Davina McCall praised her stepmum in a sweet Mother’s Day tribute while touching on her troubled relationship with her late biological mother.
The TV presenter, 51, has made no secret of the strained relationship she had with mum Florence, who passed away in South Africa in 2008.
Taking to Instagram today, Davina shared a picture of stepmum Gaby, who has been in her life since age six, and thanked her for her support over the years.
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Davina began: “Mothers come in all guises. They don’t have to be biologically connected to you. My birth mother wasn’t a mum to me. But two women filled that role. Pippy, my grandma and this lady.”
She went on: “Being a step mum has its challenges… but for me (my real mum was an alcoholic) she was my very much needed stability. I went to live with Gaby and my dad when I was 13 and a couple of years later, started going off the rails.
“She was always there, solid, a rock… and has continued to be throughout my life. She gave me a gorgeous little sis and is the most phenomenal wife to my Dad (who has Alzheimers).”
The TV star ended the post: “So Gaby, I’m so proud to call you mum. Thank you for everything. I love you.”
Gaby later replied, telling Davina she has never thought of herself as a ‘stepmum’.
“Thank you! I have never liked the title of ‘stepmum’ because it doesn’t bring up the best of images in life or fiction. I’ve always just felt like your mum.”
Davina has previously spoken about her troubled relationship with biological mum Florence, and how she eventually had to cut her out of her life completely.
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Speaking of her mum’s passing, the former Big Brother host said: “When she died I felt a sense of relief that I could stop swinging from side to side. And I also think, ‘Please God, when I die, don’t let it be a relief to anybody.'”
The mum-of-three didn’t attend the funeral but said she finally forgave Florence.
Davina went on: “I imagined her in the hospital bed, and I imagined these shoots of light going from my palms, all over, across the world, to South Africa, to the hospital where she was at, and going straight into her heart.
“All I kept saying was, ‘I forgive you. I forgive you. I forgive you.'”
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