BBC Breakfast’s Jon Kay, who co-hosts the popular morning news show with Sally Nugent during weekdays, is not just a familiar face on our screens. Off-camera, he’s a devoted husband and father of three. He met his wife, Francesca Kasteliz, while they were both working at BBC Bristol back in 1998. Both Jon and Francesca started their careers as trainee news reporters before moving on to local TV and radio. Francesca quickly climbed the ranks, becoming a TV and Radio News Correspondent for BBC National Network News in 1999, and later an Assistant News Editor at BBC News. Her impressive career has earned her several accolades, including a Royal Television Society Award for Best News Item.
Jon’s wife now works behind the scenes
(Image: Instagram)
In 2006, Francesca decided to switch gears, leaving journalism to become a Senior Coach and Trainer at the BBC Academy. She now works as an internal coach for the corporation, reports the Mirror. An active Twitter user, she recently shared a nostalgic photo from her reporting days at the BBC. The snapshot shows her standing outside the Conservative Party’s Central Office, looking professional in a lilac shirt and black jacket, her short, light brown hair styled voluminously and swept to one side. The former broadcaster gave her followers a chuckle with a cheeky post: “My son found this old footage on the internet and howled with laughter. Mainly at my hairstyle I think. Well, it was 1999.”
Jon is a BBC Breakfast regular who hosts with Sally Nugent or Nina Warhurst
(Image: (Image: BBC))
Nowadays, Francesca has shifted gears to a role as a TV presenter coach at TV Coach Limited, where she provides performance coaching to on-screen talent from big names like Channel 4, BBC, and CBBC. She shared on her website her enthusiasm for empowering women and youngsters in television: “My particular passion is helping women and young people find their voice on-air and in the TV industry.” Off-screen, Francesca’s life is filled with family warmth—she, her husband Jon, their three kids, and an endearing 14 year old cocker spaniel make a full house. She delved into parenting insights on Maria Andreas Newman’s podcast, What the Mum, opening up to listeners: “I think there’s a lot about how we’re brought up as children. This makes me really question how I bring up mine – I’ve got two boys and a girl, so I’m always thinking about how I’m treating them, and I don’t want to treat them differently.”
Francesca Kasteliz used to present like Jon did
(Image: Francesca Kasteliz/X)
She elaborated, keen to instil equality at home: “I’m trying to give them the same values. There’s a lot about society’s pressure on women. This label about being bossy if we speak up. That still exists, but I think it’s getting better.” Francesca and her crew are Bristol-based, with Jon also taking to Instagram to let followers in on his work and personal world.
