Inside Naga Munchetty’s Off-Screen Life From Secret Health Battle to Famous TV Husband

Naga Munchetty might be a familiar face on BBC Breakfast, sharing the red sofa with Charlie Stayt every week, but off-screen, her life is filled with moments far more raw and revealing than what we usually see.

In a candid interview, Naga opened up about the decision she and her husband, James Haggar, made not to have children—a choice that hasn’t come without judgment. “We never tried, and I never miscarried; we just never really wanted them,” she told The Times, reported Devon Live.

“We kept putting the decision off, then life got better for us, we became more selfish… and just didn’t find the time.” Despite the criticism, including being branded “wicked” for not giving her mum grandchildren, Naga stands by the life they’ve built together.

James, a seasoned TV director now working on The Pledge for Sky News, mostly stays out of the spotlight, despite a rich broadcasting career that’s seen him work for ITV, CNBC, and Five News. Their marriage, since 2007, has had its hilarious rough patches too—like the time Naga roped him into marathon training back in 2013.

What began as a couple’s fitness goal ended in a frosty blow-up in the street. “You’re lying to me!” he yelled mid-run after she understated how far they had left. “He had a meltdown on the road,” Naga laughed, recalling the moment on the Her Spirit podcast.

But there’s a more serious side to the broadcaster’s personal life. In 2023, Naga bravely spoke out about her battle with adenomyosis, a painful condition that took decades to diagnose. She described years of agonizing periods, fainting, and crying through the pain—something she assumed was normal.

“It’s not throwing up. It’s not diarrhea. It’s not hugging a toilet and crying because you’re sweating through pain,” she told The Times. At one point, the pain was so overwhelming she called an ambulance and told her husband to refuse a hysterectomy unless absolutely necessary if she lost consciousness.

Despite a flourishing career that began at Reuters and has taken her from CNBC to BBC Breakfast and Radio 5 Live, Naga reflects openly on her younger self, revealing she wasn’t popular in school and didn’t have her first boyfriend until 17. “He was wonderful,” she told The Big Issue. “You learn that things don’t necessarily last… but ending relationships will always cause pain, so do it with kindness.”

Whether she’s laughing about a row on a snowy run or getting real about medical struggles and personal choices, Naga’s honesty makes her all the more relatable—and loved.