Naga Munchetty

Last updated

Naga Munchetty
Naga Munchetty 2021 (cropped).jpg
Munchetty in 2021
Born
Subha Nagalakshmi Munchetty-Chendriah

(1975-02-25) 25 February 1975 (age 49)
Streatham, London, England
Education Graveney School
Alma mater University of Leeds
Occupations
  • Television presenter
  • journalist
Notable credit(s)

BBC Breakfast , BBC World News, BBC News, Newsnight , Working Lunch , Sunday Morning Live , Victoria Derbyshire , GMT , The Hub

Contents

Spouse
James Haggar
​
(m. 2004)​

Subha Nagalakshmi Munchetty-Chendriah [1] (born 25 February 1975), [2] known professionally as Naga Munchetty, is an English television presenter, newsreader and journalist. She is a regular presenter on BBC Breakfast . She is also a former presenter of BBC World News and BBC Two's weekday financial affairs programme Working Lunch .

Early life and career

Munchetty was born and grew up in Streatham, South London. [3] Her mother, Muthu, [4] is from Tamil Nadu, India and her father is from Mauritius. They met when both were studying in Wales, her mother training to be a dentist and her father to be a nurse. They married in London in 1974, without the knowledge or approval of their parents. [5] [6] She has one sister, born in 1976. [7] Her early education was at Graveney School in Tooting. [8] She studied English Literature and Language at the University of Leeds, graduating in 1997. [9] Her first job was as a journalist on the City Pages of the London Evening Standard . [10] She also worked on the Business Section of The Observer . [10]

Career

Munchetty's television career began as a reporter for Reuters Financial Television, after which she worked as a senior producer for CNBC Europe, a business producer and reporter for Channel 4 News and a presenter on Bloomberg Television. [10]

Munchetty joined Working Lunch after the show was revamped in October 2008 and stayed with the programme until it was cancelled in July 2010. [11] Munchetty has hosted Radio 4's Money Box . [12] She also reports from the City for BBC News, gauging the reaction to breaking financial stories such as the Budget, [13] and the Pre-Budget Report. [14]

Since August 2010, Munchetty has presented early morning bulletins on the BBC News Channel and BBC World News. She is a regular presenter on BBC One's Breakfast. [15] From January 2021, Munchetty became the presenter on the 10am to 1pm Radio 5 programme on Mondays to Wednesdays replacing Emma Barnett, who moved to Radio 4's Woman's Hour. Munchetty co-hosted The Spending Review – The South Today Debate on BBC One with Sally Taylor in September 2010. [16]

Munchetty also presented Paranormal Investigation: Live on Living on 30–31 October 2010 to celebrate Halloween. [17] Munchetty narrated the BBC documentary Fear and Faith in Paris looking at anti-Semitic attacks in Paris and their impact on the Jewish community of France. She won Celebrity Mastermind , which was broadcast on 2 January 2013. In June 2016, she replaced Sian Williams as presenter of Sunday Morning Live on BBC One. In 2017, she was replaced by Emma Barnett and Sean Fletcher. On 26 August 2016, Munchetty presented an episode of Newsnight on BBC Two.

She was a contestant on the fourteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing , having been paired with Pasha Kovalev, [18] and being voted out in week four (16 October 2016). She co-presented Britain's Classroom Heroes with Sean Fletcher in October 2017.

In 2017, Munchetty joined the cast of CBBC sketch show Class Dismissed playing a fictionalised version of herself as a Media Studies teacher who acts like a newsreader.

On Boxing Day 2022, Munchetty appeared on the BBC quiz show The Weakest Link . [19] [20] On 2 June 2023, and again on 8 December 2023, Munchetty was the host for BBC's Have I Got News for You . [21]

David Attenborough interview

A July 2018 Breakfast interview Munchetty did with David Attenborough went viral for its perceived awkwardness after Munchetty asked Attenborough, who had been invited to talk about the Big Butterfly Count event, unrelated questions about the royal family and the RRS Sir David Attenborough. Attenborough, visibly unimpressed, shut down nearly all of Munchetty's questions. [22] [23]

