G
rab the tissues!
Davina McCall is
back with a new
series of tearjerker
series Long Lost Family.
Fans can expect to see
more emotional stories as the
53-year-old and co-host Nicky
Campbell reunite families in
heartwarming episodes.
The show has become a firm
favourite with viewers over the
years and when we catch up
with down-to-earth Davina, she
tells us it will always have a
special place in her heart.
Here, the former Big Brother,
The Million Pound Drop and The
Jump host reveals what’s in
store in the 10th series, how it
can be hard to switch off after
filming its stories – and why she
used to spend cab journeys
arguing about Big Brother!Hi Davina! What can viewers
expect from the new series of
Long Lost Family?
There are so many twists and
turns. Relatives found on the
other side of the world and
others just down the road.
They often say, “I might have
walked past them,” but they
really could have. How
crazy is that?
Are you constantly
surprised by the stories?
I’ve always been
slightly amazed that
there are still these
incredible stories.
It’s often not about
whether they’ve
been found or have
not been found –
that’s obviously
either a sad or
amazing moment –
but, for me, it’s the
stories. They’re so
multi-layered and
complicated, and they
cross countries,‘YOU’D HAVE TO BE A
ROBOT NOT TO TAKE
IT HOME WITH YOU’
Presenter Davina McCall chats about hugging, tears
and why everybody loves Long Lost Family
PHOTOS: ITV/GETTY
ys?borders and religions. It’s like
peeling an onion sometimes, the
stories and the way they are told.
That’s what’s special about it.
This series was filmed before
the pandemic, so you were still
able to hug...
Yes, we’re filming series 11 at
the moment and aren’t able to
reach over a table and touch
someone’s hand to comfort them.
It’s very difficult. That’s what
makes watching this series such
an immense pleasure, because
when you do see somebody
touch someone’s hand, it almost
takes your breath away.
What’s your favourite thing
about hosting the show?
That it’s a massive team
effort. We’re just the front
people but I know
everybody on Long
Lost Family has a
feeling of warmth
and light about
working on it, and
knowing that we
are contributing to
changing people’s
lives in such a
positive way.
It’s just a really
warm, feelgood
program that
we’re all really
proud of.Is it hard not to take it home
after an emotional day filming?
You would have to be some kind
of a robot to not take it home
with you. It can touch something
in you or trigger something
that relates to part of your life.
It could be something like
somebody finding a sister. I lost
my sister and I’m so happy for
them and it’s amazing. But I keep
thinking, “Wow, imagine finding
a sister. How amazing would that
be.” Those are the things that
trigger me the most.
How does the show rank in
your amazing career?
The other show I was universally
known for and that went on for
as long as this was Big Brother.
But with Big Brother everybody
had an opinion – they either
really loved it or really hated it.
I was forever having arguments
with cab drivers about it! But
I’ve yet to meet one person
who’s watched Long Lost
Family and hasn’t loved it. I’ve
never met anybody who’s gone,
“I hate that show.” You can’t not
get something from it unless
you’re a psychopath. It’s going
to trigger something in you.
RIANNE ISONLong Lost Family returns on
Monday at 9pm on ITVWith her Long
Lost Family
co-star NickyAs host of
Big Brother
in 2010Davina lost
her sister
Caroline
to cancer
in 2012