Begin Again with Davina McCall - Moments: Father's Day Special

Episode Date: June 22, 2026

This week's Begin Again Moments, we're celebrating the fathers and the impact they've had on their kids. For the full episodes search wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jamie, I've got a little surprise for you. So we contacted Poppy. What? And we said, could you just like, kind of just give us a little note to read out to your dad? Okay. She's done something kind of extraordinary, actually. All right. But I'm going to read it to you.

She's quite a good writer. She's an extremely good writer. Okay. Are you going to get me in bits? I don't know. But this is, this is beautifully written. Hi, Dad. Hi.

When I was asked to write about the impact you've had on our lives, so many things came to my mind. It's funny when you're younger, it's hard to fully appreciate everything your parents do for you. But as I've grown up and started to become my own person, I've come to realize just how much of an influence you've had on me and my siblings. To put it lightly, your impact has been profound. You bless.

I've always felt lucky to have your steady, unwavering support as a dad. There was never a time I doubted that I could pick up the phone and ask for your help. You've taught us to be ambitious, to push our confidence, still a working process for all of us, but no one has encouraged it more than you, to value hard work and to always stay humble. Growing up in a family as wonderfully mad and unique as ours could have gone a very different way. But the way you and mum raised us, kindness is at the heart of everything. It's shaped who we are. I know the younger ones will grow up feeling inspired by all you've done,

but right now I know for certain that Daisy and I already are. I think that's a huge reason why we've chosen jobs that reflect the values you've instilled in us. Thank you for letting us be so open, for accepting all our differences, and for championing the quirks that make us who we are. Thank you for believing we're capable of more than we think ourselves and for doing everything in your power to make us the best version of ourselves. Above all, I think what's had the biggest impact on me is watching your relationship with mum.

Growing up with you both as a team has shaped how I carry myself in my own relationships. You've shown us that nothing is ever completely smooth. sailing, but you both seem to weather whatever life throws your way, and through all the tough times have come out stronger, on the other side, with lots of laughs in between. We all love you lots and are so proud of everything you're doing, Poppy. Oh, bless her. That's beautiful. Isn't that so lovely? What a nice surprise. And she's been ghosting me this week as well. I've messaged her three time and she hasn't replied. That's probably why.

But you know, that idea of inspiring your kids with the relationship that you have is really special. Yeah. Yeah, we're very, very blessed. It's struck to me so many people who's like they either want to be their parents or they just desperately don't want to be their parents or sort of bits in between. I mean, I definitely, I definitely, as a dad, I would say things to my kids and I'm like, I thought, I've heard that before. Oh my God, I'm turning to my dad.

Really? And it's literally making me feel a little bit sick that I just said that, you know. And then at the same times, the good things about it. So it's quite weird how, and until this moment, I've never really thought, I wonder how, what's the legacy? What do you think yours is? Whether, if you ask my kids, when I'm not around, like, do you want to be like your dad or do you not want to be like your dad? Or do you not want to be like your dad? Well, Woody obviously he does.

He's DJing, right? Yeah, he's DJing and he's wearing louder shirts than me. I think at the moment he's trying to outdo me. It's quite funny. If you see him DJing, he's so funny. He's so good. I'm known for being eclecting. He's really eclecting.

And I'm known for showing off a bit, but it's like he's gone, well, he grew up watching me DJ. So it's like, for him, that's the benchmark is showy-offy DJ. So he's like, I'm going to do what Dad does, but I'm going to put a little bit of pizzazz into it. Plus one. Yeah. I've got a present for you.

I've got to find it Is this going to make me cry? I hope so Okay On that caveat So you can read it Right Ready

Okay I'm going to push these further up your nose Because you need to look up the bottom of them To be able to read it So Because otherwise if I don't If I have You might

You might Alright The dad bit's probably a giveaway Hello Mr Slim Or should I say dad. It's me, Woody. You might remember me from such things as my childhood. That's a big saying in our househood. I'm just popping in to say how much, popping in to say how much you mean to me. You're an all right, DJ, but you're an even better dad. And the person I am is directly because

of you. You've just referenced, you know, we've referenced all this before. The person I am is directly because of you. In any situation, the lessons you taught me would always be the same. I think more than anyone else, you have so much time for people, so much love for people, and you always taught me to be there for everyone around me from a very young age. You give a little love and it all comes back to you. So here's me giving it back to you.

I love you, Dad. There you haven't made me cry. Bless you. you, thank you, Woody. Thank you, Woody. That letter, like, you two have done an amazing job. I don't know now as well, but from what I know of Woody, from what you've told me, what a lovely boy. Both my kids are fabulous.

And like, well done. Means though I actually discussed like, how on earth did we raise two such? Because you're lovely people. Well, adjusted, beautiful, kind children, you know, they should be. Because you two are well adjusted, beautiful and kind. I'm not sure we are. But thank you. My favourite Woody quote was I had these sort of old man slippers that I used to wear.

And they're actually quite hit. They're called homies or something. Oh, yeah. But they're like kind of deliberately old man slippers. And one day I was wearing him. And I think I was wearing them with a cardigan combination. And he went, Dad, you've got to stop wearing that thing. I know it's just around the house.

But I, yeah. And I said, what's wrong with me? And he said, my slippers. I said, you know, they're my ironic old man slippers. And he looked to me and he said, Dad, there's nothing ironic about an old man wearing old man's slippers.