Trump comments

In September 2019, Munchetty was ruled to have breached the BBC's guidelines by criticising US President Donald Trump for perceived racism. That July, while presenting BBC Breakfast with Dan Walker, Munchetty took issue with Trump's comments telling his opponents to "go back" to the "places from which they came". Munchetty said: "Every time I have been told, as a woman of colour, to go back to where I came from, that was embedded in racism. Now I'm not accusing anyone of anything here, but you know what certain phrases mean." [24]

The BBC was criticised for its decision to uphold complaints over Munchetty's comments. Several public figures, including Lenny Henry and Adrian Lester, signed an open letter asking the corporation to reconsider its ruling against her. [25]

On 30 September 2019, it was reported in The Guardian that the complaint was also made against her co-host Dan Walker but his comments were not the focus of the BBC's executive complaints unit (ECU) investigation. [26] Later that day, the Director-General of the BBC Tony Hall overturned the decision after looking into it personally. [27]

Personal life

Munchetty in the pro-am round of the 2013 Women's British Open golf championships 2013 Women's British Open - Naga Munchetty (1).jpg
Munchetty in the pro-am round of the 2013 Women's British Open golf championships

Naga married ITV broadcast consultant James Haggar in 2004. [28] [29] She lives in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. [3] [30]

Munchetty plays jazz trumpet and classical piano. [10] She plays golf, with a handicap of nine in 2015. [31] In October 2012, she won the Hertfordshire de Paula Cup at Bishop's Stortford Golf Club. [32] She is now a committee member of Moor Park Golf Club, where she presents the annual Charity Golf Day in June. [33] [34] [35]

She is also a trustee of local theatre, Watersmeet, and a governor at St Joan of Arc School. [36] [37]

Munchetty was diagnosed with adenomyosis in September 2022 and revealed her diagnosis during her BBC Radio 5 Live programme in May 2023. [38]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sian Williams</span> Welsh journalist and television presenter

Sian Mary Williams is a Welsh journalist, current affairs presenter, and psychologist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiona Bruce</span> British journalist and TV presenter (born 1964)

Fiona Elizabeth Bruce is a British journalist, newsreader, and television presenter. She joined the BBC as a researcher for their current affairs program Panorama in 1989, and became the first female newsreader on BBC News at Ten, as well as presenting many other flagship programmes for the corporation, including BBC News at Six, Crimewatch, Real Story, Antiques Roadshow, and Fake or Fortune? Since 10 January 2019, she has been the presenter of the BBC One television programme Question Time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicky Campbell</span> British television and radio personality (born 1961)

Nicholas Andrew Argyll Campbell OBE is a Scottish broadcaster and journalist. He has worked in television and radio since 1981 and as a network presenter with BBC Radio since 1987.

This article outlines, in chronological order, the various controversies surrounding or involving the BBC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mishal Husain</span> British newsreader and journalist (born 1973)

Mishal Husain is a British newsreader and journalist for BBC Television and BBC Radio and a Sunday Times bestselling author. She is one of the main presenters of BBC Radio 4's Today, and occasionally appears as a relief presenter on the weekday edition of the BBC News at Ten, and more rarely, the BBC News at Six. She has hosted The Andrew Marr Show, HARDtalk, Impact and BBC Breakfast.

Declan Gerald Curry is a Northern Irish freelance journalist, news presenter and businessman, best known as the former business correspondent for BBC Breakfast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Maitlis</span> British journalist (born 1970)

Emily Maitlis is a British journalist and former newsreader for the BBC. She was the lead anchor of the BBC Two news and current affairs programme Newsnight until the end of 2021, and is currently a presenter of the daily podcast The News Agents on LBC Radio.

<i>BBC Breakfast</i> Breakfast television programme on BBC One and BBC News channels in the United Kingdom

BBC Breakfast is a British television breakfast news programme, produced by BBC News and broadcast on BBC One and the BBC News channel every morning from 6:00am. The simulcast is presented live, originally from the BBC Television Centre, London before moving in 2012 to MediaCityUK in Salford, Greater Manchester. The programme is broadcast daily and contains a mixture of news, sport, weather, business and feature items. When BBC Breakfast is not broadcast on BBC One, it is transmitted via BBC Two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kay Burley</span> English journalist (born 1960)

Kay Elizabeth Burley is an English broadcaster. She is a presenter on Sky News and hosts Kay Burley, the breakfast slot on the channel. She has also worked for BBC Local Radio, Tyne Tees Television, and TV-am.

