Davina McCall dedicated her Mother’s Day post to her mother-in-law as she also reflected on her difficult childhood and “screwed up” relationship with her birth mother.
The presenter, 55, shared a sweet photo of her mother-in-law Gaby with her father as she said she was so grateful for his “unwavering love”.
She also candidly opened up about her “funny, messy, screwed up, loving and disgusting relationship” with her birth mother Florence saying that “amazing mother figures come in many forms”.
Davina has been open about her rocky relationship with her late alcoholic mother who abandoned her as a child – previously revealing they used drugs together when they were just 12.
She wrote in her post: “Happy Mother’s Day to my Mother-in-Law Gaby. I say she is my Mother-in-Law because amazing mother figures come in many forms.
Love: Davina McCall dedicated her Mother’s Day post to her mother-in-law (pictured) as she also reflected on her difficult childhood and ‘screwed up’ relationship with her birth mother
Kind: The presenter, 55, shared a sweet photo of her mother-in-law Gaby with her father as she said she was so grateful for his ‘unwavering love’
“I had a crazy, funny, messy, screwed up, loving, hateful relationship with my birth mom (if you’re telling, follow @myhorridparent) and Gaby was my rock.
“She and my grandma kept me sane. And I’m so grateful to both of them for their undying love x she’s also my kids’ ‘Gabba’ and they absolutely LOVE her ❤️ thank you mom .
‘I love you so much. Also a big thank you to everyone who tries… it’s a fucking nightmare today for you, follow @ivfbabble (they’re lovely) and big love to everyone who’s grieving a loss.
‘These holidays are always a little weird aren’t they? It’s good to celebrate/remember/love people on their special days of the year (moms, dads, valentines) but sometimes it can also feel like immense pressure…’.
It comes after Davina – who has been open about her own addictions – revealed in January that she started taking drugs with her mum when she was just 12.
She said: “I did drugs at 12 with my mum, I smoked weed at 12, I took coke twice with my mum at 15, coke with my sister at 14. If people had known, I wouldn’t have been able to see my mum.
‘But I’m not a victim but I’m glad I chose to learn after curve balls. The small victories in my life were huge.
The star previously recalled the complicated relationship she had with her alcoholic mother Florence, adding that she started partying as a teenager because she had no matriarchal figure to turn to.
Honest: She also spoke candidly about her ‘funny, messy, screwed up, loving and hateful relationship’ with her birth mother Florence saying ‘amazing mother figures come in many forms’
Complicated: It comes after in January Davina – who has been open about her own addictions – revealed she started taking drugs with her mum when she was just 12
Davina said she slipped into drug addiction, which at worst landed her in hospital.
She said in 2020: “It was very scary because it was a very gradual overdose. I had taken a cocktail of drugs, because I didn’t want to feel normal. I was constantly trying to escape, I was like a fruit rotting from the inside.
“So I thought, ‘Well, I’ll just take a valium,’ and the next thing I knew I woke up in the hospital. At my lowest point, when I was filled with self hate, it was literally a case of ‘get clean or die’.
Davina added that it was her best friend, father and stepmother who helped her see the meaning, and she signed up for Narcotics Anonymous.
Less than a year after her overdose, Davina was drug-free, and the star said she still occasionally attends meetings and therapy sessions to keep her on track.
After a difficult relationship with her mother, Davina admitted that she sought fame at a young age to fill the void left in the absence of her mother’s love.
The Big Brother presenter added that even after 37 rejection letters from TV companies, she was trying hard to keep working.
Davina has been open about her addiction struggles, and in March 2018, she recalled the time she told her three children about her past.
Speaking on the Happy Mum podcast, Happy Baby, she said: ‘I’ve had to be very honest about my past with the kids – especially now that they have internet access.
“I actually had to be brutally honest pretty early on when I thought other kids might talk to them about it. They grew up with ‘Mommy’s going to a meeting’ – they just didn’t know it was a meeting of Narcotics Anonymous.
Difficult: Davina has been open about her difficult relationship with her late alcoholic mother who abandoned her as a child
“They were all really, really accepting. They were like, ‘We thought it was something like that. Is that why you don’t drink?
Since quitting drugs at the age of 25, Davina has also quit smoking and drinking, and has inspired others with her amazing fitness regimen.
The star also dated hairstylist Michael Douglas after splitting from husband Matthew Robertson in 2017.
Anyone struggling with similar issues, call the Frank Drugs helpline on 0300 123 6600. They can talk to you about all your options.
