Begin Again with Davina McCall

In this episode of Begin Again Moments, we bring together two powerful conversations about confidence, self-belief and finding the courage to become who you truly are.

Confidence expert Susie Moore shares the secrets to building inner confidence and explains why self-belief is something we can create, rather than something we are simply born with.

Eleanor Mills reflects on her own journey of rediscovering confidence in midlife, sharing how letting go of expectations and embracing who she really is helped her step into a new chapter of life.

Together, these moments explore what it takes to trust yourself, find your voice and build the confidence to begin again.

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 the life everyone sees as extraordinary has been shaped by trauma, loss and the constant need to survive?

In this episode of Begin Again, Patsy Kensit joins Davina for an emotional and deeply personal conversation about childhood fame, love, grief, PTSD, motherhood, addiction, losing everything and finding the strength to start again.

Patsy looks back on an extraordinary life in the spotlight: beginning her career at just four years old in The Great Gatsby, becoming one of Britain’s most recognisable young stars, working alongside Hollywood icons and finding herself at the centre of 80s and 90s pop culture. She shares unforgettable stories from Lethal Weapon 2, meeting David Bowie and the surreal experiences that came with growing up famous.

But behind the success was a childhood filled with fear. Patsy opens up about being told at six years old that her mother could die, growing up with a father who was repeatedly in prison, and the secrets she carried to protect her family. She reveals how a PTSD diagnosis decades later finally helped her understand the sadness, depression and fear she had lived with for most of her life.

She also reflects honestly on love and marriage, including her relationship with Liam Gallagher and the pressure of becoming one half of one of the most famous couples of the 90s. Patsy explains how the relationship became “bigger than me”, why she felt she lost part of who she was, and how becoming a mother ultimately forced her life to change.

Now, after losing her home and everything she had financially, Patsy is rebuilding from scratch. As she returns to Emmerdale more than 20 years after first playing Sadie King, she reflects on survival, gratitude, getting older and why, after everything life has thrown at her, she still chooses to see each new day as another chance to begin again.

This is a conversation about fame, family, grief, identity, survival and what it really means to find yourself again.

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(00:00) Intro

(01:17) Returning to Emmerdale After Years Away

(05:17) A PTSD Diagnosis and the Childhood Fear That Never Left

(08:56) Growing Up With a Father in and out of Prison

(11:30) The Reality of Life as a Child Star

(14:04) Davian Reads Your Stories (Monzo Ad)

(16:40) Behind the Scenes of Lethal Weapon 2

(26:34) Clubbing at 14 at the Famous WAG Club

(29:24) Memories of Working With David Bowie

(31:55) Marrying First Husband Dan Donovan

(33:13) Davina tries Monzo (Ad)

(34:21) Garnier Ad

(38:19) The Deep Importance of Marriage

(42:38) Meeting Jim Kerr and Their Relationship

(49:19) Losing Her Mother and Coping With Grief

(57:13) Inside a Turbulent Relationship With Liam Gallagher

(01:01:10) Alcohol, Addiction and Finding AA

(01:02:49) Living With Depression and PTSD

(01:06:41) Hysterectomy and the Reality of Perimenopause

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In this special Begin Again Moments episode, inspired by this week’s solar eclipse, two of Britain’s most brilliant minds explore the extraordinary power of the Sun and Moon.

Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock explores the mystery and influence of the Moon, while Professor Brian Cox turns our attention to the Sun, the star at the centre of our solar system and the source of the light and energy that makes life possible.

As the solar eclipse captures attention around the world, these two fascinating conversations offer a chance to look beyond the spectacle and understand the remarkable relationship between the Sun, Moon and our place in the universe.

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

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What does it take to keep going when life keeps testing how badly you want the dream?

In this episode of Begin Again, Alexandra Burke joins Davina for an emotional and deeply personal conversation about X Factor, grief, motherhood, love, faith and the determination that has carried her through every chapter of her life.

