Begin Again with Davina McCall

What does fame at 17 really do to you?

In this episode of Begin Again, Jason Donovan opens up about growing up in the spotlight and what happens when success comes before you’ve had time to understand yourself.

Thrust into fame as a teenager on Neighbours, Jason shares what it was like navigating a world where everyone thought they knew him, while he was still figuring out who he was. Behind the success, there was pressure, confusion, and a lack of guidance that led him down a path he struggled to control.

He speaks candidly about the reality of those years; the partying, the expectations, and the feeling of having to navigate it all alone. At a time when mental health wasn’t openly talked about, Jason reflects on how difficult it was to process everything he was experiencing.

But this is also a story of change.

Jason shares how becoming a father became a turning point giving him purpose, grounding, and a reason to rebuild. He reflects on the lessons he’s learned, what he knows now that he didn’t then, and how he’s found a way to balance creativity, family, and peace.

At its core, this is a conversation about fame, identity, and what it takes to take back control of your life no matter where you started.

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(00:00) Intro

(02:36) The Face Magazine Outing Scandal

(14:38) Jason's Upbringing And Relationship With His Parents

(20:34) Saily Ad

(21:30) Bloom & Wild Ad

(22:32) Jason's Relationship With His Father And Stepmother

(27:01) The Beginnings Of Jason's Career & Working With Kylie

(28:47) Jason On Neighbours And Meeting Kylie

(31:10) Spirituality And Getting Older

(35:07) Paramount + Ad

(36:23) Begin Again Newsletter

(37:17) Jason's Wife Angela And The Buzz Of Performing

(41:37) Drug Addiction And Mental Health Battle

(47:24) Recovery, Meeting His Wife And Becoming A Father

(52:41) A Letter From Jason's Father

(55:23) What's Next For Jason And What Else He'd Like To Do

Sponsored by:

Saily - Download from the app store and use code DAVINA at the checkout for 15% off 

Bloom & Wild - use code DAVINA for 15% off at https://www.bloomandwild.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=begin_again

Paramount+ - Episodes 1-3 of The Madison are available to stream on Paramount+ now: https://www.paramountplus.com/gb/shows/the-madison/

Episodes 4-6 will be available to stream from 21 March

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

In this deeply personal episode, Ms. Jo Malone CBE opens up about her childhood and the emotional scars that shaped her, from the chaos of her family dynamic to the survival tactics she adopted at a young age. Jo shares her journey of healing, emphasising the importance of reconnecting with your inner child and embracing vulnerability.

Renowned philosopher Alain de Botton joins the conversation to provide expert insights on how to heal your inner child. Drawing on his wisdom, Alain explores how early childhood experiences shape our sense of self and our relationships, offering practical advice on how to confront and nurture our emotional wounds.

This episode is a journey into the heart of healing, teaching us how to better understand our past to foster peace and emotional growth in our present.

Full Episode with Ms. Jo Malone CBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j6JX6GkD_8

Full Episode with Alain De Botton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PXHx275Oa8&t=1928s

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What if the place you’re meant to feel safest… never was?

In this episode of Begin Again, Ruby Wax opens up about a life shaped by chaos, fear, and an unrelenting search for safety. Growing up in a home filled with instability and emotional unpredictability, Ruby shares how those early experiences have stayed with her, long after she left.

She reflects on the strange reality that, even now, she often feels safest in the most dangerous situations and why home has never been the place that gives her comfort. From childhood trauma to a lifelong battle with depression, Ruby speaks candidly about what it really feels like to live inside a mind that can turn against you.

She also revisits some of the most defining moments of her career, interviewing figures like Bill Cosby and Donald Trump, navigating the power dynamics and darkness she encountered along the way. These weren’t just interviews, they were experiences that shaped how she sees people, the world, and herself.

At the heart of this conversation is Ruby’s journey toward understanding her mind. From studying neuroscience to exploring mindfulness and meditation, she shares how she’s learned to manage the noise, the fear, and the patterns that once controlled her.

This is a story about survival, self-awareness, and what it takes to rebuild a sense of safety from the inside out.

🌟Follow Begin Again for more powerful conversations about resilience, growth, and starting over.

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Ruby’s Tour “Absolutely Famous”

https://www.rubywax.net/livetour

✨Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for all your behind the scenes access, recommendations and much much more at: https://linkly.link/2g2xm

(00:00) Intro

Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at Airbnb.co.uk/Host

Paramount+ - Episodes 1-3 of The Madison are available to stream on Paramount+ now: https://www.paramountplus.com/gb/shows/the-madison/

Episodes 4-6 will be available to stream on 21 March.

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

In this week's episode, Gail McNeill opens up about the moment she realised that having more wasn’t making her happier. She shares the powerful story of selling her house, letting go of almost all of her possessions, and discovering a new sense of freedom in living with less. Reflecting on her journey, Gail explores how success, status, and material things can leave us feeling emptier than we expect, and why true contentment often comes from within rather than from what we own.

