Inside the battle for Naga Munchetty’s spot on BBC Breakfast sofa as TV faves sharpen elbows & surprise name emerges

AS NAGA MUNCHETTY prepares to say goodbye to BBC Breakfast after 17 years, there is a buzz among her colleagues. Not just due to Corporation staffers finding her a divisive ­figure, but because many of her ambitious co-workers are keen to nab her highly paid job. As Naga Munchetty prepares to say goodbye to BBC Breakfast after 17 years, there is a buzz among her colleagues Sally Nugent, 54, who presents the show from Monday to Wednesday alongside Jon Kay, could be up for taking the hot seat Credit: Rex Within hours of the announcement that Naga, 51, was moving to the Beeb’s Radio 5 Live to front its Breakfast programme in the new year, I’m told her associates’ “sharp elbows” came out. And who can blame them? Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! More than a million viewers tune in to watch BBC Breakfast every day, bringing instant fame to whoever succeeds Naga. The pay is not to be sniffed at either. All four of its ­current presenters appeared on this year’s BBC rich list. Outgoing Naga is on £360,000, while Sally Nugent earns £200,000, Jon Kay is on £225,000 and Charlie Stayt pockets £190,000 annually. But before any contenders can get their hands on the lucrative Breakfast gig, they must impress BBC bosses, including the fearsome Breakfast editor Richard Frediani and the Corporation’s director of live and daily news, John McAndrew. I’m told they are not rushing to make a decision. Naga will continue to host Breakfast from Thursday to Saturday, until December, before joining the BBC 5 Live Breakfast show five days a week in January. Most read in TV BBC Breakfast host Steph McGovern, 44, who defected to Channel 4 and launched Steph’s Packed Lunch in 2020, is in the running Credit: Getty Another name being touted is Newsnight host Victoria Derbyshire, 57 Credit: Getty A BBC insider said of the search for her replacement: “They want to take their time and get this right. “It’s the jewel in the crown of BBC News. “It’s an arduous job — the early- morning starts, the scrutiny of ­millions watching and waiting for you to trip up. They will need to be on their A-game as they ­interrogate top politicians and celebrities day in, day out. “Whoever gets the job will have to be a tough cookie.” Naga has told how her alarm goes off at 3.45am, before she is whisked to MediaCity in Salford, Gtr Manchester, from where the three-hour Breakfast show is broadcast. It is perhaps no surprise, then, that among the names doing the rounds in MediaCity are veterans of the early-morning start. One such rumoured contender is former BBC Breakfast host Steph McGovern, 44, who defected to Channel 4 and launched Steph’s Packed Lunch in 2020. Before then, she was a BBC Breakfast stalwart, ­winning over audiences with her cheery Teesside accent and expertise as the main business presenter. One other name in the mix is Reeta Chakrabarti, 61, but sources say she enjoys her current role as a leading BBC news presenter and is unlikely to throw her hat in the ring Credit: Getty Another surprise name being whispered at BBC HQ is Helen Skelton Credit: Instagram/helenskelton I’m told Steph’s Beeb departure left many colleagues “gutted” and she still has her cheerleaders at Broadcasting House. A BBC insider said: “Everyone loved working with Steph and would be delighted to see her back. “But as she is so ­popular with viewers and colleagues, it would ­certainly put the cat among the pigeons with the current line-up.” Referring to Sally Nugent, 54, who presents the show from Monday to Wednesday alongside Jon Kay, the source added: “It would undoubtedly put Sally’s nose out of joint. She thinks she is the queen bee of breakfast, which wouldn’t be the case if Steph returned.” Another contender could be Tina Daheley, who stepped down as a BBC radio newsreader in June after an 18-year run on BBC breakfast shows Credit: Getty Luxmy Gopal is a regular stand-in on BBC Breakfast Credit: Twitter/luxmy_g Another contender could be Tina Daheley. The 45-year-old stepped down as a BBC radio newsreader in June after an 18-year run on BBC breakfast shows hosted by the likes of Chris Moyles, Nick Grimshaw, Scott Mills and Zoe Ball. But she did not leave the Corporation and is instead the cover presenter for Jeremy Vine on Radio 2. Of her departure from the long-term role, she said: “You’ll see me on BBC One after the summer. Watch this space.” It certainly set tongues wagging about whether that move might be as more than a newsreader. Could she mean the top job on