkable journey of resilience, from losing his father at just eight years old to surviving a life-threatening brain aneurysm, experiencing a mental health breakdown and learning to rebuild his life.

Alongside these personal moments, Si discusses the healing power of food, family and community, his passion for bringing people together, and the exciting new projects giving him renewed purpose and joy.

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Follow Si King here: 

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Buy ‘Proper Home Cooking’ by Si King at: https://www.orionbooks.co.uk/titles/si-king/proper-home-cooking/9781399642842/ 

We'd love you to share your Get Busy Living stories with us at https://getbusyliving.beginagainshow.com/

(00:00) Intro

(01:14) Si's new cookbook 'Proper Home Cooking'

(06:53) Losing His Dad At 8 Years Old

(10:29) How Grief Led Him To Motorbikes

(17:53) Monzo GBL Ad

(19:29) Working With Ant & Dec

(24:09) How Si Met Dave Myers

(31:00) What Brought Si & Dave Together

(33:08) How The Hairy Bikers Began

(34:48) Monzo 90 Days Ad

(35:53) Opening His Own Restaurant

(39:48) Processing Dave's Death

(41:26) Finding Out Dave Had Cancer

(44:35) Life After Losing Dave

(45:09) Si's Brain Aneurysm

(46:37) Divorce And Staying Friends With His Ex-Wife

(57:01) Starting A YouTube Channel

(59:25) His New Business

(01:00:18) What's Next For Si?

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In this episode of Begin Again Moments, two powerful conversations explore the importance of discomfort, why we’ve become so afraid of difficult things and how embracing life’s challenges can help us grow stronger, happier and more resilient.

Buddhist monk and meditation teacher Gelong Thubten joins Davina to explore why modern life has left us in a crisis of comfort, how our constant pursuit of happiness can leave us feeling unfulfilled and why learning to accept uncomfortable emotions could be the key to finding inner peace.

Bestselling author and personal development expert Robin Sharma shares why meaningful change is never easy, how stepping outside your comfort zone can unlock your true potential and why the most rewarding things in life often require us to do the hardest work.

Together, they explore the relationship between stress and personal growth, the importance of rest and recovery, and why facing discomfort rather than avoiding it can transform the way we approach life. A hopeful reminder that struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing, and sometimes the most difficult moments are the ones that help us become who we’re meant to be.

To hear the full conversations, watch the complete episodes on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

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How do you find love again after losing the person you wanted to spend the rest of your life with?

In this deeply moving episode of Begin Again, legendary British television writer Russell T Davies joins Davina McCall to reflect on his extraordinary life creating some of Britain’s most groundbreaking television, from Doctor Who and Queer as Folk to It’s a Sin and Years and Years.

Russell opens up about growing up gay in Swansea, how he found belonging through youth theatre, and how friendship, identity and the AIDS crisis shaped his writing. 

We also hear the story of his 20-year relationship with his late husband Andrew and his eight-year battle with brain cancer.

This is a beautiful conversation about grief, continuing bonds with those we’ve lost, and unexpectedly finding love again without leaving the love that came before behind.

🌟Like, comment and subscribe for more honest conversations about purpose, resilience, love, loss and beginning again.

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Follow Russell T Davies here: https://www.instagram.com/russelltdavies63 

The Queerest of Folk by Russell T Davies is out on 8th October, hardback, £25

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-queerest-of-folk-a-life-in-television-russell-t-davies/a290496f474a1f8c

(00:00) Intro

(01:41) Russell And Davina's Friendship

(03:35) When His Mother Was Sectioned

(07:36) Russell's New Book 'The Queerest of Folk'

(08:35) Being A Young Doctor Who Fan

(11:00) On Realising He Was Gay

(14:25) The Inspiration Behind 'It's a Sin'

(17:31) A Letter For Russell

(19:58) Monzo GBL Ad

(21:35) On Making 'It's a Sin'

(28:17) How 'Queer as Folk' Came To Be

(35:59) Monzo 90 Days Ad

(37:04) Making 'Tip Toe' with Alan Cumming and David Morrissey

(44:01) A Letter From Kate Bush

(45:57) On Making 'Years and Years'

(48:30) Meeting His Husband

(50:46) After His Husband's Cancer Diagnosis

(59:16) His Husband's Death

(01:04:42) On Finding Love Again

(01:07:58) Writing Doctor Who

(01:11:52) His Writing Process

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October is Menopause Awareness Month, so for this week’s episode of Begin Again Moments, Penny Lancaster and Natalie Imbruglia join Davina McCall to explore the reality of perimenopause and menopause, and why no woman should ever feel ashamed of what she’s going through.

