Davina McCall

Former Big Brother presenter Davina McCall and Sarah Hiscox have been best friends for 40 years

Davina McCall was left in tears as she opened up on her addiction battle live on air.

The beloved TV presenter, 58, admitted she “wouldn’t be here” without the help from close friend Sarah Hiscox.

The duo, who have been best friends for 40 years, appeared on Thursday’s (July 2) episode of Lorraine Kelly’s ITV chat show as Sarah promoted her new book, The Beginning and End of Everything, that looks into her devastating drug addiction.

At the time, Sarah’s addiction was so bad that it cost her both her marriage and custody of her two sons. Now, after 25 years sober Sarah is now back with her family and she says she couldn’t have done it without Davina.

In a heartfelt moment, Davina was tearful as she admitted: “I’m so unbelievably proud of her. In so many ways she put herself out there. She wrote a book that was very painful for her to write.”

Visibly moved, she continued: “Behind all of it is the sweetest most beautiful love story ever.. I’m going to start crying. Sarah’s husband is an amazing man and what they went through together and where they are now.”

In an emotional moment, Davina went on to explain how Sarah ‘saved her life’. The former Big Brother presenter started drinking during her teenage years before developing a heroin habit, but she became clean and has maintained sobriety for over three decades.

She admitted: “She got me clean – I wouldn’t be here without her. I really wouldn’t. I was desperate and I was pretending and I was trying to fake everything was fine.”

Turning to Sarah she continued: “She (Sarah) was honest with me and I hated her for it. She locked me in the car.”

Sarah jumped in: “I loved her and I could see this incredibly vital woman that I loved. You know, she’s family to me. I could see her just disappearing. She was running clubs at the time and everybody wanted to be on the guest list for one of her clubs so no one would dare confront her.”

She explained: “So I locked her in the car and I said listen…” Davina joked: “I thought I was going to a Santana gig.”

Lorraine said: “You were getting a right talking to.” Davina admitted: “Yes I was.” Lorraine went on: “But isn’t that the thing about how much you need your pals because when the tables were turned, Davina you helped.”

Turning her attention to Sarah’s book, Davina pointed out: “You know what I also think is an important message for anybody watching is that I read this book and I had to call you (Sarah) every five pages because I didn’t know.

“I was best friends with her when we were 19, but I was kind of taking drugs recreationally. It was getting quite out of control but I was so self obsessed and wrapped up in myself, I didn’t know how broken she was.”

She added: “You’ve got to ask people how they are, check in and make sure they’re ok. Double check in – ‘How are you really?’ – because I never knew.”

Lorraine airs weekdays from 9.30am on ITV1 and ITVX.

Graham Norton’s ITV series The Neighbourhood has been pulled from its primetime slot less than a fortnight since its launch and will be replaced by repeats

Graham Norton’s ITV series The Neighbourhood has been pulled from its primetime slot less than a fortnight since its launch. The presenter, 63, is front and centre on the broadcaster’s new gameshow format in which real-life households have gathered in a purpose-built neighbourhood to be in with a chance of winning a £250,000 cash prize.

There were clearly high hopes for the series as it premiered in between both segments of the explosive I’m A Celebrity…South Africa final on April 24, and has been airing at 9pm on Thursdays and Fridays ever since, where it has managed to pull in just half a million viewers.

But now, new schedules have revealed that, going forward, the programme will air at 10.45pm which takes it away from the coveted slot it was initially given, implying that it has not lived up to expectations in terms of viewing figures.

READ MORE: ITV’s bid to lure Graham Norton away from BBC ‘backfires’ after ‘shock’ new show ratingsREAD MORE: Graham Norton explains why he’s breaking Terry Wogan’s famous rule at Eurovision

This Thursday, viewers tuning in at 9pm will instead see a repeat of Davina McCall’s Long Lost Family, and an episode of Beat The Chasers: Celebrity Special, which was initially aired in 2021, will be shown instead. A spokesperson for ITV confirmed the schedule shift as they said said: “The full box set of The Neighbourhood is now available to stream on ITVX. Additionally, the show will continue to air in an evening slot on ITV.”

