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Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
ITV reality star reveals life-changing health diagnosis aged 46, saying ‘I feel numb'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) REALITY TV star Natalie Russell has opened up about her recent life-changing diagnosis. The star of the ITV series, My Mum, Your Dad revealed she had been diagnosed with ADHD, saying she was "feeling numb" after hearing the news. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 3 Natalie Russell has been diagnosed with ADHD Credit: Instagram 3 The reality TV star said she was still processing the news Credit: Instagram Short for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD is a disorder that affects peoples ability to regulate their attention, energy levels and impulse control. As Natalie pointed out in her Instagram video revealing her diagnosis, there has been increasing numbers of cases being picked up in adulthood. The 45-year-old said getting the diagnosis "brought up a lot of things, and it's made a lot of things make sense." "There's that kind of relief and self-understanding that comes with it, and then there's also probably some grief there of knowing that had I had that understanding earlier on in life... might have changed the course of things for me," Natalie said. "There's so many things that I'm now looking back at and going, 'oh, that explains it'." Natalie spoke on experiencing emotional dysregulation and rejection sensitivity disorder which are common symptoms of ADHD. "It's interesting times [for me], and I think I've definitely felt my symptoms more because of my perimenopause... it's become so much more apparent, and I've found that quite frustrating," she said. "Although I knew I had a lot of the symptoms, I think just hearing someone else confirm it [has helped]." Natalie added: "I think the fundamental part of it is like self-acceptance. and compassion for yourself. "That's so key, because I'm having to extend a lot of grace to myself." 'I didn't know how to cope' reveals Freddie Brazier, 20, as he opens up about his struggle with ADHD Natalie's followers thanked her for her honesty and reacted to the video in the comments section of her post. "It's a complex thing to process so definitely give yourself the time you need - lots of mixed emotions, and I'm sure the waves will rise and fall as you come to terms with them," wrote one person. Another added: "Absolutely love you, you always speak from the heart." And a third commented: "Thankyou for sharing. I can relate to every word." The 9 signs of ADHD in adults ADHD has long been associated with naughty schoolkids who cannot sit still in class. And that is part of it. Fidgeting, daydreaming and getting easily distracted are all symptoms of the behavioural condition, which is why it is often spotted in children. However, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is far more complex than simply having trouble focusing. Henry Shelford, CEO and co-founder of ADHD UK, says: 'If it isn't debilitating, it isn't ADHD.' In recent years, social media has given rise to trends which conflate specific personality traits or single behaviours with ADHD. You might be thinking, 'I'm always losing my keys, forgetting birthdays and I can never concentrate at work — I must have ADHD'. But it's not as simple as that. Though these may all point to the condition, Dr Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist and co-founder of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic, says: 'The key distinction lies in how much a behaviour impacts a person's daily life. 'Genuine ADHD symptoms affect multiple areas of life - work, relationships and emotional wellbeing - whereas personality traits are typically context-dependent and less disruptive.' ADHD UK's Henry, who has the condition himself, adds: 'Having ADHD is hard. One in ten men with ADHD and one in four women with ADHD will at some point try to take their own lives.' So how can ADHD manifest in someone's life? While hyperactivity is a common indicator, here are nine other subtle signs: Time blindness - losing track of time, underestimating how long tasks will take, regularly being late or excessively early Lack of organisation - a messy home, frequently misplacing items, forgetting deadlines Hyperfocus - becoming deeply engrossed in activities for hours Procrastination - feeling overwhelmed by to-do lists and struggling to determine what needs your attention first so focusing on less important tasks Heightened emotions - emotional struggles can manifest in angry outbursts, feeling flooded with joy or shutting down because you feel too much at once Being a 'yes man' - agreeing to new projects at work or dinner dates with friends when you're already busy (a desire to please) Impatience - interrupting people mid-conversation, finding it painful to stand in a queue, being overly chatty Restlessness - tapping, pacing, fidgeting or feeling restless on the inside Easily distracted - by external things, like noises, or internal things like thoughts Natalie, who is a self-esteem and relationship recovery coach appeared on My Mum, Your Dad. She was partnered up with Paul Edwards, 47, in the hit ITV show - but it wasn't meant to be as they split soon after filming was over.
Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Davina McCall: My brain tumour was the best thing that's ever happened to me
Davina McCall has said her brain tumour is 'the greatest thing' that has ever happened to her. The former Big Brother presenter, 57, revealed that at the time of her diagnosis, she told Michael Douglas, her partner, that if she recovered, the diagnosis would force her to question everything. McCall told Women's Health UK: 'When I got this brain tumour, I said to Michael: 'If I make it, this will be the greatest thing that's ever happened to me.' 'Because of the learnings, yes – and because of the places I've had to go to deal with it ... I'm sort of going through a slightly mind-blowing phase of my life where I'm just asking questions about everything.' She added: 'I keep thinking: I've survived this thing, but I don't know how that happened or why it happened.' The TV presenter, also known for The Masked Singer and My Mum, Your Dad, found out about her colloid cyst after she was offered a health check-up as part of her menopause advocacy work. She underwent surgery in November last year to remove the mass and had to spend time in intensive care following the procedure. However, McCall was quick to update fans through her social media that she was 'on the mend' and feeling 'really lucky in my life'. Speaking about her recovery after the operation, the TV star described it as 'mega' and explained that every achievement 'felt like a massive win'. McCall said: 'The whole start back into life again after the operation was amazing – mega. 'And [in the midst of] that feeling of anxiety and institutionalisation – of your house being the only safe place, of forgetting how to function in a normal way – everything felt like a massive win.' She credited exercise with helping her recover, saying it was 'the last bit of joy' to come back into her life after her short-term memory started to come back. The presenter, who has been a long-time advocate for women's health, added that the biggest challenge for her was 'letting go' of control. 'I think letting go is probably my toughest kind of journey,' she said. 'It's something that I struggle with so much and I think it's because, since [I was] a little girl, controlling things or making sure everything is just so has made me feel safe.' According to the NHS, non-cancerous brain tumours are more common in people over the age of 50 and symptoms include headaches, blackouts and behavioural changes. McCall has been influential in advocating for greater awareness of issues connected to contraception and the menopause for women. Recent years have seen a surge in women turning to hormone therapy, with many crediting the 'Davina effect' after McCall made a series of documentaries about her own experience of the menopause. She has also raised money for Cancer Research UK by running the Race For Life in honour of her sister Caroline Baday, who died from lung cancer in 2012 at the age of 50. McCall's full interview is available in the June issue of Women's Health UK, on sale now.
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Revealed: What REALLY happened after the cameras stopped rolling to couple from My Mum, Your Dad. They captured nation's hearts after children set them up. Now in exclusive interview they reveal if they're still together
Both were, to be frank, at an age when they presumed romance - the fireworks, the anticipation, the butterflies in the stomach - was far behind them. How utterly endearing then to find that Jenny Francis, 51, and Danny Wright, 49 - the couple who so captured all our hearts on ITV dating show, My Mum, Your Dad, last year - are not only still together but now talking about marriage as their 'ultimate goal'. The pair met in April last year after Jenny's son Malachi, 20, who appeared alongside her on the show - in which children of single parents put them forward for matchmaking - signed her up as a contestant. Danny, meanwhile, was put forward by his 20-year-old daughter Tallulah. And so strong was the attraction that Jenny had already told Danny she loved him before the show had even aired on television. 'I didn't want to say it first and then it just came out by accident,' Jenny confesses in this exclusive joint interview. 'I was in Danny's kitchen. It was so early on, before the show even aired! 'My girlfriends were like, don't you say it first! I just thought life is too short, you've just got to say how you feel, you could be dead tomorrow.' Silver-haired Danny was a little more cautious about showing his feelings at first. 'I'd resigned myself to being single for the rest of my days,' he admits. 'Mentally, I was trying to be guarded about it, regardless of the fact that the feelings were there.' But 12 months on, it is Danny who brings up the M word. 