Penny opens up about experiencing anxiety, rage, hot flushes and the unsettling feeling of no longer recognising herself. She shares how her menopause symptoms were initially mistaken for depression, the impact they had on her family life and how conversations with other women finally helped her understand what was happening.

Natalie reflects on her own experience of perimenopause, from anxiety and changes in her emotions to the shame women can feel when they suddenly don’t feel like themselves. She explains why speaking openly about menopause became so important to her, helping to remove the stigma for the women coming next.

Together, they explore HRT, menopause symptoms, female identity and the power of women supporting women through this life-changing transition – reminding us that menopause isn’t simply an ending, but the beginning of your best chapter yet.

To hear the full conversations, watch the complete episodes on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

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What happens when both of your parents receive life-changing diagnoses within weeks of each other?

In this episode of Begin Again, Davina McCall sits down with Dame Meera Syal.

Meera shares the gruelling reality of caring for her mother after her cancer diagnosis while her father was living with Alzheimer’s, describing dementia as a “slow, long goodbye” and reflecting on how her family found strength, support and moments of connection through an incredibly difficult 12 years.

She also opens up about growing up British Asian, feeling like a misfit, and nearly giving up on acting when she couldn’t see anyone like herself on screen. 

From ‘Goodness Gracious Me’ and ‘The Kumars at No. 42’ to becoming a writer, actor and comedian, Meera explains why telling your truth can help others feel less alone.

The conversation also explores divorce, co-parenting, the unexpected possibilities of an empty nest, surviving assault, and staying resilient throughout life’s ups and downs.

🌟Like, comment and subscribe for more honest conversations about purpose, resilience, love, loss and beginning again.

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Follow Dame Meera Syal here: https://www.instagram.com/meera.syal 

We'd love you to share your Get Busy Living stories with us at https://getbusyliving.beginagainshow.com/

(00:00) Intro

(01:17) Getting Her Damehood

(08:16) Meera As A Misfit Child

(10:31) Studying At Manchester University

(12:22) The Importance Of Gratitude

(19:20) Monzo GBL Ad

(20:51) British Heart Foundation Ad

(22:02) The Play That Changed Her Life

(26:32) Her New Book 'Vigilauntie'

(34:04) Making 'Goodness Gracious Me'

(38:22) Monzo 90 Days Ad

(39:35) Garnier Ad

(43:17) Married At 25

(45:57) Staying Friends After Divorce

(50:41) Having Her Second Child In Her 40s

(53:07) Her Marriage To Sanjeev

(58:57) The Reality Of Caring For Two Sick Parents

(01:06:29) Speaking Out About Sexual Assault

Sponsored by:

Results from the 2024 Lost Pensions Survey by the Pensions Policy Institute. The value of your pension could go up or down and you could get back less than you put in. You need a free Monzo current account to open a Monzo pension. Download Monzo. Monzo Current Accounts are for 18-70 years old only and UK residents. Ts&Cs Apply.

Join the 'Say Yes Club' and hear more about our events here - https://events.beginagainshow.com/ 

British Heart Foundation: To help fund lifesaving research, visit https://bhf.org.uk/keepusbeating  to donate now and keep us beating.

Garnier Nutrisse: UK's NO1 hair dye, chosen by 2 million women. Davina is shade 5 Mocha Brown. Find yours: www.garnier.co.uk/our-brands/hair-colour/nutrisse-creme

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In this episode of Begin Again Moments, we explore how better communication can help couples navigate conflict and find their way back to each other.

Relationship therapist Karen Doherty and relationship expert Paul C. Brunson join Davina McCall to share practical advice for navigating arguments, understanding your partner’s triggers and communicating with more kindness, honesty and empathy.