Breakfast? “Tina has certainly got the credentials and is no stranger to the early starts,” says a source. “She’s got stacks of TV experience with news and hosting Points Of View.” But there are concerns in some quarters. Tina, who earns £300,000 a year at the Corporation, read the news on DJ Scott Mills’s show from January 2025 until his abrupt sacking in March amid claims of serious historic sexual offences against a boy under 16. The case against Mills was later closed. Tina often referred to the radio presenter as her “work husband”. The BBC insider said: “She’s done nothing wrong, but a lot of people will remember them as a bit of a double act. She’s tainted by proximity, sadly.” Another name being touted is Newsnight host Victoria Derbyshire, 57. Another rumoured hopeful is Rachel Burden, 51 — Naga’s predecessor on Radio 5 Live Breakfast Credit: Instagram Sarah Campbell’s name is in the frame and she has appeared on the show since 2003 Credit: BBC The Bafta winner was subject to a bullying investigation last year after the BBC received three complaints about her while she worked on the current affairs show. She strenuously denied the allegations, which were not upheld by the investigation. It is reminiscent of Naga’s own issues at BBC Breakfast. She was placed under review last August amid allegations of bullying, crude sexual remarks and even claims she reprimanded an intern for incorrectly spreading Marmite on her toast. The Beeb probe has now been quietly closed. Naga and Charlie Stayt on the show Credit: BBC The Sun’s front page exclusively reported the bullying probe Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd A source said: “Given the complaints at Newsnight, Victoria might fancy jumping ship. But given what happened to Naga, it could be the frying pan into the fire.” Another surprise name being whispered at BBC HQ is Helen Skelton. The former Blue Peter host, 43, has impressed TV bosses since she began co-hosting Morning Live in 2023. The BBC’s answer to This Morning, it has trounced its rival in the ratings war, regularly bringing in nearly two million viewers, to This Morning’s 500,000, with Helen’s charismatic style being credited for much of its success. The 2022 Strictly Come Dancing finalist would certainly mark a change of tone for BBC Breakfast, which some viewers deem “boring” compared to its ITV rival Good Morning Britain. The BBC source said: “Helen has that showbiz sparkle which could help with ratings, but certain people will be quick to accuse her of not being a proper news person. What they forget is she started out in a radio newsroom and went on to present Newsround. I wouldn’t rule her out.” The mum-of-three’s BBC earnings are unknown because Morning Live is produced via the Corporation’s commercial arm, BBC Studios, which exempts them from publication. But it is thought she might be beyond the Beeb’s budget in tricky financial times. The Corporation has cut 550 jobs in news and other TV and radio content in a plan to save £500million over the next two years. They have also axed big shows such as Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind and Live At The Apollo to bring down budgets. The source said: “One of the big issues with Naga’s replacement is money. “They’ve already been forced to axe Breakfast on Sundays to save money. So bosses are acutely aware that, in times of significant cuts, they can’t be seen to be splashing the cash too much. “Top brass could force them to do it on the cheap and make them stretch their ­existing roster of presenters.” That is why Luxmy Gopal, 34, and Sarah Campbell’s names are also in the frame. Luxmy is a regular stand-in on BBC Breakfast, while Sarah has appeared on the show since 2003. Neither’s salary is known as they fall below the £178,000 figure, after which they become public. Another rumoured hopeful who would provide an ironic twist in the tale is Rachel Burden, 51 — Naga’s predecessor on Radio 5 Live Breakfast. The star, who earns £215,000 at the BBC, hosted Breakfast on Sundays until it was axed. One other name in the mix is Reeta Chakrabarti, 61, but sources say she enjoys her current role as a leading BBC news presenter and is unlikely to throw her hat in the ring. It all comes amid a battle to stop ITV’s Good Morning Britain — fronted by Susanna Reid and co-hosts including Ed Balls, Richard Madeley and Robert Rinder — overtaking BBC Breakfast. The shiny ITV competitor draws in 700,000 viewers compared to BBC Breakfast’s one million. “But if they get this presenter wrong,” my source warns, “their nightmares could become a reality.” 1 comment1