BBC Breakfast viewers break down in tears at Nina Warhurst’s ‘heartbreaking’ dementia report after dad’s diagnosis
BBC BREAKFAST viewers were left in tears this morning after watching Nina Warhurst’s “heartbreaking” report on dementia.
Nina, 42, has been incredibly open about the impact the degenerative disease has had on her dad Chris and the rest of their family since his diagnosis in 2022.
The soon-to-be mum-of-three, who recently let slip the gender of her unborn baby, has put together a series of short features with the BBC interviewing other families going through the same thing.
After speaking about her father’s deteriorating condition on the breakfast show earlier this year, Nina was contacted by many other people who are also experiencing the devastating reality of living with a parent who has dementia.
Following the airing of one of the stories this morning, viewers of the popular show were quick to comment on how moving they’d found the piece.
Taking to Twitter, one person wrote: “I’m weeping at the segment on dementia. I too cared for a loved one with vascular dementia. She died last year. I wholeheartedly salute all the carers/families. It’s tough, painful and exhausting. But it’s the best thing you’ll ever do in your life for someone.”
“Honest and heartbreaking report on just how hard it is to care for people with dementia no matter how much you love them, there was very little support in our experience. Well done Nina,” added another social media user.
A third viewer commented: “Having a parent with dementia is so hard @NinaWarhurst especially when your siblings want different things. All I wanted was for him to be safe and well looked after. He sadly passed in December. It was very hard. Best of luck with your dad Nina, and the new baby when it comes.”
Many thanked the newsreader for highlighting how hard life can be looking after someone with the condition.
One person tweeted: Thank you for shining a light on #dementia and the impact on family and #carers. 11 years into this journey and I’ve faced things I never imagined I would – good to hear I haven’t failed my mum and it’s normal to feel this way.”
Another viewer added: “thank you for speaking about the subject of #dementia care – the impact on families is absolutely enormous, and accessing support is so difficult and not joined up at all. It’s a real rollercoaster.”
“Thank you bringing up #dementia on #BBCBreakfast today as both my inlaws have been diagnosed with it so heartbreaking seeing this happening so quickly now,” agreed a third person.
Earlier this month Nina went into detail about her dad Chris – who was diagnosed with dementia in 2022 – and the special bond she shares with him.
The 42-year-old journalist addressed the immediate impact her father Chris’s degenerative symptoms have had on her and her two sisters, Amy and Mel.
She said: “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.”
She also addressed the pressures of caring for a loved one alongside having a young family.
Nina is mum to sons, Digby and Michael, who she shares with husband Ted, revealed she is pregnant with her third child in a sweet Mother’s Day post.
She said: “I was taking it out on him [Chris] 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.”
Dementia is a degenerative condition that affects the brain’s ability to function normally and remember.
People living with dementia often lose their memories over time and there is currently no cure.
On Instagram last August the presenter shared the positives on her family’s dementia journey, saying: “In some ways he [Chris] taught me to laugh. Properly from the tummy. And to laugh at myself.
“We’re all holding on to those deep-rooted connections for as long as we can. Dementia isn’t the end. It’s the start of a new chapter.”
BBC Breakfast airs daily from 6am on BBC One.
For advice or support on living with dementia, contact Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline on 0800 888 6678 or email helpline@dementiauk.org.