Davina McCall's Former Husband Opens up About a 'Dark Time' Days After Her Wedding: What Is Known About Their Relationship

The former "Pet Rescue" host melted hearts with a raw tribute to the man who saved him — as his ex quietly remarried.

While turning 57, Matthew Robertson bared his soul in a moving tribute to a man who once saved his life — just days after his famous ex, Davina McCall, secretly tied the knot following a terrifying year of surgery and survival.

A Birthday Message Turns Into a Tearful Tribute

Fans were expecting birthday cheer — instead, they were hit with a gut-punching confession.

News broadcaster Robertson turned to social media on Tuesday, 16 December, to mark his 57th birthday — but what he shared shocked and moved fans in equal measure.

"Today is my birthday, the man in this picture is Mark Diggins, my best friend," Robertson began, attaching a heartfelt photo. "He saved my life at a very dark time."

The TV presenter spoke with raw emotion about the man who helped pull him from the brink. "He taught me how to live, love and thrive in the outdoors. He is a silent warrior, avoiding the lime light and regarded as one of top mountain guides in the world," he wrote.

And while the day marked his own birth, Robertson made it clear who he believed the real hero was.

"Today is not about me, but to all the amazing, kind and supportive people around me," he added. "Thank you Mark and your amazing wife Nikki, thank you to my kids who make me shine and to all the incredible people in my life 😊."

Just Days After Davina's Secret Wedding

Robertson's moving post came hot on the heels of major headlines about his former spouse, McCall — who quietly wed her long-time partner, celebrity hairdresser Michael Douglas, in a deeply intimate ceremony.

The couple, who first met on the set of "Big Brother" in the early 2000s, reportedly exchanged vows on 5 December 2025, surrounded by just ten loved ones.

"It was very intimate and everyone who attended is very special in their lives," a friend told The Sun, revealing the newlyweds joined a much larger celebration for another friend's wedding the next day — their first public outing as husband and wife.

"Their wedding was perfect, exactly what they wanted" the source shared. "[...] They've been through a huge amount in recent months, with Davina's health, and it just felt right to formalise their marriage. They didn't see the point in waiting."

A Seventeen-Year Marriage Ends in Silence

McCall was married to Robertson for seventeen years before a quiet and dignified split in 2017. At the time, the beloved TV host broke the news in a solemn statement:

"I am very sad to say that Matthew and I have separated. Our amazing children are our number one priority, above everything else."

The former couple share three children: daughters Holly and Tilly, and son Chester.

Years later, McCall reflected on that emotional period. In a candid 2021 interview with Good Housekeeping, she confessed:

"I was in a real transitional phase of my life. We'd still been living in our house together, which was awkward. I hadn't moved on and I was in this weird no-man's land."

Eventually, she moved out — and everything shifted. "That felt like the first step in a new phase," she said. "I thought, 'Okay, we can look forward now.' It was transformative."

A New Romance Ignited

Following the split, McCall slowly rekindled her long-time friendship with Douglas, transforming it into something deeper by late 2018.

According to insiders, the two had grown exceptionally close during the TV icon's darkest days — with Douglas becoming her rock as she faced not one, but two harrowing health battles.

Brain Surgery and a Brush With Death

In November 2024, McCall shocked fans with a raw, honest video: she had been diagnosed with a "very rare" brain tumor — a 14mm colloid cyst found during a health check she'd been offered as part of her menopause advocacy.

"And so I slightly put my head in the sand," she admitted, before adding that she'd consulted multiple neurosurgeons before finally agreeing to undergo a craniotomy — a procedure involving the temporary removal of part of her skull.

"It needs to come out," she explained. "Because if it grows, it would be bad." Despite the terrifying diagnosis, McCall bravely reassured fans that she was in "good spirits."

She revealed she'd be in hospital for nine days and off her phone, as Douglas stepped in to provide updates and guard her fiercely from the public eye.

Facing the Fear of Death — And Surviving

Months later, McCall opened up about her deepest fears — and the haunting legacy of early death in her family.

"I've been terrified of dying my whole life," she told Good Housekeeping in August 2025, referencing the tragic early deaths of her mother (62), father (77), and sister (50).

She spoke about the brutally honest conversations she shared with Douglas in the days leading up to her brain surgery. The lead-up to the operation, she said, forced her to confront unimaginable fears and contemplate realities she'd never dared to face.

"I thought, 'I have to come to terms with the fact that I might not make it, so what do I have to do to make that okay?'" she recalled.

But everything shifted after what she called "brilliant conversations about death" with Douglas — exchanges that stripped away the fear and brought clarity.

"I had to let go of the outcome and be able to go to sleep without the abject horror of the idea of dying," she admitted. "[...] We were both scared, but we were honest and told each other that. It made the whole thing less daunting, knowing that everything was out on the table."

Another Devastating Diagnosis

Just as she was recovering — life threw another curveball.

In November 2025, McCall revealed she had undergone surgery for breast cancer after discovering a lump during a self-exam.

"It was very, very small, so I got it very, very early," she said, shaken but optimistic. "My lymph nodes were clear, I didn't have any removed, and all I'm going to do now is have five days of radiotherapy in January as kind of an insurance policy."

'Thank You Michael': An Emotional Closing Note

In a deeply moving Instagram post, McCall poured out her gratitude:

"Thanks to my family, to my brilliant kids, and an extra special thanks to Michael. It's been a lot."

She also praised the doctors and nurses at the Royal Marsden, adding, "I was very angry when I found out, but I let go of that and I feel in a much more positive place now."

A Weekend of Love, Loss, and Letting Go

While McCall and Douglas celebrated their first appearance as a married couple — McCall's ex-husband was honouring a man who once saved him from the edge.

Two stories, unfolding in tandem — one of quiet devotion, the other of unspeakable resilience.

One thing is certain: both Robertson and McCall have emerged from their personal tragedies with grace, gratitude, and fierce love for the people who stood by them.