<i>Working Lunch</i> Television programme

Working Lunch is a television programme which was broadcast on BBC Two covering business, personal finance and consumer news; it was broadcast between 1994 and 2010. The programme was first aired on 19 September 1994. It had a quirky, relaxed style, especially when compared to other BBC business shows such as World Business Report. In April 2010, the BBC announced that the programme was being cancelled at the end of July 2010. GMT with George Alagiah took its place in the schedule at 12:30 on BBC Two.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rory Cellan-Jones</span> British journalist

Nicholas Rory Cellan-Jones is a British journalist and a former BBC News technology correspondent. After working for the BBC for 40 years, he announced in August 2021 he would leave the corporation in late October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Derbyshire</span> British journalist (born 1968)

Victoria Antoinette Derbyshire is a British journalist, newsreader and broadcaster. Her eponymous current affairs and debate programme was broadcast on BBC Two and the BBC News Channel from 2015 until March 2020. She has also presented Newsnight and BBC Panorama. She was one of eight women to appear in ITV's The Real Full Monty: Ladies Night – an entertainment documentary to raise awareness of breast cancer. She previously presented the morning news, current affairs and interview programme on BBC Radio 5 Live between 10 am and 12 noon each weekday. She left at the same time as fellow 5 Live broadcasters Richard Bacon and Shelagh Fogarty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon McCoy</span> British journalist

Simon McCoy is a British journalist and former newsreader on BBC News and Sky News and presenter at GB News.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Webb</span> British journalist (born 1961)

Justin Oliver Webb is a British journalist who has worked for the BBC since 1984. He is a former BBC North America Editor and the main co-presenter of BBC One's Breakfast News programme. Since August 2009, he has co-presented the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, and also regularly writes for the Radio Times.

Charles Jeffaries Stayt is an English newsreader and broadcaster. He is a journalist with the BBC as a presenter for BBC Breakfast.

Sean Fletcher is an American-English journalist, and television presenter best known as a presenter on Good Morning Britain and on Countryfile.

Rachel Mary Ann Cecilia Burden is a newsreader, radio news reporter and presenter. She has presented the BBC Radio 5 Live weekday breakfast show since 2011. She is also one of the main weekend presenters of BBC Breakfast.

Sunday Morning Live is a religious and current affairs discussion programme. The first series aired on BBC One from July 2010 to November 2010 after the end of the third series of The Big Questions. Thereafter it has continued to air each year between June and November.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steph McGovern</span> English journalist and TV presenter

Stephanie Rose McGovern is an English journalist and television presenter. She hosted Steph's Packed Lunch on Channel 4 from 2020 to 2023. She worked for the BBC as the main business presenter for BBC Breakfast, often co-hosting the entire programme.

Katherine Downes is an English television presenter who formerly worked on the BBC News Channel and BBC Breakfast, specialising in sports coverage.

