Sally Nugent was born on 5 August 1971 on the Wirral Peninsula, Merseyside, England. She grew up with an interest in media and communication, which led her towards broadcast journalism.

She began her career at BBC Radio Merseyside before moving to BBC North West Tonight as a sports reporter and news reader. In 2003 she became a national sports news presenter on the BBC News Channel and covered major events including the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

In November 2011 she started appearing on BBC Breakfast and often presented sports bulletins. On 27 October 2021 the BBC announced she would become a permanent BBC Breakfast presenter, hosting Monday to Wednesday.

Sally Nugent married Gavin Hawthorn in 2008 and they share one son. However, reports indicate they have been separated since 2023 after more than a decade together.