Subha Nagalakshmi Munchetty-Chendriah is a respected British Indian journalist and television presenter primarily associated with the BBC network. Her career began in print at the Evening Standard, followed by a transition to broadcast media with roles at Reuters Financial Television, Channel 4 News, CNBC Europe, and Bloomberg Television. For the BBC, Munchetty has presented several key programs, including the financial show Working Lunch (BBC Two) and the religious and current affairs program Sunday Morning Live (BBC One). She is best known today as a presenter for the flagship program BBC Breakfast. Additionally, she reports for BBC News from the City of London and runs her own company, Naga Munchetty Limited. In her personal life, she is married to actor/director James Haggar and is an avid golfer, notably having won the prestigious Hertfordshire de Paula Cup.
Childhood, Family, and Education
Subha Nagalakshmi Munchetty-Chendriah was born on February 25, 1975, in Streatham, South London, and was raised in South London with her sister, Mimi. She is of mixed ethnic heritage, born to an Indian mother and a Mauritian father. Her parents moved to Wales in the early 1970s for higher education, where her mother studied dentistry, and her father trained as a qualified nurse; both later worked together in nursing in London. Munchetty’s distinctive first name, Naga, which means cobra in Sanskrit, was inspired by her mother’s dream of snakes during her pregnancy.
She attended Graveney School in Tooting. Despite her mother’s wish for her to become a doctor or lawyer, Munchetty pursued an arts degree. She graduated from the University of Leeds with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, followed by a postgraduate degree in newspaper journalism. During her time in college, she honed her cocktail-making skills while working at local bars and pubs.
Career Progression in Journalism and Broadcasting
Munchetty began her professional career in print journalism, working for London’s The Evening Standard and later focusing on the Business Section of The Observer.
She transitioned to television as a reporter for Reuters Financial Television. Her early broadcast career included roles at several major business news channels:
Senior Producer for CNBC Europe.
Business Producer and Reporter for Channel 4 News.
Presenter for Bloomberg Television.
BBC Tenure
Munchetty joined the BBC in October 2008 as a presenter on the re-launched Working Lunch (BBC Two), co-hosting until its cancellation in July 2010.
News and Financial Reporting: She currently reports for BBC News from the City of London, focusing on the general reaction to major financial news like the Budget. She has presented early morning bulletins on BBC World News and the BBC News Channel since August 2010.
Flagship Roles: She was a presenter for the religious and current affairs program Sunday Morning Live on BBC One (2016–2017).
Current Role: She is one of the main anchors for the flagship British breakfast program, BBC Breakfast, alongside colleagues like Dan Walker and Charlie Stayt.
Other Projects: Munchetty has been involved in diverse programming, including narrating the documentary Fear and Faith in Paris (exploring anti-Semitism in France), winning the Celebrity Mastermind quiz show in 2013, and competing in the fourteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2016. She also holds the role of director at Naga Munchetty Limited.
Personal Life and Sporting Achievements
Naga Munchetty met actor and director James Haggar at a public event, and the couple married in 2007 after dating since 2005. Haggar is known for his work on programs such as Live from Studio Five.
Munchetty is a talented musician, playing both classical piano and jazz trumpet. She is also a passionate and skilled golfer, having been introduced to the sport by her husband in South Africa. With a nine handicap by 2015, she won the prestigious Hertfordshire de Paula Cup in 2012.
Net worth of Naga Munchetty
The estimated net worth of Naga Munchetty is about $10 million.