Millions of viewers start their day with the BBC Breakfast team, and among them is Nina Warhurst, who became a consistent presence on the show in 2020 following her contributions since 2018.
Upon her full-time addition to the team, Nina shared her delight, commenting: “It’s a programme I have always loved, both as a viewer and as a journalist. I grew up locally, so it makes me especially proud that Breakfast is made and broadcast from Salford.
“This is an incredibly challenging period for our audiences and I look forward to delivering news on our economy in a way that is clear and inclusive.”
Now boasting almost five years as a staple on the show, lets peek into the life of Nina Warhurst beyond her role on BBC Breakfast.
Forgotten acting role
Nina appeared in Casualty back in 1997
(Image: TWITTER/NINAWARHURST)
Familiar as she may be on the revered red sofa, there was once a time when Nina trod a separate path, reports Express.
Venturing into acting, she appeared in the festive episode of Casualty back in 1997. In a nod to the broadcaster’s centenary celebrations in 2020, Nina took to Twitter with a nostalgic throwback photo from her times in front of the camera.
Reflecting with humour on her early acting days, Nina posted: “Howling at finding my first appearance with Auntie Casualty…a spiky teen in polyester, keeping boys a secret, causing parents endless headaches (v method for me in 1997 luvvies ) Here’s to the next chapter. Proud to be part of it.”
While the Casualty gig remains a standout recollection, Ninas breadth of talent has also been displayed in other series including Heartbeat and Butterfly Collectors.
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Heartbreaking loss
Nina shared an image alongside her mum and sisters while paying tribute to those she lost
(Image: BBC)
Two years ago, Nina took to social media to share a touching tribute to three dearly missed individuals who had died within a short span of time.
Accompanied by a nostalgic photograph of herself while pregnant, alongside her mother and sisters, she conveyed her deep sense of loss, stating: “They loved us since we were kids – guided us, made us laugh, helped us feel safe. It’s been bruising having a run of grief, but made me appreciative of the support you get from the special elders of your extended village – whatever that is and whoever they are.”
In her moving post, Nina also spoke about honouring the memory of those departed, adding: “We’ve also celebrated! It’s made me realise that lots of the tears are because the right farewells are full of gratitude and are something beautiful.”
Tough childbirth
Nina had her third child in 2023 with her husband Ted
(Image: BBC)
Nina has experienced joy in her personal life too, having tied the knot with Ted Fraser at a charming ceremony in New York’s City Hall in 2014. The couple was blessed with their first son, Digby, and later, their second son Michael in 2018.
The pair recently expanded their family with the arrival of their daughter Nancy in 2023. Nina has been candid about the difficulties she faced during this period.
Four weeks after giving birth, she posted an update on Instagram, admitting: “It’s been *haaaard* tho! A harder pregnancy. A tougher delivery and a longer recovery… maybe it’s being older… but also I’d somehow forgotten.”
As Nina navigated the challenges of new motherhood, she openly discussed her anxieties about labour not going as planned, as well as the various postpartum issues she faced.
In her post, she also touched on the importance of recognising her boundaries as she’s grown older: “Part of getting older is getting better aquatinted with your limits and letting go. I’m better at stopping and saying no to visitors and yes to a messy house and yes to asking for help. (A turning point was full snot crying down the phone to the GP – resulting in a glorious prescription of kind words, antibiotics, painkillers and a follow up call about how I was coping).”
Dementia guilt
Nina has spoken about her dad’s dementia diagnosis in the past
(Image: BBC)
In 2022, Nina confronted another difficult family issue when her father, Chris, received a dementia diagnosis. The BBC presenter has previously spoken out about the guilt she felt over her frustration with his forgetfulness.
While working on a BBC feature with her father to raise awareness about the impact of dementia on families, Nina admitted that she sometimes had to tell him white lies when he was unaware of the situation.
She recalled: “He would phone me 10 times a day, saying ‘I need you to come round’ and then I’d get there and he would say, ‘What are you doing here? ‘ At that point, it is hard not to be cross and that was the surprising thing, I felt really guilty because I was getting angry with him.”
Nina reflected on the difficult period, stating: “I was taking it out on him and I had two tiny kids at home that I wasn’t seeing as much and I wasn’t focused at work, there are these ripples that then go through your family as well.”
In a heart-wrenching Instagram post a few years ago, Nina shared her devastating experience of visiting her father at his care facility, only to find that he took a while to recognise her.
However, the situation after the birth of her baby girl the BBC presenter delighted her social media followers with a heartwarming video. It showed her father interacting with his granddaughter, with the two enjoying a lovely conversation together.
BBC Breakfast continues weekdays on BBC One from 6am.