Davina McCall picks up her MBE

Question

Davina McCall's proud family watched on as she was awarded an MBE for services to broadcasting following a television career spanning more than two decades. 

The Masked Singer panellist, 56, smiled as she was presented with the award by Princess Anne at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace this afternoon.

McCall was joined by her partner Michael Douglas as well as her daughter Holly Robertson for the occasion.

The TV presenter heaped praise on the Princess Royal after being made an MBE for services to broadcasting.

The 56-year-old said Anne had always been one of her favourite royals and shared her 'gung-ho' attitude to life.

The presenter added that she was 'terrified' before the investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, but that it was an 'honour'.




Davina McGall's family watched on as she was awarded an MBE at Buckingham Palace





She was presented with the award for services to broadcasting by Princess Anne 






Pictured: McCall shakes hands with the Princess Royal as she is awarded an MBE





The Masked Singer panellist wearing her medal for services to broadcasting

She said: 'The Princess Royal has always been one of my favourite royals because I think as a woman or as a young girl growing up and seeing her, she always seemed to be quite gung-ho and she rather shared my ethos in life it felt like.

'She is a very positive, no-nonsense woman and I really like her for that so I was thrilled when it was her.

'I always found her rather inspiring growing up so to be presented with an award by her was a real treat. '

Anne asked how McCall got into broadcasting and the presenter replied that she had wanted to be a singer but 'wasn't good enough'.

The princess quipped that 'The Masked Singer is perfect for you!'

The presenter said: 'I thought 'Oh my God, Princess Anne's just said The Masked Singer'. She was lovely, very personable.'

McCall also passed on her best wishes to the King, who is recovering from an operation for an enlarged prostate, and the Princess of Wales who is back at home after being treated for abdominal surgery.

She said she was much more nervous before the ceremony than she would normally be before going on TV.




McCall (centre) poses with her award with partner Michael Douglas and her daughter Holly Robertson 





Davina McCall has been awarded an MBE for services and broadcasting following a television career spanning more than two decades





The Masked Singer panellist, 56, was presented with the award at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace this afternoon





McCall recently admitted that she's been sending letters regularly to the royals since a young age

McCall said: 'I was absolutely terrified. People were saying 'You've got to go and talk to the cameras after this', I said 'That's the easy bit for me'.

'I was really nervous but she made it easy.

'I went through so many emotions arriving, it's the waiting that's so nice and you get to talk to other people that are getting awards as well.

'That calmed me down a lot because I had been very quiet all day which, as you can imagine, for me is not usual.

'I couldn't say the word honour earlier because I couldn't stop crying every time I said it.'

The presenter said she is 'quite busy' filming another series of Long Lost Family and wants to continue broadcasting 'for a while yet'.

When asked what advice she would give young people looking to break into broadcasting, she said they 'just have to have a passion'.

McCall added: 'My passion was music and that's what got me a job at MTV.

'The hardest thing for young people sometimes is 'What is my passion?' and throw yourself at it, then something will come out of it.'

Photographer Nick Knight and fashion designer Roksanda Ilinci both also picked up honours.

Mr Knight said: 'I think it is very nice that fashion gets recognised as one of the important art forms in our society. Fashion is one of our greatest art forms.'

Ms Ilincic wore a long purple dress, dark shoes and a black jacket to the ceremony.

The Belgrade-born artist said of the outfit: 'Many thoughts went into it, Theanex Reviews what I was meant to wear and what was suggested for this event, but I also wanted to bring an element of something that I do that I'm very known for, which is sculpture, architecture, art, and I think I managed to combine all of that - certain traditional elements and something a bit more extraordinary.'

After receiving word that she was included in the King's birthday honours to receive an MBE, Davina previously gushed how much it meant to her.

She said at the time: 'I can't believe it. It's a great honour and it really means a great deal,' she said, in a statement previously. 




Fashion designer Roksanda Ilincic poses after being made an MBE





Fashion photographer Nick Knight was made a CBE 





Charity campaigner Suzanne Richards was also awarded an MBE 





Richards posing with her son Owen after her investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace

Also receiving an MBE was charity campaigner Suzanne Richards, who appeared at Buckingham Palace with her son Owen.

McCall recently admitted that she's been sending letters regularly to the royals since a young age.

'It is a little bit weird,' The Masked Singer panellist said. 'I have been writing to the Royal Family since I was eight. I started off with a letter to the Queen. I got a letter with the wax on the back. 

'I then wrote one to Princess Margaret, [and] to Princess Diana after the Panorama interview.

'I wrote to Prince Charles during his 'Climategate' when everyone was ridiculing him. I wrote to William and Kate.' 

She added: 'When I got my MBE, I got a letter from Prince William saying, 'I just want to say congratulations. We are so pleased for you'. It meant a lot to me.' 

McCall began her TV career presenting in 1994 on MTV Europe, before moving onto Hitlist UK the year after.

But her big break came in 2000, when she landed the role of then-contemporary Channel 4 reality show Big Brother.









Davina presents the Big Brother double eviction night in September 2008

She went on to present  the popular British show until 2010 as well as several series of the weekly eviction spin-off and celebrity edition. 

Shortly after McCall began hosting weight-loss show The Biggest Loser on ITV though the series was cancelled in 2012.

Her latest project, announced launched last year saw her star in the 'midlife Love Island, My Mum, Your Dad, which was hugely successful in its first season. 

As well as her programme presenting duties, McCall is also known for her social justice and charitable work, though she has occasionally combined the two.

Since 2005 she has often been part of the celebrity presenter line-up for Comic Relief's Red Nose Day and was only yesterday confirmed to be returning this year.

As well as that, in 2021 she featured in the Stand Up To Cancer telethon, during which she gave an emotional tribute to her friend - Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding.


RoyalsPrincess MargaretKing Charles III