There is one woman who has been a rock for Davina McCall as she navigated the ups and downs of her life: her beloved stepmother.
In fact, he has credited Gaby, his late father Andrew’s wife, with being his “stabilizing” force, especially when his relationship with his own mother, Florence, was strained.
And it seems never more so than now, as the TV star recovers from surgery to remove a benign brain tumor just over a week ago.
In a heartfelt Instagram update, Davina, 57, shared her gratitude toward Gaby and stepmoms in general, describing her as “an incredible rock” and affectionately calling her “a big dose of vitamin G.”
Speaking in the video message filmed from her bed, she said: “Michael and my mother are taking fantastic care of me.”
There is one woman who has been a rock for Davina McCall as she navigated the ups and downs of her life: her beloved stepmother.
Davina has credited her late father Andrew’s wife Gaby (pictured) as her “stabilizing” force, especially when her relationship with her own mother, Florence, was strained.
In a heartfelt Instagram update, Davina, 57, shared her gratitude toward Gaby and stepmoms in general, describing her as “an incredible rock” and affectionately calling her “a big dose of vitamin G.”
‘I would like to quickly say a big word to the stepmothers. I really don’t thank Gaby enough. She has been an incredible rock my entire life.
She continued excitedly: “I was talking to someone yesterday and I told them I had a huge dose of vitamin G. I think when something like this happens I feel very grateful.” I have always been grateful, I have been very lucky in my life.
‘But I feel incredibly grateful right now. So thank you all for everything. I’m recovering, I’m resting, I’m sleeping a lot and I feel very good. “I feel very lucky.”
Gaby, an artist from west London, came into the lives of Davina and her late older sister Caroline after meeting their father Andrew when the presenter was six.
A friend of the star said: ‘Gaby and Davina are so close, it’s lovely. Davina feels very blessed.”
‘Gaby is always there for her, they are very close. Not only was she there for Davina as an adult, but she was there since she was a teenager.
They have remained close since Andrew’s death in 2022 and she calls Gaby mom.
Long Lost Family host Davina has long praised Gaby, whom she calls Gabba.
In 2019, she celebrated her stepmother’s support and praised her for taking on a maternal role during her troubled childhood.
Bond: In the comments of the sweet post, Gaby revealed that she “never liked the title ‘stepmom’ because ‘she always felt like she was your mother.'”
Speaking in the video message filmed from her bed, she said: “Michael and my mother are taking fantastic care of me.” I would quickly like to say big to stepmoms. I really don’t thank Gaby enough. She has been an incredible rock my entire life.
Davina with Gaby and her dad
Posting a photo of Gaby, the presenter wrote: ‘Mothers come in all shapes. They don’t have to be biologically connected to you.
‘My biological mother was not a mother to me. But two women filled that role. Pippy, my grandmother and this lady. This is Gaby. She is my stepmother, she has been since I was six years old.
“Being a stepmother has its challenges… but for me… (my real mother was an alcoholic) she was the stability I so needed.”
The mother-of-three, Holly, 22, and Tilly, 21, and son Chester, 17, revealed how she started going off the rails shortly after moving in with Gaby and her father Andrew when she was 13. .
She said: ‘I went to live with Gaby and my dad when I was 13 and a couple of years later, I started to go off the rails.
‘She was always there, solid, a rock… and has continued to be throughout my life. ‘She gave me my beautiful little sister and is the most phenomenal wife to my dad (who has Alzheimer’s).’
‘So Gaby, I’m very proud to call you mom. Thanks for everything. I love you.’
In her comments on Davina’s post, Gaby revealed that she “never liked the title ‘stepmom’ because she ‘always felt like your mother.'”
She wrote: ‘Thank you! I have never liked the title ‘stepmother’ because it does not conjure up the best of images, neither in life nor in fiction. I’ve always felt like your mother.’
The former Big Brother presenter has been open about her complicated relationship with her biological mother, Florence, whom she cut out of her life after a series of betrayals, including selling stories about Davina’s struggle with addiction.
Davina said Gaby ‘was always there, solid, a rock’ when she was little
Davina recalled that her mother Florence (pictured) abandoned her when she was three and she was married four times, before her death in 2008.
Davina has two daughters, Holly, 23, Tilly, 21 (above), and a son, Chester, 17, who she shares with her ex-husband Matthew Robertson.
Davina split from her ex-husband Matthew Robertson in 2017 after 17 years of marriage (pictured May 2013)
Reflecting on one such incident before her wedding to TV presenter Matthew Robertson, Davina explained on Loose Women that Florence’s actions led to rumors about her sobriety.
“I told her about this (selling stories),” Davina said, “but she didn’t think it was a big deal, and then she did it again.”
In the end, Davina decided to sever ties with her mother permanently.
He clarified that he was not “attacking mom,” but acknowledged Florence’s limitations: “My mom was an incredible mother, but she didn’t know how to behave on a human level.”
“I don’t want to be a victim, or be portrayed as one,” Davina told the panel.
“If I can teach someone something (about my wrestling), it will be a good thing.”
During an appearance on Who Do You Think You Are? Davina recalled that her mother abandoned her when she was three years old and she was married four times, before her death in 2008.
The two did not speak for eight years and in the emotional show the Big Brother presenter admitted that her mother ‘probably shouldn’t have had children’.
Despite this, Davina does not want to be seen as a victim: “If I can teach someone something (about my struggle), it will be a good thing.”
No matter what happens, you will have your stepmother by your side throughout the entire process.