BBC Breakfast’s Naga Munchetty fought back tears in an emotional interview on Thursday as she spoke to a grieving mother whose son took his own life.
The morning news host was visibly upset as Ellen Roome described the heartbreaking story of her son Jools Sweeney, who was discovered dead in his bedroom in April 2022.
Naga, 49, was overwhelmed with emotion, her voice breaking, as she offered words of comfort to the grieving mother before her co-star Charlie Stayt stepped in.
Charlie swooped in and began discussing legislation around the grieving mother’s case, giving time for her and Naga to regain their composure.
The sympathetic presenter suggested the two ‘have a sip of water’ as he spoke to viewers.
BBC Breakfast’s Naga Munchetty fought back tears in an emotional interview on Thursday as she spoke to a grieving mother whose son took his own life
Naga, 49, was overwhelmed with emotion, her voice breaking, as she offered words of comfort to the grieving mother before her co-star Charlie Stayt stepped in
Naga was visibly moved by her interaction with Ellen and tried to find the right words, asking her how she was coping.
The emotional mother said: ‘It’s hard, it’s hard you know, I’ve lost my son.’
Ellen spoke to Naga and Charlie about her son’s death two years ago, explaining that she believes it was part of an online challenge that went wrong, The Mirror reported.
She explained she is hoping laws around social media will change to better protect young people and her heart-wrenching plea struck a chord with Naga who began welling up.
On Thursday Ellen said a new bill – The Digital Information and Smart Data Bill – giving coroners access to children’s social media accounts does not go far enough to stop these things happening again.
She told The BBC: ‘It is really helpful, but it is still only providing the data to the coroner.
‘I can only get Julian’s data by going to the High Court to have his inquest redone so that coroner can demand information which then will go to the coroner.’
She believes social media companies should give parents direct access to their children’s accounts if they die.
Greif-stricken mother Ellen Roome described the heartbreaking story of her son Jools Sweeney, who was discovered dead in his bedroom in April 2022 on the morning show
The morning news host was visibly upset as Ellen Roome described the heartbreaking story of her son Jools Sweeney, who was discovered dead in his bedroom in April 2022
Naga recently admitted she has a ‘stupidly early’ morning routine to prepare for work.
The BBC Breakfast host revealed she sets her ‘stupidly early’ alarm for 3:45am, to head into the BBC studios for 4:50am.
And even on days where she is able to sleep in later than usual, Naga – who goes to bed around 10:30pm – naturally wakes up at 5:45am and does a full gym workout.
Speaking to The Sunday Times Magazine, she said: ‘Three days a week I get up stupidly early. My first alarm is at 3.45 and I’m in the
BBC Breakfast studio by 4.50. On radio days I wake up naturally at 5.45, but I’m a terrible prevaricator.
‘Monday to Wednesday I whack my dressing gown on, check the news sites and do some life admin before 45 minutes of running or weights. By 7.15 I’m home and in the shower.’
It comes after it was revealed Charlie and his wife Anne Breckell have avoided bankruptcy after agreeing to pay off a tax bill of around £190,000.
He is one a of a number of BBC stars who have had run-ins with HMRC, but others, including Garry Lineker, managed to beat the tax man and avoid paying back anything.