'We've talked, not in-depth about marriage and moving in, but we both understand that that is the ultimate goal,' he reveals. And long term, he has plans to move to Cheshire where Jenny lives. 'It's beautiful. I would love to live up there,' he says. 'When I go there, I feel immediately relaxed because it's such a lovely area. We could retire up there.' For now, though, the couple are juggling their blossoming relationship with the needs of their children - between them, they have five - and that means a 600-mile round trip to see each other as Danny still lives in Eastbourne, East Sussex, to be near three of his children, while Jenny lives in Altrincham with her only son Malachi. 'It's difficult in the short term,' admits Danny, a sales controller. 'Jenny does 90 per cent of the travelling. I'm quite rooted in Eastbourne at the moment. My job is quite demanding, as well as my son being young. 'I've been up a few times, and can get up for the odd weekend here and there, whereas Jenny has more flexibility in her life. I wouldn't say it's made it easier but it's made it possible. Without that bit of flexibility it really would have been a problem. But like I've always said, anything worth having, is always going to need effort putting in.' Their two blended families have yet to meet en masse because of the logistics involved but the couple, who have just returned from their first holiday together, are hopeful it will happen sooner than later. Meanwhile, Danny has formed a strong bond with Jenny's son, Malachi, who she raised alone and Jenny has become close to Tallulah. 'It was the nicest thing, the first thing Jenny did when she first came to stay with me was to ask for Tallulah's phone number,' says Danny. 'She wanted to take her to lunch, get to know her. 'Now these two have become close. They'll go off to get their nails done when I'm at work, go out and have lunch. It's heartwarming really. Jenny has made her feel really included.' Danny's youngest son Leyton, seven, has also fallen for Jenny. 'I have Leyton quite a lot through the week,' says Danny. 'Most times when I pick him up after work his first words are: 'Is Jenny home?' 'If she's staying here, she'll have his dinner ready for him, they'll play, and be rolling around on the floor.' Problems when they do come - as they do in all relationships - only surface when the couple are not together and thankfully, despite the distance between them, the longest they've been separated so far is a month. Danny reflects: 'We're just a normal couple and we'll bicker and fight. When we're together we very rarely have a cross word. It tends to be more when we're in different ends of the country. Jenny will have a crappy day, and I've had a crappy day, I'm a bit more relaxed but for Jenny she'll overthink things. 'I might make light of something but she'll snap and tell me I don't take things seriously. 'But one thing Jenny is extremely good at is she will snap out of an argument really quickly. I do love that about her. I can't stand people who sulk. And even if you haven't had a row, you've got to figure out what you've done for them to stop talking to you. I can't deal with that. 'I've always said to Jenny if you've got a problem with me, tell me, and we'll fix it. So that's how we deal with things.' The couple clearly adore each other and seeing them act like besotted teenagers is enough to make even the most hard-hearted soften - especially when one considers the bumpy road both had before they found each other. Indeed, Danny has both been the victim and the bad guy in matters of the heart, splitting with his wife - the mother of two of his children, Ellis, 22, who now lives in London, and Tallulah, 20 - after having an affair. This, he insists, is something he's still ashamed of. He then went on to have another relationship after his divorce, from which he has his seven-year-old son Leyton. During emotional scenes on the show, hosted by Davina McCall, Ellis revealed that Danny had been left heartbroken when his ex-partner left him for another man. Reflecting on the bumps in his romantic path, Danny, who also has an older son, Ashley, 28, said: 'I was married to my wife for about 10 years but we were together for a long time before that. I've only been married once. 'We had a lovely life and maybe a bit of boredom set in. Somebody paid me a bit of attention at work, and it turned into an affair. 'Even after we separated, sold the house and moved on, I never admitted it to anybody until I did the programme. 'But my ex-wife and I have a really good relationship now. She was my biggest supporter going into the show. And a big part of the show is having to talk about your past relationships and I thought there's no point hiding anything. The only way to deal with this is complete honesty. 