Begin Again with Davina McCall

Latest Episodes:

Begin Again Moments: How To Live A Happier More Hopeful Life Nov 01, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Begin Again Moments, Davina is joined by award-winning writer Caitlin Moran and acclaimed journalist and author, Eleanor Mills, for two uplifting conversations about finding happiness, rediscovering yourself and learning to live a more hopeful life.

Caitlin shares the small but powerful changes that can transform how we feel about our lives. From finding joy in everyday moments and reconnecting with the people around us, to embracing community and doing things for others, she explores how we can feel less anxious, more connected and fall back in love with the world around us.

Then, Eleanor opens up about navigating the challenges of midlife and discovering who you really want to be. She shares why it's never too late to make a change, how to rediscover the things you once loved and why even our darkest chapters can lead to extraordinary new beginnings.

Together, these conversations are a reminder that happiness isn't always found in the big things. Sometimes, it's about changing our perspective, finding purpose and giving ourselves permission 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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Ryan Holiday: The Stoic Way To Calm Your Mind & Control Your Response To Anything! Oct 29, 2026

Show notes

What if the secret to a happier life isn’t controlling what happens to you, but changing how you respond?

In this inspiring episode of Begin Again, Davina McCall sits down with bestselling author and Daily Stoic creator Ryan Holiday to explore how the ancient philosophy of Stoicism can help us find calm, courage and purpose when life feels overwhelming.

Ryan explains why so much of our anxiety, anger and unhappiness comes from focusing on things we can’t control, and how the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius and Seneca can help us face life’s challenges differently.

Together, Davina and Ryan explore how to let go of regret, overcome procrastination, build emotional resilience, and use journaling to make more intentional choices. They also discuss why accepting our mortality can help us feel more alive, and why Stoicism isn’t about shutting down our emotions, but learning how to respond with greater wisdom.

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The Daily Stoic – 10th Anniversary Edition: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman is available now from Profile Books. Get your copy at: https://linkly.link/2zELj

(00:00) Intro

(01:32) Selling 10 Million Books Worldwide

(04:31) How Stoicism Changes Our View Of Death

(09:45) Stoic Parenting: Learning To Let Go

(12:02) The Power Of Apologising

(13:59) Ryan On Dropping Out Of University

(16:58) Where Can Young Men Find Guidance Today

(18:30) How Stoic Philosophy Changes With Age

(20:31) BHF Ad

(21:42) Ancient + Brave Ad

(23:20) Why Ancient Stoicism Still Applies To Modern Life

(28:56) Stoicism Isn't About Suppressing Emotions

(38:09) Do Health Ad

(39:19) How Stoicism Helps You Learn From Mistakes & Overcome Regret

(46:22) Ryan's Favourite Stoic Philosophers

(47:08) The Obstacle Is The Way: Overcoming Adversity

(50:40) Ryan's Book Recommendations

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Begin Again Moments: It’s Never Too Late To Fall In Love Oct 25, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Begin Again Moments, Davina brings together two heartfelt conversations with the late Married at First Sight relationship expert Mel Schilling and Great British Bake Off star Prue Leith, exploring why it's never too late to find love, rebuild trust and open your heart to new beginnings.

Mel Schilling shares her expert dating advice for finding love after heartbreak, overcoming the fear of rejection and rediscovering your self-worth. From navigating dating apps to understanding what you truly deserve in a relationship, Mel reveals why learning to love yourself is the first step towards finding someone new.

Prue Leith shares the beautiful, unexpected story of falling in love with her husband John at 70, reminding us that romance, connection and happiness have no age limit.

A hopeful reminder that no matter your age or what you've been through, it's never too late to love and be loved.

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

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Daisy May Cooper: Escaping My Toxic Mentor, Night Cleaning & The Truth Behind ‘This Country’ Oct 22, 2026

Show notes

What if life's biggest setbacks are actually blessings in disguise?

In this hilarious episode of Begin Again, comedian, actress and writer Daisy May Cooper joins Davina McCall to share the extraordinary journey behind her success, and the personal struggles that have shaped her life.

