Davina McCall has admitted that she broke down in tears when she received the news that Channel 4 was axing Big Brother.

Davina has presented the show since it began in 2000, it draws to a close after it’s 11th series this summer.

In an interview with The Mirror, McCall said: “I found out about two weeks before the end of this year’s series that next year would be the last series. It was a real shock and I felt overwhelmingly sad. I did all I could not to cry. As soon as I put the phone down, I burst into tears.

“Luckily [my husband] Matthew was there. He was so sweet and gave me a big cuddle and reassured me everything was going to be OK. I don’t know where I would be without him – he is my absolute rock.”

McCall added:

“I felt shocked, then sad, then resigned, then nostalgic,” she said. “I thought it would go on forever. I thought it was a great format. But it’s been a bit of a hot potato for them – and probably the most controversial show I’ve worked on.”