'The difficult thing for me was I was so ashamed of what I did. I came from a broken home myself and never wanted that for my children. So for that to happen because of me, I was so ashamed of myself. I still am.' Jenny split from her son's father 15 years ago, and they divorced four years later. She is reluctant to talk about the break up but admits that the experience left her nervous about dating again. 'I still have insecurities,' she says. 'I still feel that it could possibly go wrong. I overthink things. And I've got to battle with that inner voice sometimes. I think that's just through life experience and what you've been through. The only black woman to take part in the second series, Jenny admits she thought this meant she'd never get the guy. 'When I went in, I thought I've not got a chance! I'll just have a nice time and see what happens. But never did I think that I'd walk away with THE guy.' While Danny hasn't observed any negativity towards them as a couple because of Jenny's race, she has, and says: 'You can just sense it. There were comments like 'Oh I didn't see them two together' and there were certain comments online. In the back of my head, I'd be like, 'Why are you thinking that?'. I kind of knew what it was.' Danny adds: 'Jenny is the first black girl I've ever dated. The racism makes me angry. You want to reach out and say: 'Stop being so vile' but luckily there hasn't been much hate online. I've been surprised at how much love we've had. 'The most offensive it got for me was when a couple of people said I looked like Gary Barlow and another then replied 'He's more Ken Barlow than Gary.' As for the 'ultimate goal' of marriage, when might that happen? Danny admits: 'I have thought about it. But what I don't want to have is a long engagement. In my mind, when it gets to that stage, I'd like to propose and then get married. 'We've talked about it. Neither of us wants the big wedding. The important bit for me is to call Jenny my wife. That means more to me than any big day itself.'
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Davina McCall says brain tumour is ‘not coming back' in ‘final' surgery update
TV presenter Davina McCall has said her 'final MRI' shows her benign brain tumour was removed in full during surgery and is 'not coming back'. The former Big Brother host, 57, underwent an operation in November 2024 to remove a colloid cyst, which was found after she was offered a health check-up as part of her menopause advocacy work. She has been updating her fans on her recovery online and in her 'final brain surgery update', McCall said she feels 'lucky to be able to draw a line under this' when 'so many people can't'. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Davina McCall (@davinamccall) In an Instagram video, where she appeared alongside her partner, celebrity hairdresser Michael Douglas, she said: 'We thought we'd post a final brain operation update. 'So last week I had my final MRI and I was a bit nervous about it because I knew that if any of it was left then it would grow back and I'd just go through the whole thing again, which I was prepared to do. 'I kind of mentally prepared myself for that.' A picture of the MRI scan was shown on screen and McCall said the scan was 'clear'. She added: 'I really want to say a massive thank you to everybody that looked after me so well.' The shared post was captioned: 'So here it is. Our final brain surgery update. 'Had the final MRI this week. @ got everything out during surgery, it's not coming back.' McCall added: 'I am so so grateful particularly because I know a lot of people have inoperable tumours and I know I'm lucky to be able to draw a line under this and move on with my life when so many people can't. 'And I'm just gonna say this one more time. Benign does not mean fine…' After her surgery, McCall spent time in intensive care before recovering from home with the help of her partner Douglas. She spoke about the removal of the tumour while co-presenting this year's Red Nose Day for Comic Relief and said it was 'the hardest thing I've ever been through'. According to the NHS, non-cancerous brain tumours are more common in people over the age of 50, and symptoms include headaches, vision problems and drowsiness, and some can be 'difficult to remove without damaging surrounding tissue'. McCall, the host of reality dating show My Mum, Your Dad, has long advocated for women's health issues, and presented a documentary called Sex, Myths And The Menopause and another on contraception called Davina McCall's Pill Revolution. She became an MBE in the King's birthday honours for services to broadcasting in 2023 and was given a special recognition award at the National Television Awards in 2024 for her broadcasting career.