Best known for creating the hit BBC comedy This Country with her brother Charlie Cooper, Daisy opens up about growing up with very little money, her difficult experience at drama school, and the years of rejection and self-doubt that nearly ended her career before it began.

She also reflects on her parents’ unexpected separation, her changing relationship with her mum, and how family heartbreak has brought surprising opportunities for healing, growth and new beginnings.

Davina and Daisy also explore their belief in the supernatural, experiences with psychics and spirituality, and why learning to trust your intuition can change your life.

This is a beautiful conversation about resilience, family, trusting yourself, finding hope and believing that even when life falls apart, something wonderful might still be waiting.

🌟Like, comment and subscribe for more honest conversations about purpose, resilience, love, loss and beginning again.

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We'd love you to share your Get Busy Living stories with us at https://getbusyliving.beginagainshow.com/

(00:00) Intro

(00:51) A Surprise For Daisy

(02:47) Davina's Gift For Daisy

(03:13) Daisy's New Book 'What Took You So Long'

(06:15) Her Parents Divorce

(09:39) A Letter From Daisy's Mum

(14:19) Her Traumatic 3 Years At RADA Drama School

(19:00) Starting Writing With Charlie

(21:43) Monzo GBL Ad

(24:07) Creating 'This Country'

(33:00) The Reception To 'This Country'

(35:08) Working With Her Brother & Dad

(37:14) Monzo 90 Days Ad

(40:26) Experiences With The Supernatural

(45:11) Daisy Gives A Tarot Reading

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The Surprising Link between Menopause & Your Heart! (She Was Considered Low Risk) Oct 18, 2026

Show notes

Could you be at risk of a heart attack without even knowing it - and are the risk factors different for women?

In this special episode of Begin Again, created in partnership with British Heart Foundation, Davina McCall meets heart attack survivor Louise McGill and cardiologist and British Heart Foundation-funded researcher Dr Rouchelle Sriranjan-Rothwell to explore what every woman should know about heart health.

Louise was just 45 when she had a heart attack, despite being considered low risk after a recent health check. She shares the symptoms she initially mistook for indigestion, the moment she kissed her young daughters goodbye, and how surviving changed her relationship with life itself.

Davina also speaks to Dr Sriranjan-Rothwell who explains why cardiovascular disease in women is too often misunderstood, the connection between menopause and cardiovascular health, and why factors including cholesterol, blood pressure and pregnancy history could matter when understanding a woman’s risk. She also reveals how British Heart Foundation-funded research is working to detect silent heart disease earlier and build a better understanding of women’s cardiovascular health.

This is an emotional and potentially lifesaving conversation about heart attack symptoms in women, menopause, cardiovascular disease, recovery, medical research and the importance of listening to your body.

🌟Like, comment and subscribe for more honest conversations about purpose, resilience, love, loss and beginning again.

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To support lifesaving British Heart Foundation research, follow the links below:

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SHE-HEALS is a $10m global study funded in part by BHF through the Global Cardiovascular Research Funders Forum.

00:00 Intro

01:09 Louise's Story

02:27 The Warning Signs Before Her Heart Attack

04:18 What A Heart Attack Really Feels Like

06:24 Having A Stent Fitted

10:31 Recovering Through Cardiac Rehab

11:19 Why Louise Is Grateful For Her Heart Attack

12:42 A Letter From Louise's Husband

18:03 Dr Sriranjan Rothwell And BHF's Research

18:21 Why Heart Disease Is So Dangerous for Women

20:45 The SHE-HEALS Women's Heart Health Study

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British Heart Foundation funds lifesaving research into preventing, diagnosing and treating women's cardiovascular disease.

More research means more breakthroughs. And those breakthroughs can mean more time.

More time to live. More time to start over. More time to begin again.

To help fund lifesaving research, visit http://bhf.org.uk/beginagain to donate now and keep us beating.

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Si King on Grief, Finding Peace After Divorce & Life Beyond The Hairy Bikers Oct 15, 2026

Show notes

How do you begin again after losing someone who was a huge part of your life?

In this heartfelt episode of Begin Again, Hairy Bikers star Si King joins Davina McCall for a conversation about grief, friendship, love and finding purpose after the heartbreaking loss of his best friend and TV partner, Dave Myers.

