Nina Warhurst, a familiar face on BBC Breakfast since becoming a staple of the team in 2020 and having been seen on screen since 2018, shared her excitement upon joining the programme: “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.”
After four years as a familiar morning presence, we take a closer look at the life of Nina Warhurst, away from the set of BBC Breakfast.
Soap Role
Long before she became known for her role on the famous red sofa, Nina had dipped her toes into the world of acting.
During the festive period of 1997, Nina carved out an on-screen spot for herself in the Casualty Christmas special. Fast forward to 2020, while celebrating the broadcaster’s centenary, Nina took a trip down memory lane, treating her Twitter followers to an old picture from her days on the drama series.
Reflecting with humour and nostalgia on her first screen role, Nina tweeted: “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 her performance in Casualty was unforgettable, this wasn’t the only time Nina showcased her acting chops; she appeared in other television shows including Heartbeat and Butterfly Collectors, reports Lancs Live.
Tragic Loss
In a poignant tribute posted on social media two years ago, Nina honoured the memory of three cherished individuals in her life who passed away within months of each other.
Alongside a nostalgic photo of herself pregnant, surrounded by her mother and sisters, she conveyed her sorrow, saying: “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.”
Nina also reflected on celebrating the lives of those who had passed, noting: “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.”
Challenging pregnancy
On a personal note, Nina has found happiness with her partner Ted Fraser, whom she married in a beautiful ceremony at New York’s City Hall in 2014. The couple has three children: Digby, Michael, born in 2018, and their youngest, Nancy, born in 2023.
Nina has been candid about the difficulties surrounding Nancy’s birth, sharing an update on Instagram four weeks postpartum, where she revealed: “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.”
BBC presenter Nina reflected on the post-birth period, detailing her concerns over her labour not going as planned, and struggling with a range of postpartum challenges. She also shared lessons learned about respecting her boundaries, now that she is older.
She mused: “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 diagnosis
Last year, Nina faced another tough time when her dad Chris was diagnosed with dementia. Nina has previously shared the guilt she feels about getting frustrated with his memory loss.
After working on a BBC dementia piece with Chris, Nina confessed to occasionally having to tell him white lies when he didn’t even notice that anything was wrong.
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 revealed the toll it took on her personal life, sharing: “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 heartfelt Instagram post a few years ago, Nina spoke about the pain of her father not recognising her during a visit to his care home. However, the arrival of her baby girl marked a poignant turning point, as Nina shared a touching video of her father interacting with his granddaughter, chatting happily together, which warmed fans’ hearts.