Alexandra looks back on the extraordinary road to becoming a star: singing alongside her mum as a child, Stevie Wonder wanting to sign her at just 12 years old, being sent home from X Factor at 16, and the mother who eventually pushed her to go back and try again. She opens up about what was really happening in her life during that first rejection, why she now knows she wasn’t ready, and the remarkable full-circle journey that followed.

She also speaks movingly about losing her mum, the grief she still carries and how becoming a mother herself has changed the way she understands the sacrifices her own mum made. Alexandra shares why she has fiercely protected her two boys, how she met her partner Darren after years of choosing the wrong relationships, and the moment she realised the family life she has now is everything she once prayed for.

Now, playing Chaka Khan on stage in I’m Every Woman, Alexandra reveals why the most challenging role of her career is bringing parts of her own past back to the surface, why she has had to learn to leave Chaka at the theatre, and why she plans to return to therapy when the show ends.

This is a conversation about rejection, grief, resilience, faith and refusing to give up on the life you know you’re meant to have.

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(00:00) Intro

(01:20) Why “I’m Every Woman” Means So Much

(06:51) How Her Mum Inspired Her

(15:08) Alexandra’s Bond With Her Mum

(18:57) Singing With Her Mum as a Child

(20:06) Why She Turned Down Stevie Wonder

(25:49) Get Busy Living With Monzo

(27:24) Monzo GBL Ad

(28:35) Leaving School at 16 for Music

(30:21) Her Abusive Relationship at 16

(31:50) Rejected by The X Factor at 16

(32:50) Coming Back to Win The X Factor

(38:15) How Chaka Khan Helped Her Heal

(39:23) Performing for Chaka Khan

(41:51) Why She Keeps Her Children Private

(48:35) How She Met Her Husband Darren

(53:58) Finding Out She Was Pregnant

(58:20) Going Back to Work After Giving Birth

(59:42) Pregnant Again Seven Months Later

(01:01:46) Pre-Eclampsia During Her Second Pregnancy

(01:03:12) Why She Wants More Children

(01:06:20) How Alexandra Found Her Confidence

(01:09:15) Honouring Her Mum Through Her Foundation

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What happens when the life you dreamed of turns out completely differently than you expected?

In this episode of Begin Again, Natalie Imbruglia joins Davina for an honest and deeply personal conversation about fame, failure, motherhood, ADHD, perimenopause and finding fulfilment on your own terms.

Natalie reflects on finding fame young, running out of money when that fame faded, and then experiencing extraordinary global success with Torn. She opens up about the pressure that followed, becoming scared to leave the house, being dropped by record labels, and eventually walking away from music because she thought she was no longer meant to sing.

She also speaks candidly about spending years trying to create the relationship and family life she thought she was supposed to have, her journey to becoming a mother, and why she now feels nothing is missing. Natalie also shares how ADHD, neurodivergence and perimenopause have helped her understand herself in a completely new way.

This is a conversation about success, identity, reinvention and letting go of the life you thought you should have in order to build one that actually feels right.

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(00:00) Intro

(01:18) Why “Algorithm” Marks a New Chapter

(05:29) How Performing Became the Dream

(08:22) Intuition, Spirituality & Manifestation

(11:52) Stories From YOU! (Ad)

(13:20) Davina Tries Monzo! (Ad)

(14:30) How “Neighbours” Changed Everything

(23:05) What Happened After “Neighbours”

(27:17) How an ADHD Diagnosis Changed Everything

(30:29) Moving to the UK and Running Out of Money

(33:05) Breaking Into the Music Industry

(38:44) The Story Behind “Torn”

(41:04) The Pressure of the Second Album

(43:36) Why She Made “Male”

(45:26) Getting Dropped and Finding Purpose

(48:22) Marriage, Love & Being Single

(49:55) The IVF Journey to Motherhood

(58:07) The Reality of Perimenopause

(01:05:10) A Surprise Gift

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In this joyful episode of Begin Again Moments, Trinny Woodall and Prue Leith challenge everything we're told about getting older.