Si opens up about the extraordinary bond he shared with Dave, from their first meeting to building the beloved Hairy Bikers together, and the devastating reality of watching his closest friend battle cancer. He reflects on navigating life without Dave and how he's slowly learning to embrace a new chapter while keeping Dave's memory alive.

He also shares his own remarkable journey of resilience, from losing his father at just eight years old to surviving a life-threatening brain aneurysm, experiencing a mental health breakdown and learning to rebuild his life.

Alongside these personal moments, Si discusses the healing power of food, family and community, his passion for bringing people together, and the exciting new projects giving him renewed purpose and joy.

🌟Like, comment and subscribe for more honest conversations about purpose, resilience, love, loss and beginning again.

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Follow Si King here:

📸https://www.instagram.com/sikingofficial/

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Buy ‘Proper Home Cooking’ by Si King at: https://www.orionbooks.co.uk/titles/si-king/proper-home-cooking/9781399642842/

We'd love you to share your Get Busy Living stories with us at https://getbusyliving.beginagainshow.com/

(00:00) Intro

(01:14) Si's new cookbook 'Proper Home Cooking'

(06:53) Losing His Dad At 8 Years Old

(10:29) How Grief Led Him To Motorbikes

(17:53) Monzo GBL Ad

(19:29) Working With Ant & Dec

(24:09) How Si Met Dave Myers

(31:00) What Brought Si & Dave Together

(33:08) How The Hairy Bikers Began

(34:48) Monzo 90 Days Ad

(35:53) Opening His Own Restaurant

(39:48) Processing Dave's Death

(41:26) Finding Out Dave Had Cancer

(44:35) Life After Losing Dave

(45:09) Si's Brain Aneurysm

(46:37) Divorce And Staying Friends With His Ex-Wife

(57:01) Starting A YouTube Channel

(59:25) His New Business

(01:00:18) What's Next For Si?

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Begin Again Moments: The Importance Of Discomfort Oct 11, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Begin Again Moments, two powerful conversations explore the importance of discomfort, why we’ve become so afraid of difficult things and how embracing life’s challenges can help us grow stronger, happier and more resilient.

Buddhist monk and meditation teacher Gelong Thubten joins Davina to explore why modern life has left us in a crisis of comfort, how our constant pursuit of happiness can leave us feeling unfulfilled and why learning to accept uncomfortable emotions could be the key to finding inner peace.

Bestselling author and personal development expert Robin Sharma shares why meaningful change is never easy, how stepping outside your comfort zone can unlock your true potential and why the most rewarding things in life often require us to do the hardest work.

Together, they explore the relationship between stress and personal growth, the importance of rest and recovery, and why facing discomfort rather than avoiding it can transform the way we approach life. A hopeful reminder that struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing, and sometimes the most difficult moments are the ones that help us become who we’re meant to be.

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

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Russell T Davies: The Private Battles I Fought While Creating My Biggest Shows Oct 08, 2026

Show notes

How do you find love again after losing the person you wanted to spend the rest of your life with?

In this deeply moving episode of Begin Again, legendary British television writer Russell T Davies joins Davina McCall to reflect on his extraordinary life creating some of Britain’s most groundbreaking television, from Doctor Who and Queer as Folk to It’s a Sin and Years and Years.

Russell opens up about growing up gay in Swansea, how he found belonging through youth theatre, and how friendship, identity and the AIDS crisis shaped his writing.

We also hear the story of his 20-year relationship with his late husband Andrew and his eight-year battle with brain cancer.

This is a beautiful conversation about grief, continuing bonds with those we’ve lost, and unexpectedly finding love again without leaving the love that came before behind.

🌟Like, comment and subscribe for more honest conversations about purpose, resilience, love, loss and beginning again.

