Naga Munchetty has announced her departure from BBC One’s Breakfast programme following 17 years with the show. During that tenure, she progressed from a finance reporter to one of the main hosts, a role she has held for the past 12 years. She currently divides her presenting schedule between the television programme three days weekly and Radio 5 Live’s mid-morning show for another three days.
Beginning in January, Munchetty will transition to presenting Radio 5 Live Breakfast five days a week, stepping away from her television duties entirely. The move represents a shift in her career focus, as she cited the opportunity as “simply too good to pass up” while acknowledging the role would require her complete commitment and energy.
Munchetty’s departure triggers broader changes across BBC radio and television programming. Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards, the current co-hosts of 5 Live Breakfast, have announced they will be leaving the programme. Burden will move to take over Munchetty’s existing Monday-to-Wednesday mid-morning slot on 5 Live, while Edwards will continue hosting the weekend sports quiz Fighting Talk. The new arrangement will pair Munchetty with a yet-to-be-announced co-host on the 5 Live Breakfast show.
During her tenure at BBC Breakfast, Munchetty has conducted interviews with notable figures including Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, and Sir Keir Starmer. She has also appeared as a competitor on Strictly Come Dancing in 2016. According to BBC salary disclosures, she earned approximately £360,000 annually. Her time on the programme has included several controversies, including a 2019 incident involving comments about a social media post and a 2021 matter regarding reactions to a government minister’s flag. The BBC stated that it takes workplace conduct complaints seriously but declined to comment on individual cases.
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