Naga Munchetty, 50, reveals how her decision not to have children with husband James Hagger caused a rift with her mother

Naga Munchetty shared that at first, her choice not to have kids with her spouse James Hagger led to disagreements with her own mother.

In 2019, the speaker, who was then fifty, underwent a laparoscopic procedure to seal her fallopian tubes, a decision made years earlier together with James when they opted not to have children.

On the HELLO! Magazine’s Second Act podcast, Naga confessed that the choice she made, which prevented her parents from having grandchildren, led to some disagreements in their relationship.

She shared with Ateh Jewel that her mother had been deeply saddened, being of a different era. However, she understands the situation now.

‘She is so proud of me and so happy to see me happy and thriving.

‘The choice was deliberate, and I’m engaged in numerous other activities, leading a richly satisfying life. She doesn’t view it as a missed opportunity. In terms of personal growth, my mom has moved forward in that aspect.’

At first, she opted for the intrauterine device (IUD), but the insertion process caused her considerable pain, leading her to take it out after a year.

Instead of relying on the coil anymore, she chose to have a surgical procedure for a permanent method of birth control, as she didn’t prefer being dependent on hormones or the routine of taking the pill.

Naga, fresh off publishing her book titled “It’s Probably Nothing,” additionally talks about the agonizing discomfort she experienced due to adenomyosis, a gynecological issue characterized by the growth of the endometrial tissue within the uterine muscle wall.

Her symptoms started at the age of 15, but it wasn’t until November 2022 that she received a diagnosis. This process took 32 long years.

‘I felt completely drained. I assumed it was regular, but now I see there’s a significant difference. Just because something happens frequently doesn’t make it ordinary or acceptable.’

‘It seemed like every other woman around the globe was managing and flourishing. If I were to mention this, people might think I’m weak, so I try to work even more diligently.’

In another part of the podcast discussion, Naga openly admitted that she now accepts criticism from individuals she perceives as uninformed, given recent investigations concerning alleged bullying within the popular BBC Breakfast program.

In April, it was exclusively reported by TopMob that certain team members had voiced dissatisfaction with the show’s assertive editor Richard Frediani, alleging he could sometimes be overly aggressive and disrespectful towards his junior staff members.

Currently, there seems to be a significant amount of tension reportedly brewing between hosts Naga and Charlie Stayt, aged 62, due to Naga’s earlier expressions of discomfort regarding Frediani’s actions.

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There is apparently a lot of tension building up between co-hosts Naga and Charlie Stayt, with Naga having previously shown signs of unease over Frediani’s behavior.

I learned to be a little more gentle with myself. You’re doing fine, as you’re giving your best, and that’s what matters. Some individuals may criticize you, but it’s often just their way of expressing themselves. I realized they were misguided.

I’m the type who has aspirations, yet I hesitate to pursue them due to self-doubt about whether I truly deserve such accomplishments. Being raised by immigrant parents who instilled the values of hard work and good behavior in me, I strive to generate my own chances through diligent effort.

In her counsel to her younger self, she advised: “Don’t worry so much about others’ opinions. Don’t alter yourself or diminish yourself to appease people. I made that mistake far too often.

In the midst of controversy over the probe’s impact on the newsroom, a source shared with The Sun: “To the audience, BBC Breakfast appears as a comforting, thriving program with its cozy red sofa. However, off-screen, it presents a starkly different image. There have been numerous individuals – crew members, production staff, and even presenters – who have expressed dissatisfaction.

Charlie and Naga have a lot of friction in their relationship right now. Fredi, being rather traditional, sometimes leans towards authoritarian behavior. Despite his intellectual prowess, he can be quite forceful in his approaches. There are those who believe that his latest promotion might have inflated his ego.

In the meantime, Naga, known for her strong convictions and willingness to address issues, has engaged with individuals expressing dissatisfaction. As a result, formal grievances have been filed, prompting the BBC to take action publicly. However, this investigation has sparked a significant divide within the newsroom.

In 2025, I found myself at the center of a debate; some people believed that Frediani, often referred to as Fredi, was just diligently performing his duties, while others felt his approach was too robust for the times.

TopMob have contacted BBC, Naga and Charlie’s reps for comment.

After a challenging period for the BBC, there have been several high-profile incidents: Huw Edwards admitted to possessing inappropriate child images, Jermaine Jenas was dismissed due to a sexting controversy, and Gary Lineker faced termination following allegations of anti-Semitism.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t hide my excitement when I heard from a trusted source in April that Naga seems to harbor quite a bit of discontent towards Frediani. In fact, another insider mentioned that their connection is far from smooth sailing – it’s more like an uneasy relationship they share.

As a dedicated follower, I’ve noticed an increasing unease unfolding at the BBC’s northern hub in Salford, where employees have witnessed the meteoric rise of Frediani, from Breakfast program lead to a seemingly influential figure among BBC editors outside London. This ascent has left many here with a growing sense of disbelief.

One might ponder what exactly transpires here. The BBC portrays itself as a straightforward, progressive, and compassionate environment – but Fredi continues to advance his position. It appears that HR and those in management positions are knowledgeable about past allegations of bullying against him.

‘Although he retains the authority for both hiring and potentially terminating employees, as demonstrated by the recent appointment of Nina [Warhurst] as a regular presenter, it seems disproportionate, given his significant influence over the situation.’

The hardship started as Deadline, a media and entertainment industry news site, claimed that Frediani was involved in at least two instances of misconduct, with one such complaint being from a woman whose accusation was confirmed following an allegation that Frediani physically shook her during a heated argument in the newsroom last year.

Additional individuals shared their accounts of the events. One individual asserted they saw an occurrence in 2019, where it appeared Richard was quite agitated. This person stated that Richard had pushed a breakfast co-host up against a wall and was aggressively gesturing with his finger as he expressed dissatisfaction about that day’s broadcast.

According to the site, it’s been claimed that Frediani has a tendency to shout on the phone with other BBC News desks and criticize the quality of material given to the Breakfast program.

Whether these allegations were upheld or dismissed is not known.

2020 saw a considerable amount of unhappiness within the ranks regarding Frediani, who had only just started as editor for BBC Breakfast and was previously recruited from ITV News. This internal discontent arose less than a year into his tenure.

Throughout the pandemic, Katie Hind from TopMob received numerous unidentified emails from BBC Breakfast employees who alleged that a toxic work environment characterized by intimidation and bullying had been reported to the corporation’s leadership and HR department. This culture, they claimed, had resulted in the departure of long-standing staff members.

A worker chose to stay hidden, expressing that the work environment has turned toxic and resembling a ‘male-dominated group’, but it remains uncertain if such accusations were substantiated or disproven.

Following the publication of the story in The Mail on Sunday, several individuals who had collaborated with Frediani in the past came forward. They recounted their experiences working with him at ITV, where he held a position as head of news, and described him as difficult to work with during that time. Upon learning about allegations of his aggressive behavior in his new role, they expressed feelings of sadness but not shock.

‘I recognized many traits of Richard Frediani in your article. My experience, along with others who worked under him at ITV, was that something like this might transpire.’

Second Act with Ateh Jewel is available on all podcast providers.

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2025-06-17 13:34