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The Queerest of Folk by Russell T Davies is out on 8th October, hardback, £25

https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-queerest-of-folk-a-life-in-television-russell-t-davies/a290496f474a1f8c

(00:00) Intro

(01:41) Russell And Davina's Friendship

(03:35) When His Mother Was Sectioned

(07:36) Russell's New Book 'The Queerest of Folk'

(08:35) Being A Young Doctor Who Fan

(11:00) On Realising He Was Gay

(14:25) The Inspiration Behind 'It's a Sin'

(17:31) A Letter For Russell

(19:58) Monzo GBL Ad

(21:35) On Making 'It's a Sin'

(28:17) How 'Queer as Folk' Came To Be

(35:59) Monzo 90 Days Ad

(37:04) Making 'Tip Toe' with Alan Cumming and David Morrissey

(44:01) A Letter From Kate Bush

(45:57) On Making 'Years and Years'

(48:30) Meeting His Husband

(50:46) After His Husband's Cancer Diagnosis

(59:16) His Husband's Death

(01:04:42) On Finding Love Again

(01:07:58) Writing Doctor Who

(01:11:52) His Writing Process

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Begin Again Moments: Owning Your Menopause Oct 04, 2026

Show notes

October is Menopause Awareness Month, so for this week’s episode of Begin Again Moments, Penny Lancaster and Natalie Imbruglia join Davina McCall to explore the reality of perimenopause and menopause, and why no woman should ever feel ashamed of what she’s going through.

Penny opens up about experiencing anxiety, rage, hot flushes and the unsettling feeling of no longer recognising herself. She shares how her menopause symptoms were initially mistaken for depression, the impact they had on her family life and how conversations with other women finally helped her understand what was happening.

Natalie reflects on her own experience of perimenopause, from anxiety and changes in her emotions to the shame women can feel when they suddenly don’t feel like themselves. She explains why speaking openly about menopause became so important to her, helping to remove the stigma for the women coming next.

Together, they explore HRT, menopause symptoms, female identity and the power of women supporting women through this life-changing transition – reminding us that menopause isn’t simply an ending, but the beginning of your best chapter yet.

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

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Dame Meera Syal: 12 Years Caring For My Parents & Surviving Divorce Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

What happens when both of your parents receive life-changing diagnoses within weeks of each other?

In this episode of Begin Again, Davina McCall sits down with Dame Meera Syal.

Meera shares the gruelling reality of caring for her mother after her cancer diagnosis while her father was living with Alzheimer’s, describing dementia as a “slow, long goodbye” and reflecting on how her family found strength, support and moments of connection through an incredibly difficult 12 years.

She also opens up about growing up British Asian, feeling like a misfit, and nearly giving up on acting when she couldn’t see anyone like herself on screen.

From ‘Goodness Gracious Me’ and ‘The Kumars at No. 42’ to becoming a writer, actor and comedian, Meera explains why telling your truth can help others feel less alone.

The conversation also explores divorce, co-parenting, the unexpected possibilities of an empty nest, surviving assault, and staying resilient throughout life’s ups and downs.

🌟Like, comment and subscribe for more honest conversations about purpose, resilience, love, loss and beginning again.

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

Follow Dame Meera Syal here: https://www.instagram.com/meera.syal

We'd love you to share your Get Busy Living stories with us at https://getbusyliving.beginagainshow.com/

(00:00) Intro

(01:17) Getting Her Damehood

(08:16) Meera As A Misfit Child

(10:31) Studying At Manchester University

(12:22) The Importance Of Gratitude

(19:20) Monzo GBL Ad

(20:51) British Heart Foundation Ad

(22:02) The Play That Changed Her Life

(26:32) Her New Book 'Vigilauntie'

(34:04) Making 'Goodness Gracious Me'

(38:22) Monzo 90 Days Ad

(39:35) Garnier Ad

(43:17) Married At 25

(45:57) Staying Friends After Divorce

(50:41) Having Her Second Child In Her 40s

(53:07) Her Marriage To Sanjeev

(58:57) The Reality Of Caring For Two Sick Parents

(01:06:29) Speaking Out About Sexual Assault

Sponsored by:

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Join the 'Say Yes Club' and hear more about our events here - https://events.beginagainshow.com/

British Heart Foundation: To help fund lifesaving research, visit https://bhf.org.uk/keepusbeating to donate now and keep us beating.

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