Mishal Husain joined the BBC in 1998 as a producer. Since then, she has presented a range of BBC News programmes, most notably Radio 4’s Today show. Now, she’s delving into her roots in the new season of Who Do You Think You Are? Here’s five things you might not know about the journalist...
1. From Cambridge to Florence
Mishal graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in law. She then moved on to European University Institute in Florence, Italy, where she earned a master's degree in international and comparative law.
2. Stay in Russia
In 1992, Mishal taught English in Moscow. She speaks Russian fluently.
3. Most influential
In 2016, Mishal was named one of The Sunday Times’ 500 most influential people, joining a list that included Sir David Attenborough and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
4. Bestselling book
Mishal is no stranger to tracing her family history. In 2024 she published Broken Threads, a bestselling memoir about the impact of the partition of India on her grandparents.
5. Family quest
Mishal has also embarked on a journey through Uzbekistan in search of records of a 14th century ancestor, with no success.