In two inspiring conversations, they share why ageing shouldn't mean becoming quieter, safer or less ambitious and why they both intend to grow old disgracefully. From embracing confidence and taking risks to continuing to work, create and have fun, they prove that getting older can be about gaining freedom rather than losing it.

A celebration of ageing boldly, living fully and refusing to let a number define what comes next.

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

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What if your worst moment is actually your biggest gift?

In this episode of Begin Again, broadcaster and television producer Richard Bacon joins Davina for a funny and deeply moving conversation about public failure, addiction, ADHD, love and building a new life after everything changes.

Richard reflects on landing his dream job at Blue Peter, the betrayal by a close friend that turned his private life into a national headline, and what it felt like to lose everything so publicly at just 22 years old. He shares how unexpected people rallied around him, why the chaos that once got him into trouble later became one of his greatest strengths, and how he learned to keep moving forward when others believed his career was over.

Together, Richard and Davina explore his relationship with addiction, his ADHD diagnosis in his forties, and the relief of finally understanding the way his mind works. Richard explains how that diagnosis helped him make sense of both his scattered attention and extraordinary ability to hyperfocus, and why the qualities he once struggled with have become central to his creativity and success.

But this conversation is about much more than headlines.

Richard speaks movingly about his wife Rebecca, the excitement of falling in love, and the grounding force she has been throughout their marriage. He recalls being told by his doctor that he might not be alive without her, and the terrifying moment, one year later, when he was placed into a coma and his family were warned that he might not survive.

This is a conversation about love, public failure, second chances and finding the people who help you stay grounded when life becomes chaotic.

If you’ve ever felt defined by a mistake, struggled to understand your own mind, or wondered whether it’s possible to rebuild when life goes completely off script, this episode is for you.

✨ Discover Richard’s podcast, Why Are You More Successful Than Me:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-are-you-more-successful-than-me-with-richard-bacon/id1895025167 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhyAreYouMoreSuccessfulThanMe 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6yWlm1mVITUj5DBDo15YAg 

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(00:00) Intro
(01:14) Intro to Richard Bacon
(08:49) Richard's parents, their relationship, and his upbringing
(11:10) Fidning Broadcasting
(12:47) First job in live TV
(17:08) How Richard got banned from the State Opening of Parliament with Newsbunny
(20:09) Richard talks about some of the crazy shows he worked on early in his TV career
(21:36) Getting banned from McDonalds for life
(22:55) ADHD diagnosis in his 40s
(27:21) Meeting his Wifem Rebecca
(28:21) Monzo Ad
(29:23) Ancient & Brave Ad
(36:54) Landing Presenting Slot on Blue Peter
(42:49) The Scandal that got him Fired
(43:51) His Best Friend Leaking The Story To The Press
(48:40) Shopify Ad
(53:54) The Aftermath of Getting Fired
(58:16) Getting into Radio and deciding to move to LA
(01:05:50) Richard's near death experience and going into a coma
(01:07:28) Richard's relationship with alchohol
(01:11:02) What's next for Richard, how much he loves change

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Episode Description:

Jason Donovan and Amanda de Cadenet reflect on the intense scrutiny that comes with fame, sharing the personal impact of media attention, public judgement and press intrusion. Together, they reveal what it takes to protect your identity, your relationships and your peace when your life is constantly under the spotlight.

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

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What if understanding the universe could change the way you live?

In this episode of Begin Again, Professor Brian Cox joins Davina for a conversation about existence, consciousness, mortality and the extraordinary improbability of being alive at all.

Brian explains why the atoms that make us have travelled across billions of years of cosmic history, why the universe gave rise to conscious life, and how understanding our place within it can completely transform the way we see ourselves. Together, they explore what happens when we die, whether science leaves room for spirituality, why curiosity matters more than certainty, and why accepting that life is temporary can make it infinitely more precious.

