Davina McCall Shouldn't Have Been Born?

4 months ago 08th Jul 13:00

Davina McCall says her mother "shouldn't have had children."

The 'Big Brother' presenter spoke about her difficult upbringing and relationship with her estranged mum Florence Kock - who died last year aged 62.

She said: "When you are the child of divorced parents you are kind of split in two.

"I didn't just split in two, I had two countries.

"There was warm, lovely, secure England and then there was my mum. My mum was French and was an alcoholic.

"She was unbelievably exciting to be around - if you are not her child. My mum died last year and we were sort of estranged. It was just very sad. She probably shouldn't have had kids because she was still a big kid herself.

"Obviously she drank a lot and from a really early age - a bit too young. I knew she smoked 'magic' cigarettes. She called them that but I knew what they were from about eight. Just not appropriate behaviour."

Because of her troubled relationship with her mum, Davina admits she feels like she has missed out on a lot as she grew apart from a lot of Florence's family.

Obviously she drank a lot and from a really early age - a bit too young. I knew she smoked 'magic' cigarettes. She called them that but I knew what they were from about eight. Just not appropriate behaviour.

She added: "I kind of lost touch with my French family as well and I feel half a person in a funny sort of way."

Davina visited France while tracing her family for the latest series of family tree-tracing show 'Who Do You Think You Are?' and admits the trip made her miss her mother.

She said: "I had a mini moment where I thought, 'Isn't it a shame my mum isn't here?' As much as we had our differences, I think she would have loved it."