But sources have claimed that whilst the broadcaster pulled out all the stops to make the programme into a hit, it just hasn’t gone that way in the end. An insider told The Sun: “They threw everything at The Neighbourhood to make it a big success, but it’s ended up a bit of a damp squib.”

The six households competing are The Bradons, The Kandolas & Samra, The Lozman-Sturrocks, The Pescuds, The Scouse Haus and The Uni Boys. Challenges put every neighbour to the limit as they try and eliminate one another without becoming unpopular enough to get the axe themselves.

Opening up on his first reaction when he saw the entirety of the set, Graham said: “Arriving in Derbyshire and seeing the set, I’d seen pictures but I didn’t quite understand the scale of it. It really is like being on a movie set, except it’s 360 – everywhere you look, it’s real.

“The art department did an extraordinary job of building up that town square where we do the removals, the pub, the cafe, the interiors of the houses. It really took my breath away!

“It made it even more exciting. I thought – this is serious! We’re making a big show. Then add on top of that, what Derbyshire does when the drone goes up and we see the Neighbourhood and the nature and the rest of it, it’s so beautiful, those big driving shots. It’s just gorgeous.

BAFTA award-winning broadcaster Graham continued: “One of the loveliest things about the show is seeing households who would never meet in real life, not only meeting but forming proper bonds of friendship. There are a few moments in the show that really do bring a tear to my eye because it’s just so genuine, so lovely and properly heartwarming.

“It’s such an odd word to describe a show like this but it’s properly wholesome. There’s something about the bright colours, being out in the countryside and the genuine bonds that you see created.”

The Neighbourhood is available to watch on ITVX

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Scarlett Moffatt is reaping the benefits of her popularity during her latest I’m A Celeb stint with her already being offered huge deals thanks to her on-screen success

Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt has landed a huge new deal with ITV following her I’m A Celeb success.

The popular TV personality missed out on being part of the I’m a Celebrity South Africa final after she was given the boot from the camp following a Bushtucker Trial that saw her have to count coloured balls. Fans were disappointed to see Scarlett, 35, axed before reaching the finale which ended up being an all-male line-up.

However, the exit has done her no harm with ITV bosses among an array of channels and brands who are keen to work with her following her latest stint. Scarlett said: “I have got something coming up with ITV and I’ve just done a photoshoot in Barcelona.”

She continued to The Sun: “It’s been a whirlwind recently. It feels like the first time I came out of the jungle ten years ago — the same thing is happening again.”

Scarlett was just 25 years old when she was crowned the Queen of the Jungle in 2016, two years after she found fame on Gogglebox. She went on to become a TV presenter in joining Ant and Dec on their hit show Saturday Night Takeaway, before diverting to Channel 4 to reboot Davina McCall ’s dating show Streetmate.

Scarlett also served as a host of I’m a Celeb spin-off Extra Camp. She welcomed her son Jude in June 2023 and took some time away from the world of entertainment, however her fresh stint on the I’m a Celebrity all-stars series has placed her firmly back in the spotlight cementing her popularity with the public.

A source said: “Scarlett might not have reached the final of I’m a Celebrity but she’s shone this series and it’s reminded everyone how funny, kind and brilliant she is. Her diary is packed with offers but she’s thrilled to have a big new project with ITV booked.”

Meanwhile, Scarlett revealed earlier this week that she and fiancé Scott Dobson are now expecting their second child. Speaking at ITV’s Showcase event on Thursday night, she said: “I’m so excited to be pregnant again.

“I didn’t know if it would happen again so I’m so grateful that I get to be a mammy for two. When I first had my little boy Jude, I decided to take two years off. Then I’ve come back into it head first and I’m pregnant again.

“But I don’t know if I’d want to take another two-year break — I love this job. I feel so grateful that I get to call this my career. I hope I’ll do lots of new things.”

The baby news came after viewers saw Scarlett talking about her fertility struggles in heart-wrenching scenes shown on I’m a Celebrity last week.

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