Following that, Robin Sharma explores what it really means to find happiness in a world that constantly tells us to want more. He offers a deeper perspective on fulfilment, reminding us that lasting peace doesn’t come from achievement or external validation, but from our relationship with ourselves. Together, these conversations offer a moving reflection on freedom, self-worth, and the secret to a happier life.

The full conversations with Gail and Robin are available now from wherever you get your podcasts.

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We surprised Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt with a room full of kittens… just because we could 🐾

Apologies to audio listeners…

🎙️ Full episode with Kimberly and Davina is out now , where Kimberly opens up about her childhood, how dance saved her, and the journey to the Pussycat Dolls.

Sponsored by:

Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at Airbnb.co.uk/Host

Sign up to the Begin Again newsletter now✨ (it's free!!):

https://linkly.link/2eX6X?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video_description&utm_campaign=moments-mar-27

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Sometimes beginning again means surviving what should have broken you.

In this episode of Begin Again, Kimberly Wyatt opens up about growing up in an environment where she felt vulnerable and unheard, and how those early experiences shaped her confidence, her identity, and her need to escape. Dance became more than a passion; it became her outlet, her therapy, and the first place she felt truly seen. 

She shares what it really felt like to enter the world of the Pussycat Dolls; the pressure, the intensity, and the emotional toll of chasing a dream that meant everything to her. A dream that, at times, made her question her worth, her place, and whether she was enough.

And yet, it was also the thing that changed her life.

Kimberly reflects on how dance and the Dolls gave her power, purpose, and a way to reclaim her story. From feeling replaceable to rebuilding her self-worth, this is a journey of resilience, identity, and learning how to stand in your own space.

She also opens up about motherhood, healing, and what it means to finally create the safety for her children that she didn’t always have growing up.

This episode is about survival, self-worth, and the courage to keep going, even when no one is there to catch you.

🌟 Like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful conversations about resilience, growth, and beginning again. Tap the bell to stay connected with new episodes of Begin Again.

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Follow Kimberly: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlywyatt/

✨Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for all your behind the scenes access, recommendations and much much more at: https://linkly.link/2dwmf?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video_description&utm_campaign=always-on

(00:00) Intro

(00:24) Intro to Kimberly and Her Relationship to Davina

(01:44) Small-Town Upbringing & Discovering Her Love of Dance

(06:30) Surviving Abuse Within Her Family

(08:21) Overcoming Her Trauma Through Dance

(11:14) Rebuilding a Sense of Safety

(15:40) Having Her Kids and Unexpected Third Child

(18:23) Leaving for Dance School in New York at 14

(21:09) Building Her Dance Academy and Its Mission

(22:49) Saily Ad

(23:45) Paramount Ad

(25:01) Moving to LA at 17 and Becoming the Pussycat Dolls

(30:35) Internal Competition in the Pussycat Dolls

(34:46) The Pussycat Dolls’ Image and Owning Her Story

(37:52) Airbnb Ad

(43:05) Finding a Way Out of the Pussycat Dolls

(46:43) Coming Back to Dance and Moving to London

(50:12) Familial Estrangement and Her Siblings

(53:27) Her 12 Years With Husband Max

(55:10) COVID Affected the Pussycat Dolls Reunion

(56:44) The Return of the Pussycat Dolls

(01:02:35) The Dolls’ Lineup and New Music

Sponsored by:

Saily - Download from the app store and use code DAVINA at the checkout for 15% off

Paramount+ - Episodes 1-3 of The Madison are available to stream on Paramount+ now: https://www.paramountplus.com/gb/shows/the-madison/

Episodes 4-6 will be available to stream on 21 March.

Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at Airbnb.co.uk/Host

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

In this week's episode, we dive into the evolving dynamics of parenting as your children grow into adults. Dearbhla Mescal shares her journey of adjusting to her children's adulthood, discussing how to navigate the shift from traditional parenting to supporting them as independent adults. She reflects on how to remain close while respecting their autonomy, finding balance in the new stage of their relationship.

Following that, Mel Robbins offers practical advice on how to maintain a healthy relationship with your adult children. She discusses the importance of setting boundaries, staying connected, and embracing the changes that come with this stage of life, while also highlighting the crucial role of communication in sustaining strong, supportive bonds.

Tune in for a thoughtful conversation on how to gracefully transition into a new phase of parenting as your children become adults, offering insights and real-life wisdom on fostering these crucial relationships.

Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at Airbnb.co.uk/Host

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Sometimes beginning again means not starting over, but learning how to see your life in a new way…

In this episode of Begin Again, Joel Dommett opens up about the unexpected path behind his success, and the quiet insecurities that never quite go away.

From growing up feeling like he wasn’t naturally good at anything, to performing hundreds of gigs just to get better, Joel shares the reality of building a career through persistence rather than talent. What looks like overnight success is, in truth, years of rejection, self-doubt, and relentless effort.

But this conversation goes far beyond comedy.