Karen explains why seemingly small frustrations can become emotional triggers in a relationship, how repeated arguments can slowly wear away at intimacy, and why choosing the right moment for difficult conversations can make all the difference.

Paul explores how couples can rebuild struggling relationships through therapy, self-reflection and better communication. He shares a simple but powerful way to approach conflict: instead of seeing an argument as you versus your partner, learn to see yourselves as a team facing the problem together.

Both conversations offer hopeful, practical relationship advice for anyone wanting to feel closer, communicate better and protect the love that’s still there.

To hear the full conversations, watch the complete episodes on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

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Do the moments that feel like they’re breaking you actually shape who you’re meant to become?

In this episode of Begin Again, Davina McCall sits down with broadcaster, author, and entrepreneur Jake Humphrey for an honest conversation about failure, bullying, masculinity, fatherhood and learning to define success differently.

Jake opens up about the loneliness of being bullied at school, failing his A-levels and being told by the BBC, “we don’t employ people like you”, experiences that ultimately helped shape his extraordinary broadcasting career.

He also reflects on the pressures facing men today, why he believes young men are being led towards dark corners of the internet, and how empathy, vulnerability and honest conversations can offer a different vision of masculinity.

From the powerful influence of his father to becoming a dad himself, Jake shares what parenting has taught him about being present, letting children fail, prioritising what really matters and creating a safe space for them to talk.

This is a hopeful conversation about resilience, parenting, masculinity, success and discovering that most of life’s hardest moments lead us towards something extraordinary.

🌟Like, comment and subscribe for more honest conversations about purpose, resilience, love, loss and beginning again.

Follow us here:

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Follow Jake Humphrey here: https://www.instagram.com/jakehumphrey/ 

Buy Jake's new book 'Game Plan' at https://dk.com/products/9780241734445-game-plan?_pos=2&_psq=gamepl&_psid=5929c8573&_ss=e/

We'd love you to share your Get Busy Living stories with us at https://getbusyliving.beginagainshow.com/

(00:00) Intro

(01:10) Why Service Matters

(07:23) Learning From Older Generations

(09:59) How Bullying Shaped Him

(17:11) Garnier Ad

(19:04) Monzo GBL Ad

(20:33) From Kids’ TV to Sport

(24:27) His Grandmother’s Suicide

(27:07) Failing His O-Levels

(31:10) His Take on the Manosphere

(39:51) Monzo 90 Days Ad

(41:00) British Heart Foundation Ad

(45:13) The Joy of Being a Dad

(46:54) What Really Matters in Life

(54:19) A Letter From His Daughter

(58:02) Embracing Embarrassment

Sponsored by:

Garnier Nutrisse: UK's NO1 hair dye, chosen by 2 million women. Davina is shade 5 Mocha Brown. Find yours: www.garnier.co.uk/our-brands/hair-colour/nutrisse-creme 

Monzo: Results from the 2024 Lost Pensions Survey by the Pensions Policy Institute. The value of your pension could go up or down and you could get back less than you put in. You need a free Monzo current account to open a Monzo pension. Download Monzo. Monzo Current Accounts are for 18-70 years old only and UK residents. Ts&Cs Apply.

Join the 'Say Yes Club' and hear more about our events here - https://events.beginagainshow.com/ 

British Heart Foundation: To help fund lifesaving research, visit https://bhf.org.uk/keepusbeating to donate now and keep us beating.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Begin Again Moments, Simon Squibb and psychotherapist Kathleen Saxton examine how the behaviour of a parent can shape the person you become long after childhood is over.

Simon shares the reality of growing up with a mother he describes as a narcissist, from being left to find his own way home at eight years old to being kicked out of home at 15, shortly after his father died. Now, as a parent himself, he reflects on the experiences he once accepted as normal.

Kathleen helps unpack what happens psychologically when a child grows up around narcissism, addiction or unpredictable behaviour. As Davina reflects on her own relationship with her mother, they discuss why children learn to keep the peace, adapt themselves to their parents and sometimes lose touch with who they really are in the process.

Both conversations examine the difficult work of revisiting childhood as an adult: recognising when something wasn’t okay, understanding why we instinctively defend our parents, and beginning to reconnect with the person we were before we learned to adapt in order to be accepted.

To hear the full conversations, watch the complete episodes on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

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