But this conversation is about much more than science.

Brian reflects on the book that changed his life, the teachers who shaped his thinking, his unexpected journey from rock musician to world-renowned physicist, and why saying "I don't know" may be one of the most important things we can learn. Davina and Brian also discuss grief, fear, hope, the search for meaning, and why seeing the bigger picture of the universe can make us feel more connected to one another, not less.

This is a conversation about awe, curiosity, purpose and the remarkable privilege of being alive.

If you've ever looked up at the night sky and wondered why we're here, questioned what gives life meaning, or wanted to see the world with fresh eyes, this episode is for you.

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(00:00) Intro

(01:25) Introduction to Brian and his new show Emergence

(11:04) The Book That Changed Brian's Life

(16:14) Monzo Ad

(17:44) Spiritual beliefs & The Universe

(21:10) How The Universe was Formed

(23:13) The recent discovery of where Gold comes from

(25:34) How Carl Sagan's TV show 'Cosmos' inspired young Brian

(32:07) Getting into music and playing in Dare

(38:58) Monzo Ad

(39:58) The importance of hard work and luck in forging your path (

41:49) What happens when we die?

(47:31) The importance of space travel and scientific research

(59:24) The Hadron Collider

(01:04:10) Why Brian Became A Teacher

(01:07:53) Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Computers

(01:13:08) How Astronomy can give people a better perspective on life (01:16:44) A letter from a student

(01:23:12) A letter from Dare bandmate Darren Wharton

(01:27:51) What Brian wants for the Future

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She was given just 18 months to live. They got 12 more years together.

In this episode of Begin Again, motivational speaker and bestselling author Pete Cohen joins Davina to share the extraordinary love story that changed his life forever.

Pete opens up about meeting his wife Hannah by chance, falling in love as she was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour, and why leaving was never an option. Together, they faced impossible decisions, raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for life-saving treatment, and defied every expectation to build another twelve years together.

But this conversation is about much more.

Pete reflects on the regrets that still stay with him, why he wishes he'd been more present with Hannah, and how grief transformed the way he thinks about love, fear and what really matters. He shares how watching Hannah embrace life in the face of death changed him forever, and why her legacy continues to shape the way he lives today.

Davina and Pete also explore the fear of losing the people we love, what it means to truly show up for someone in their darkest moments, and how grief can become a reminder to live more intentionally rather than something we simply survive.

This is a conversation about love, loss, resilience and the extraordinary impact one person can have on your life, even after they're gone.

If you've ever loved someone deeply, lost someone you couldn't imagine living without, or wondered how to carry on after heartbreak, this episode is for you.

🌟 Like, comment and subscribe for more honest conversations about grief, love, resilience, purpose and beginning again. Tap the bell so you never miss a new episode.

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(00:00) INTRO (01:14) Pete Cohen and Team Hannah (01:53) Growing Up With Learning Difficulties (03:12) Struggling at School (04:17) Becoming a Fitness Coach (05:12) How Pete’s Parents Shaped Him (07:32) How Pete Met Hannah (09:45) Hannah’s Brain Tumour Diagnosis (12:31) Chronic Fatigue and Finding a Mentor (14:32) Raising Money for Cancer Treatment (16:14) Falling in Love Through Cancer (17:05) Experimental Cancer Treatment in America (19:48) Ancient & Brave Ad (20:50) Do Health Ad (22:00) Why Pete Filmed Hannah’s Journey (24:14) Grief and Celebrating Through Suffering (27:16) Pete’s Biggest Regret (31:33) Hannah’s Love of Quilting (36:50) Ten Years Cancer-Free (37:47) A Gift From Hannah (39:32) The Team Hannah Documentary (43:23) Davina’s Mission for Begin Again (44:07) Pete’s Next Chapter (47:44) Advice for Grief and Caring for Someone

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