Telegraph
07-03-2025
- General
- Telegraph
‘If you think apps are rubbish, you're doing it wrong': A divorced dad's guide to midlife dating
Fidel Beauhill, 48, is an NLP master coach, master hypnotherapist, and was a consultant on Davina McCall's mature dating show My Mum, Your Dad. After seven years of dating, the divorced father-of-three from Bristol now has a steady girlfriend. Post-divorce dating is a topic that needs more discussion. Unlike earlier generations, we now have the no-fault divorce making separation easier, and more of us are dating in later life. Throw in the explosion of dating apps, the female sexual revolution and the closing of gender gaps at work, many people are confused about the role they're supposed to play. It's complex, and it's pushing both sexes further apart. As a dating coach for males, I'm passionate about bringing modern men and women back together again. We're not 20 any more – going out, getting drunk and 'pulling' doesn't work. Women don't want to be approached when they're out or at the gym, and definitely not at work. So the apps are the answer. Those who say online dating is rubbish are just doing it wrong. Here's everything I've learnt since my own divorce seven years ago. Don't go on the apps until you're over the breakup I'd been with my ex-wife for over 15 years, wed for almost a decade, and we'd had three daughters (now aged 24, 21 and 18) before our mutual separation in 2018. Romantic love had faded, we were pulling in different directions, and getting out before hating each other seemed wise. Leaving the family home to sleep on a mattress at my mum's for a bit (I know other guys who've rented bedsits or house share again) is unsettling when you're freshly single. But post-breakup is an opportunity to get physically, emotionally and financially stable. On first dates, or indeed any date, don't bad mouth your ex or moan about your divorce. Self-pity isn't sexy. You'll have far more fun – and luck – on the dating scene if you do this first. Book the therapy or find a coach, take three to six months working through your baggage before inflicting yourself on anyone new. Avoid getting too serious, too soon Chances are your sex life has dwindled over the course of a long-term relationship. Mine had. Suddenly being free – to sleep with women! – seemed thrilling. Predictably, I downloaded Tinder. Yet within a few swipes there was one of my wife's best mates. 'S--t!' I panicked. 'I don't want everyone gossiping about how eager I am to date'. Bristol is a big city, but everybody knows everybody. So instead of the usual apps, I tried a married-but-dating site; meeting someone equally motivated by discretion was the appeal. I'm not suggesting 'cheating sites' are the way forward, but boy was it eye-opening. The first person I popped my post-divorce cherry with was a housewife whose wealthy husband's disability meant he'd granted his permission for her to have sex with other men. I liked that no one was lying or looking for commitment, so it felt safe to have fun while maintaining some integrity. It's tempting to delve straight into messaging multiple women chaotically (as I've been guilty of at times) yet this soon leads to overwhelm requiring what some call a 'feminine cleanse'. Last year I took a self imposed 'monk mode' – no dates, messages, flirting or even much eye contact, keeping things light and professional with women for several weeks until I felt clearer about how I felt about them. Don't fret about sex Of course men worry about their ability to 'perform'. This is normal. For me, being half Jamaican brought a different pressure. If you're black, even 'a little bit black' (as one woman described me) there's a danger of being fetishised. I was even told that being mixed race felt 'less full on' than sleeping with a fully black man. At first, admittedly, I was guilty of playing into that stereotype because it seemed desirable, but I felt used as well as under pressure, as a keen boxer over 6ft, not just to be well endowed, but to have sexual stamina. Because of my hypnotherapy training, I knew listening to hypnotherapy tapes would improve my so-called 'staying power' in this department. They do work – I recommend them to clients now. While not everyone will have this problem, hypnotherapy is worth trying to boost your confidence and performance which will then boost self-esteem. Be honest about not wanting a full-blown relationship Lots of guys lie, saying they're ready thinking that's what women want to hear. Yet they're bringing a mindset from pre-marriage, when everyone is looking for The One. Midlife dating is different, the women you might be interested in are quite likely also wanting something light-hearted, someone fun and respectful to have great conversation and good sex with when they haven't got the kids. Many guys are still stuck with the idea women want to tie you down, but modern divorcees are often independent, home-owning, working women. They're not seeking a 'provider'. Men and women are more equal than ever Having said that, biologically the sexes remain different. So while you may start a relationship and agree to keep it casual when you start having great sex, women are wired to 'catch' more feelings because of the oxytocin and other connecting hormones coming alive during sex. Men on the other hand are designed to want to 'spread our seed' so tend to find casual sex simpler. Being mindful of this difference might avoid future hurt. The