Ellie Hutchings
BBC Breakfast viewers have been wondering if presenter Sally Nugent is married and what she gets up to outside the studio.
Since taking over as a full-time presenter in autumn 2021, and the departure of long-standing host Dan Walker in May 2022, Sally Nugent has become a mainstay of mornings on BBC One. The smiley and stylish presenter had previously reported the daily sports news to viewers for 10 years, making her a perfect fit for the Breakfast team and the red sofa - and loyal viewers often ask 'where is Sally Nugent?' when she takes a break from our screens.
Her recent interviewees have ranged from rapper Stormzy to Kevin Sinfield - who ran seven marathons in seven days for Motor Neurone Disease where she joined him at the Old Trafford Football Stadium finish line. Other breakfast shows have seen her spill Carol Kirkwood's engagement news live on air and say a sad goodbye to colleague Dan Walker, who quit the show after six years. But despite viewers' familiarity with her professional persona, many want to know more about Sally Nugent's personal life - from if she's married to where she's from.
Is Sally Nugent married?
Yes, BBC Breakfast presenter Sally Nugent is married. The TV star likes to keep her personal life private, but her husband's name is known to be Gavin Hawthorne. In May 2023, reports emerged that the pair had split, but nothing has been confirmed by the couple.
One source told the MailOnline at the time that rumours first emerged, "It's very sad but they are no longer together. I think they tried to tough it out for quite a while as they didn't want to split up if they could possibly help it for the sake of their son, but they clearly couldn't make a go of it."
The source added, "They've both been very guarded about the reasons behind their growing apart, but it's been plain for a while that they had been and now it's obvious that they haven't been able to resolve that despite clearly trying for some time."
Previously, Sally's former Breakfast co-star Dan Walker was forced to publicly deny he was having an affair with his colleague on Twitter, responding to a cruel online troll, "'That bird’ is my friend @sallynugent and she is happily married.
"What a pathetic thing to tweet. I hope you treat that young girl in your twitter banner photo with a bit more respect."
Meanwhile, Sally has previously shared a small snippet of her wedding day online. In a photo she posted on Instagram for the Royal Television Awards in 2021, there appears to be a picture frame of Sally and her husband as bride and groom in the top right-hand corner.
Does Sally Nugent have kids?
Sally and her husband share a son together, and though the presenter shares much about her work on Instagram, her son's age and name have not been revealed. However, her BBC profile reveals that her son is 'football and rugby mad'.
She is understood to have given birth back in 2008 and returned to work following her maternity leave on 8th January 2009. Offering a rare glimpse into her private life, The Express revealed Sally had said: "When I had our son, my husband bought me a 'blue for a boy' vintage aquamarine ring from an antique jewellers in Richmond, London."
The family also has a pet dog - a Cavalier King Charles and a Toy Poodle mix called Sadie. The pooch has her own Instagram account - though it hasn't been posted on since 2018.
Other pieces of information we know about the star's private life include her love of cycling and walking her dog, and she has been known to practice yoga and try out different health juices.
Where is Sally Nugent from?
Sally was born in Birkenhead on the Wirral Peninsula and went to Upton Hall School FCJ. She went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts and French from the University of Huddersfield.
Her BBC profile sheds a little light on her upbringing, saying "Sally loves watching sport. Raised in a house where her dad and brothers played rugby and her mum was a tennis coach, she didn’t really have much option!"
Sally landed her first BBC media job at BBC Radio Merseyside, before joining BBC North West Tonight to cover the sports news.
Her big break came in 2003, when she became a sports reporter for BBC News and appeared on national bulletins for the first time. She then went on to BBC News 24 to cover the 2006 World Cup in Germany and anchored Sportsday.
Following this, Sally became a news correspondent on TV and radio and a relief presenter on the BBC News Channel, covering for presenters on holiday or unplanned absences.
When did Sally Nugent become a full-time BBC Breakfast host?
In October 2021, Sally was confirmed as a new full-time BBC Breakfast presenter, replacing Louise Minchin on the show.
She joined the team which includes Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty, and she used to to co-host the show with Dan Walker, but since he left Sally has been doing the job alongside Jon Kay.
Sally seemed to be the natural fit to take over following the departure of Louise Minchin, having already earned fan's approval as the show's sports presenter for the past decade.
Speaking about joining the show at the time, she said: "It was a little bit overwhelming, I have to say when the news was announced on Wednesday. Word finally got out there. Thank you to everybody who sent me all those messages. I'm trying to get back to as many people as I can. But everyone was so, so nice. I couldn't quite believe it. I'm just delighted to be here."
Sally first started freelancing on BBC Breakfast in 2011 and has worked her way through the ranks since. As sports presenter, she picked up a the Scoop of the Year award at the 2021 Royal Television Society Journalism Awards for her chat with Marcus Rashford on his efforts to end child poverty.
Congrats to everyone involved. @sallynugent @claireryansport. We didn’t set out on this journey with awards in mind but I’m happy to see your work acknowledged. So important for people to hear what real families are experiencing. You can vote now https://t.co/ur5UmMvQ8z https://t.co/EcmJLZpk0BAugust 17, 2021
What is Sally Nugent's salary?
The BBC previously revealed in its annual report that Sally Nigent's salary for 2022-2023 is between £178,000 - £184,999. This puts her in the same bracket as fellow TV presenters Clare Balding and Michael Vaughan.
Meanwhile, Sally's colleague Naga Muchetty earns between £335,000 - £339,999, Charlie Stayt earns 190,000 - £194,999, and Jon Kay earns 185,000 - £189,999. This makes Sally Nugent the lowest-paid of the core BBC Breakfast presenters.
The mum-of-one has never publicly confirmed her net worth or salary herself, but in 2020 the Breakfast star responded to a Twitter user who suggested her shoes on the show were by luxury designer Christian Louboutin, and therefore she must be earning more than the Chancellor:
"My shoes are from Marks and Spencer and I guarantee the Chancellor earns more than me #Just Saying," she replied.
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