Naga Munchetty leaves BBC Breakfast after 17 years in unexpected shake up


Naga Munchetty has been one of the faces of BBC Breakfast for the past 17 years, but the popular presenter is now off to pastures new


Naga Munchetty on BBC Breakfast© James Stack
Matthew Moore
Matthew MooreSenior Evening Writer
Updated: 2 minutes ago
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After being part of the BBC Breakfast team for the past 17 years, Naga Munchetty will be leaving the show for a new position on BBC Radio 5 Live next year.

Naga, 51, will serve as the breakfast show's new presenter after it was confirmed that Rick Edwards and Rachel Burden would be stepping down from their positions in December. Rachel is due to stay on the station, moving to the mid-morning slot, while Rick will now present Fighting Talk on Saturday mornings.

In a statement about her move, the former Strictly Come Dancing star said: "I'm thrilled to be joining 5 Live Breakfast in January. Live news, great conversations and connecting with audiences are what I love most about broadcasting, and 5 Live does all of that brilliantly.

"It has been a privilege to be part of the BBC Breakfast TV team for the past 17 years, working alongside an incredibly talented and hard-working group of journalists who are not only outstanding colleagues but also great friends.

"Presenting a flagship programme on 5 Live is an opportunity that was simply too good to pass up. It will take a huge amount of work and require 100% of my focus and energy, and I'm really looking forward to throwing myself into the role."

She concluded: "Over the last five years, I've been privileged to build a relationship with 5 Live listeners on the mid-morning programme and help shine a light on the issues that matter most to them. I'm excited to build on that in the Breakfast slot and to start each day with our listeners every morning.

Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty sitting on a red couch, smiling, in a studio setting.© BBC/James Stack
Naga has been part of the show for 17 years

"Between now and January, I'll continue presenting the two programmes I love. I'm sure there will be plenty of news to cover, and it will very much be business as usual."

Naga won't be fronting the show solo and will be joined by a co-host, who has yet to be announced.

Bullying allegations against Naga

In November 2025, it was reported that the veteran presenter would face an investigation into her behaviour following allegations of bullying.

Naga was initially hit with bullying allegations in June, according to reports, with BBC bosses speaking to her about two incidents in three years, including an inappropriate sexual remark that she allegedly made while taking an off-air break from her Radio 5 programme.

Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty on BBC Breakfast© BBC
  1. Charlie Stayt

    The journalist joined BBC Breakfast back in 2006 and now hosts the show alongside Naga Munchetty from Thursday to Saturday. Prior to joining the BBC, Charlie was the principal anchor of Five News, fronting the programme's 9/11 coverage and Millennium celebrations.
  2. Naga Munchetty

    The presenter joined the line-up of main presenters in 2014. Before landing a role on BBC Breakfast, she appeared on BBC World News, as well as BBC Two's weekday financial affairs programme, Working Lunch.
  3. Sally Nugent

    Sally has been a main presenter on the show since 2021, replacing Louise Minchin following her departure after 20 years. Sally previously worked as a sports presenter on the show and covered various major sporting events for the BBC, including Emma Raducanu's historic victory in the US Open tennis championship in 2021.
  4. Jon Kay

    The newsreader and journalist took over from Dan Walker following his exit in 2022. He previously worked as a news correspondent for BBC News at Six and covered major events such as the 2012 London Olympics and the 2015 general election campaign.
  5. Carol Kirkwood

    Carol is the show's main weather presenter and has been waking up the nation with the weather forecast on the BBC for 30 years.
  6. Nina Warhurst

    Nina is the show's main business presenter, having taken over from Steph McGovern in 2020. She often fills in as an anchor on the red sofa when the main hosts are absent.
  7.  Ben Thompson

    Ben is a relief presenter and regularly stands in for the main hosts when they are away from the red sofa. He can also be seen on BBC News.
  8. John Watson

    John is a sports presenter and has been working for the BBC since 2012, providing viewers will all the latest sports news and stories.

Naga wasn't the only BBC Breakfast star to face a probe into their behaviour, with her co-host, Charlie Stayt, also said to be "under review". Meanwhile, last year the show's editor, Richard Frediani, took a leave of absence following bullying allegations.

While the BBC refrained from commenting on the matter, the news service reiterated that it takes "all complaints about conduct at work extremely seriously and will not tolerate behaviour that is not in line with our values".

Naga's appearance on HELLO!'s Second Act podcast

Last summer, Naga made an appearance on HELLO!'s Second Act podcast, where the star spoke about her joy at reaching her big 5-0. "I was so excited to turn 50, I've lived half a century! I'm healthy and enjoying my life, I do nice things," Naga began, adding: "I really enjoyed my 40s, I felt much more settled in myself, in my skin, with my brain."

Naga Munchetty on BBC Breakfast© BBC/James Stack
Naga previously appeared on HELLO!'s Second Act

She continued: "In my forties, I came to terms with being kinder to myself. I was able to go on holiday and not fear that somebody was standing in for me at work and doing it better. I became a little bit more calm."

She also revealed how she became a fan of golf, telling our host, Ateh Jewel: "The thing I like best about golf is that it's selfish. It's all about you and it's all down to you." 

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