best thing is to be open about what you're after and to regularly check in as feelings can change. Divorce is financially crippling, so get creative on dates Dates don't have to be fancy if you're broke. Suggest a picnic with wine, or go for street food trying a starter, main and pudding at different stalls instead of expensive meals out. Women appreciate the effort and thought. There's no shame in saying you're fresh out of a divorce and sorting out your finances. The main thing is to have a plan for the date and don't get stuck in an off-putting victim mentality. Accept that disastrous dates are part of the process The goal of the first date shouldn't be landing a second one. See it as a chance to find out whether you'd like to see her again by asking her questions and showing an interest. There will be times when you won't want a second or third date. One time - and a bottle of wine in - one of my dates started telling me she'd frozen her eggs and became very emotional. On the next date she brought out a brochure of potential sperm donors. Full of pictures not just of the adults, but the men as they looked as children. Looking at these pictures of young boys with her was surreal, not in a good way. As much as I sympathised, I also didn't want to be used as a sperm donor, and made that clear as kindly as I could. We did not have sex. Should the man always pay? When it comes to paying, I think a one in three ratio works well (she pays once for every three you cover). It's an act of grace and chivalry. Say, 'allow me to pay, it would be my pleasure' rather than insisting for reasons of masculinity, which might be a red flag to her that you're not listening and potentially bullying. Then maybe on the third or fourth date say, 'OK, I'm going to let you do this one – you take me somewhere, you show me something'. Consent has changed – make sure you're up to date Consent is crucial. Essentially this means understanding the other person's boundaries and respecting them. At every stage of intimacy. It's a skill learning how to do it. Directly asking 'can I kiss you?' can often turn women off who (often) still prefer men to take the lead. I saw how women cringed when I uttered these words. Now I've learnt that saying 'I'm going to kiss you now - is that OK?' is better. It shows intent but also that you're checking in. I've had someone reply no, and had to laugh it off and say 'you can't blame me for trying'. We're in a confusing age between the sexes at the moment. Women are like a dial that has to be gently turned up, there's no 'on' switch, yet there is an instant 'off' switch. I really recommend you have the conversation on a first or second date to fully understand the other person's boundaries in the bedroom. It's also a chance for you to make it clear that you understand and respect that 'no means no' and you won't be cross or stroppy with them for changing their mind at any time. You need to reassure them that they are always safe to say no. Go easy on the booze Drinking can make dates easier but be careful. After a few drinks in a cocktail bar one date invited me back to hers for gin. I realised how drunk she was when she started dancing around removing her clothes. It felt all wrong, and I panicked I'd be accused of sexually assaulting this young woman. I'm afraid to say I pretended I was going to the toilet and then ran away. To both our embarrassment we've bumped into each other since. Awkwardness happens when you're dating – get over it and move on. Ghosting is just part of the process 'Ghosting' is rife today, and I too have been guilty of just stopping responding to people I've chatted to online. Most of us have been on both ends of this. I'm not a psychologist, but it's worth learning about attachment styles. Some people have an 'anxious' attachment style, others 'avoidant' and then there's 'secure' (those who can shrug off ghosting easily). Avoidants are more likely ghosters, and Anxious are more likely to take being ghosted very personally. You need a thick skin if you're going on a dating app. If you've been ghosted, it just means they've found someone more interesting. If it keeps happening, you might be tempted to blame all of the opposite sex. But perhaps you just need to be a bit more interesting? Finally, looks do matter… Being bothered by appearances isn't shallow. If you're not in good shape - get to the gym. If you're clueless about what clothes to wear, ask someone who does to advise you. You don't have to buy expensive clothes, half my T-shirts are from Primark, I just know they best suit my body type. Smelling good is even more important, my T shirts might only cost £4, but I spend a lot more on my aftershave. And there's no excuse for not tidying up 'down there' guys - especially if you're hoping someone will go near that area! It's only respectful to keep dangly bits groomed. Worried about balding? Shave! The main reason women aren't interested in men on the apps isn't about looks - it's lack of effort. And finally, men classically think they need to 'look' like they're busy to be attractive. I say don't look busy, be busy - take courses, learn new skills and make yourself more interesting. You might have clung on to the identity of being a husband or dad - but now's the time to make a new identity and find what you're passionate about if you don't already know. Create the life you want for yourself, so you're happy whether a woman comes into it or not. As told to Susanna Galton
