Naga Munchetty has opened up about how her family thought there was something “wrong” with her for not wanting to have children. The BBC Breakfast star admitted that she deviated from “certain expectations” with her decision.
On Wednesday (27 March) Naga, 49, was joined by Dr Nighat Arif and Dr Christine Ekechi on her monthly Radio 5 Live Show, That Time of the Month. Part of the 5 Live’s Me, My Health & I series, the show sees the star discussing key sexual health and reproductive issues with experts.
March’s edition of the chat revolved around the concern of fertility. The opening message of the podcast said: “Wanting a baby and finding out each month that it hasn’t happened for you is distressing, disappointing and upsetting, and it can put a strain on not only you and your mental and physical health, but your relationship, and your partner’s physical and mental health too.
During the candid conversation, Naga opened up about her journey with fertility. Speaking to Dr Nighat and Dr Chistine, she said: “I’ve spoken about this, I’ve had there where I decided not to have children.
“And it was easily said amongst various family members ‘Well, they’ve got a problem. Not that they didn’t want it – that they’ve got a problem but because of certain expectations in cultures as well.”
Last year, Naga discussed the reason she and her husband James Haggar have “never tried” to extend their family.
Speaking to The Times, the presenter said: “We never tried and I never miscarried, we just never really wanted them.
“We kept putting the decision off, then life got better for us, we became more selfish . . . and just didn’t find the time.”
Naga has also previously described what happened when she told someone that she and James – a television director and broadcast consultant – weren’t going to have children.
She told The Sun: “I remember when I told someone that I had decided I didn’t want children, someone told me I was wicked.
“Wicked against my mother for denying her grandchildren. It’s quite interesting, isn’t it, how people react.”
The broadcaster and her spouse share two Siamese cats together, who are named Xena and Bella, and live in Hertfordshire.
You can listen to That Time of the Month on the BBC Sounds app.