References

  1. ↑ Moorhead, Joanna (17 June 2016). "Naga Munchetty: When I said I was studying English, my mum said, 'What are you going to do – become a poet?'". The Guardian . London. Retrieved 23 March 2018. when I told them I was doing English literature at university
  2. ↑ "BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty shares inspirational post after celebrating 46th birthday". Hello!. 26 February 2021.
  3. 1 2 Macfarlane, Jenna (19 March 2021). "Naga Munchetty: who is the BBC presenter – and why has she apologised for liking 'offensive' Union flag tweets?". Edinburgh Evening News.
  4. ↑ Duerden, Nick (11 April 2024). "Relative Values: the TV presenter Naga Munchetty, 42, and her mother, Muthu, 65". ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  5. ↑ "Naga Munchetty: When I said I was studying English, my mum said, 'What are you going to do – become a poet?'". The Guardian . London. 17 June 2016.
  6. ↑ Segalov, Michael (12 April 2020). "Sunday with Naga Munchetty: 'I'm bereft not to be playing golf'". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  7. ↑ Duerden, Interviews by Nick. "Relative Values: the TV presenter Naga Munchetty, 42, and her mother, Muthu, 65". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  8. ↑ Webber, Richard (16 February 2018). "Mrs Berry and Mr Barbrook by Naga Munchetty". TES.
  9. ↑ "Prominent alumni". University of Leeds. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Naga Munchetty BBC News, 3 October 2008
  11. ↑ BBC's Working Lunch show to end BBC News, 23 April 2010
  12. ↑ Money Box BBC Radio 4, 24 July 2010
  13. ↑ The Full Story: Budget 2010 BBC News, 24 March 2010
  14. ↑ The Full Story: Pre-Budget report BBC News, 9 December 2009
  15. ↑ "Breakfast". BBC. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  16. ↑ The Spending Review – The South Today Debate BBC One, 9 September 2010
  17. ↑ The Host – Naga Munchetty Paranormal Investigation: Live, Living TV
  18. ↑ Naga Munchetty becomes latest Strictly Come Dancing contestant BBC News, 18 August 2016
  19. ↑ "BBC One – The Weakest Link, Series 2, Episode 3". BBC. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  20. ↑ "Naga Munchetty addresses major blunder on BBC The Weakest Link". MSN. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  21. ↑ Have I Got News for You – Series 66: Episode 9. BBC. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  22. ↑ Sporn, Natasha (20 July 2018). "Sir David Attenborough wants to talk butterflies in awkward interview". Evening Standard. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  23. ↑ Noah, Sherna (20 July 2018). "Sir David Attenborough appears unimpressed in awkward BBC Breakfast interview". Irish Independent. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  24. ↑ "Naga Munchetty Trump comments 'breached BBC rules'". 25 September 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  25. ↑ Hirsch, Afua; Henry, Lenny; Lester, Adrian; Guru-Murthy, Krishnan; others (27 September 2019). "You can't be 'impartial' about racism – an open letter to the BBC on the Naga Munchetty ruling | Afua Hirsch, Lenny Henry, Adrian Lester, Krishnan Guru-Murthy and others". The Guardian. London. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  26. ↑ Waterson, Jim (30 September 2019). "BBC racism row: Naga Munchetty complaint was also about co-host Dan Walker". The Guardian. London.
  27. ↑ Kuenssberg, Laura (30 September 2019). "Tony Hall has overturned the decision about Naga Munchetty – he's looked personally at the decision and says her words did not merit a complaint being upheld against her" . Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  28. ↑ "Naga Munchetty pictured in rare wedding snap – and she looks stunning". Hello!. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  29. ↑ "Naga Munchetty: When I said I was studying English, my mum said, 'What are you going to do – become a poet?' | Family | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  30. ↑ Duerden, Interviews by Nick. "Relative Values: the TV presenter Naga Munchetty, 42, and her mother, Muthu, 65". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  31. ↑ Hodge, Ed (18 July 2015). "Naga Munchetty on how golf has changed her life". The Scotsman . Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  32. ↑ "Hertfordshire de Paula Cup hosted by Bishop's Stortford Golf Club. Friday 5 – Sunday 7 October 2012". Bishop's Stortford Golf Club. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  33. ↑ "Moor Park Golf Day in association with Claws Consultants". Action for A-T. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  34. ↑ "A Bunch of Wallies at Batchworth Park Golf Club". Women & Golf. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  35. ↑ "Events & Training | Claws Consultants | Practical Property People". Claws Consultants. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  36. ↑ Duerden, Interviews by Nick. "Relative Values: the TV presenter Naga Munchetty, 42, and her mother, Muthu, 65". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  37. ↑ "Naga Munchetty: There's been noise about the BBC licence fee for decades". Belfast Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  38. ↑ Roberts, Michelle (22 May 2023). "BBC's Naga Munchetty reveals womb condition adenomyosis". BBC News. Retrieved 22 May 2023. I'm in pain because I have something called adenomyosis. You probably haven't heard of it and I hadn't either until I was told 8 months ago that I have it.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.