Joel reflects on how becoming a father completely changed his perspective on time, success, and what really matters. For the first time, he began to slow down, to be present, and to recognise just how quickly life moves. And with that joy came something he didn’t expect… fear.

He speaks candidly about the vulnerability that comes with loving your life, your partner, your child, and the quiet anxiety that it could all be taken away. It’s an honest and deeply human exploration of what it means to feel grateful, and scared, at the same time.

From near-misses in his career to moments that could have gone completely wrong, Joel shares how some of the most uncertain decisions led to the biggest opportunities, and why embracing the unknown is often the thing that moves us forward.

This episode is about joy, perspective, and the courage to keep going, even when you don’t feel like you’re the most naturally talented person in the room.

🌟 Like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful conversations about resilience, growth, and beginning again. Tap the bell to stay connected with new episodes of Begin Again.

Follow us here:

📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain

🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod

✨Sign up for the Begin Again newsletter for all your behind the scenes access, recommendations and much much more at: https://linkly.link/2dwmf?utm_source=spotify&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=always-on  

Follow Joel: https://www.instagram.com/joeldommett/

See Joel Live: https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/joel-dommett-happy-idiot/

Comic Relief: https://www.comicrelief.com/

(00:00) Intro

Sponsored by:

Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at Airbnb.co.uk/Host

Episodes 1-3 of The Madison are available to stream on Paramount+ now: https://www.paramountplus.com/gb/shows/the-madison/
Episodes 4-6 will be available to stream on 21 March.

Bloom & Wild - use code DAVINA for 15% off at https://www.bloomandwild.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=begin_again

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

Whoever your mother figure is, celebrate them this weekend with our sponsor Bloom & Wild. Use code DAVINA for 15% off at https://www.bloomandwild.com?utm_source=podcast+&utm_medium=podcasted&utm_campaign=Mother%27s+Day

In this heartfelt Mother's Day Special, we hear from a collection of remarkable women sharing personal stories of motherhood and the powerful bonds they share with their mothers.

Fearne Cotton reflects on how becoming a mother transformed her, bringing new perspectives and emotional depth. Sophie Ellis-Bextor opens up about her own mother’s influence, revealing how her upbringing shaped the loving mother she is today. Katie Piper touches on the strength of her relationship with her mum, who helped her navigate one of the hardest periods of her life. Finally, Rita Ora shares how stepping into the role of a stepmum has brought profound joy, describing it as one of the best experiences she's ever had.

Join us for an emotional, honest conversations about the complex, beautiful journey of motherhood. From the joys of step-parenting to the raw realities of healing and growth, this special episode will resonate with anyone who has experienced the transformative power of love from a mother or maternal figure.

The full episodes of these interview are available to listen to now!

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No matter how far you fall, it’s never too late to rebuild your life…

In this episode of Begin Again, DJ Fat Tony sits down for a raw and deeply honest conversation about survival, healing, and what recovery really looks like.

Tony opens up about a childhood shaped by trauma, the chaotic world of London’s club scene, and the years he spent chasing escape in nightlife, fame, and excess. From discovering the dancefloor as a teenager to building a career surrounded by music, fashion, and iconic figures, Tony reflects on the highs that defined an era and the personal battles happening behind the scenes.

With remarkable candour, he shares how unresolved pain, loss, and self-destruction eventually forced him to confront the life he was living. What follows is a powerful story of reckoning, resilience, and the long road to rebuilding a life with honesty and self-respect.

This conversation is not just about the past, it’s about the courage it takes to change, the truth about recovery, and the possibility of beginning again no matter how far you’ve fallen.

Join DJ Fat Tony as he reflects on the moments that nearly broke him, the lessons that saved him, and why transformation is always possible.

🌟 Like, comment, and subscribe for more powerful conversations about resilience, healing, and reinvention. Tap the bell to stay connected with new episodes of Begin Again.

Follow us here:📸 www.instagram.com/beginagain🎥 https://www.tiktok.com/@beginagainpod 

(00:00) Intro

(01:29) Special Letter From His Therapist & Co-Author, Tara

(11:07) Tony on Childhood Trauma and Relationship With His Father

(21:34) Airbnb Ad

(22:40) Bloom & Wild Ad

(23:35) Finding Himself in the Club Scene

(30:33) His Close Friendship With Boy George

(33:16) Tony's Sex, Alcohol, and Drug Addictions

(38:58) DJ Career and Breaking Into Music

(50:10) Tony's Mother’s Hospitalisation and Rock Bottom

(58:35) HIV Diagnosis

(01:00:54) The Path to Recovery

(01:03:48) The Steps of Sobriety and Supporting Others

(01:05:33) Arrest and Imprisonment

(01:11:30) Meeting His Love, Stavros, and Finding Himself

(01:22:12) Tony's New Book, Recover Me

Sponsored by:

Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at Airbnb.co.uk/Host

Bloom & Wild - use code DAVINA for 15% off at https://www.bloomandwild.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=begin_again

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