Naga Munchetty has opened up about her experience with racism - something she suffered for the first time as a child.
Ahead of Monday's Panorama programme about race in Britain, the BBC Breakfast reflected on one of the most traumatic experiences of her life as she recalled the moment her seven-year-old self lost her best friend.
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"I was in infant school and it was a boy who was one of my best friends," she told the i paper. "We hung out all the time. In the playground, chatting, collecting acorns, you know what kids do."
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However, one day the boy called her the P-word. Admitting it's still "really emotional and painful" to talk about, Naga added: "I'm not going to say it defines me or that I carry this around with me every day, but it's painful to recall it."
The respected journalist grew up in south London; her dad is from Mauritius and her mum is from India. They were both nurses - and had also experience racial abuse first-hand.
Naga will share her experience in Monday's Panorama
"It was the first time being in a school that was so multicultural that someone said to me, 'You're different and you're not good enough.' The colour of my skin made me inferior," she continued.
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Since the start of the year, Naga has been hosting Radio 5 Live during the mid-morning slot three days a week, Mondays to Wednesdays from 10am to 1pm. She still co-hosts BBC Breakfast with Charlie Stayt from Thursdays to Saturdays.
The popular broadcaster is the second longest-serving member of the current presenting team on BBC Breakfast. She joined the show in 2009, becoming a main presenter in 2014 alongside Charlie, Louise Minchin and Dan Walker. Naga's first job at the BBC was in 2008, presenting business news programme, Working Lunch.
BBC Panorama: Let's Talk about Race is on BBC One on Monday at 7pm.
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