BBC Breakfast presenter Victoria Fritz gave birth minutes after reading the business news this week – with the help of another newsreader as her birthing partner! Victoria found that her waters had broken shortly after appearing live on the show on Tuesday. And when fellow presenter Sally Nugent discovered that Victoria's husband was stuck in traffic on the motorway, she stayed by her side during the arrival of the baby boy.
Victoria Fritz went into labour minutes after appearing on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday
The newborn – who had been due to arrive in early December - was safely delivered at St Mary's Hospital in Manchester. A BBC spokesperson confirmed: "When Sally heard that she'd gone into labour she offered to be there until Victoria's husband got there. But her husband never arrived so she found herself at the birth."
In a tweet shared on Wednesday, Victoria expressed her gratitude to her colleague and the hospital staff. "My heartfelt thanks to @sallynugent & St Mary's drs & midwives who helped me deliver my little boy yesterday. A @BBCBreakfast team effort!"
She welcomed her baby boy a short time later
Sally then replied: "It's going to make a brilliant story for his 21st birthday! What an incredible day Xx."
Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Wednesday morning, newsreader Naga Munchetty explained why another presenter, Sean Farrington, was reading the business news.
Co-presenter Sally Nugent acted as Victoria's birthday partner
She joked that Victoria had "decided to be even more productive than she is in the workplace", adding; "There she was, you know, just presenting very happily, not an issue in the world. And then she decided to have a bit of an event later on."
Co-presenter Dan Walker added: "Sally was reading our sports yesterday. Because Victoria's partner was stuck on the M6, Sally was the birthday partner!"