Eva Speakman says Davina McCall helped ‘save her from a very dark place’ during perimenopause

Eva Speakman says television presenter and menopause campaigner Davina McCall helped “save” her from a “very dark place” after perimenopause left the This Morning life coach struggling with severe health symptoms that standard hormone replacement therapy had not eased.

Speakman, 56, told Closer magazine that she experienced insomnia, weight gain, heart palpitations and joint pain during the perimenopause and felt she could not “recognise” herself despite taking HRT tablets. She said her husband, Nik, 63, was supportive but she still felt “really alone” until she reached out to McCall, who had previously encouraged her to make contact if menopausal problems developed.

Speakman said McCall — who has raised public awareness of menopause — urged her to consult a menopause specialist at a clinic. The specialist recommended options beyond oral HRT tablets; Speakman switched to an oestrogen gel combined with progesterone tablets, treatments she said “worked brilliantly.” She described McCall as “so knowledgeable” and said the advice “saved me from a dark place.”

The Speakmans, who appear regularly on ITV’s This Morning as therapists and life coaches, have previously spoken about using clinical and therapeutic techniques to help people manage mental health problems, trauma and phobias. Eva and Nik have described working with celebrities, and Speakman said the couple’s motivation for media work is to help others.

Eva Speakman also recounted a history of bullying and online trolling since becoming a more familiar media presence. Earlier this year she publicly defended her husband after a social media comment criticised his appearance; Speakman said the change was a side effect of steroid use and urged people not to be judgmental. She has previously advised those targeted by online abuse to block harassers and move on.

Perimenopause is the transitional period before menopause when hormone levels fluctuate and many people experience physical and emotional symptoms. Hormone replacement therapy, prescribed in different formulations including tablets, gels, patches and implants, is one common treatment, and clinicians sometimes adjust the route of administration or combine oestrogen and progestogen to improve outcomes. Speakman’s account underscores that some patients seek specialist assessment when first-line treatment is insufficient.

In the interview, Speakman credited both personal support from her husband and practical medical advice for her recovery. She said McCall’s intervention — a personal message reminding her to seek help and a recommendation to see a specialist — changed the course of her care.

The Speakmans have described therapeutic successes on television, including helping former This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby manage a fear of flying and a fear of ghosts. They have said those clinical cases were resolved through targeted interventions and that follow-up feedback from patients has been encouraging.

Speakman’s public comments add to ongoing public discussion about menopause care and the variety of treatment options available. Medical professionals, menopause clinics and patient advocacy groups generally advise that people experiencing persistent or severe perimenopausal symptoms consult a clinician to review treatment type, dosage and delivery method.

Speakman’s statement to Closer followed a period in which she said she felt isolated by her symptoms; she described the combination of physical discomfort and emotional strain that can accompany perimenopause. After changing treatments under specialist guidance, she reported a marked improvement in symptoms and a return to day-to-day functioning.

Her account highlights the role of peer support and specialist referral in navigating perimenopause and complements efforts by public figures and campaigners to increase awareness about menopausal health and treatment options.