Naga Munchetty risks wrath of BBC staff as she gets ‘special treatment’ after quitting Breakfast for 5 Live

NAGA Munchetty is risking the wrath of BBC staff as she gets “special treatment” ahead of her joining Radio 5 Live in January 2027. The presenter, 51, announced last week that she was quitting BBC Breakfast after 17 years and will be moving over to 5 Live next year as she replaces current hosts Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards for the flagship morning programme. Naga Munchetty is risking the wrath of BBC staff Credit: Alamy She’ll reportedly be allowed to host her new Radio 5 Live show from both London and Salford Credit: BBC Radio 5 Live relocated to Salford back in 2011 as part of the broadcaster’s ongoing plans to reflect audiences better and spread its investment in programming outside of London. However, BBC bosses have been accused of giving Naga special treatment as she’ll reportedly be allowed to host the show from London for two days a week out of five. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! In contrast, a job advert looking for Naga’s co-chief presenter says they will be required to broadcast from Salford five days a week. A BBC staffer told The Times: “The non-Salford shows are becoming a talking point as more presenters are given special treatment to do it. READ MORE ON NAGA MUNCHETTY “I’m not sure it’s what [culture secretary] Lisa Nandy and Andy Burnham envisioned [for the BBC’s] Salford base.” Another insider told the publication: “Salford still hasn’t really worked as envisaged. It’s just more evidence of a two-tier system.” The Sun has contacted Naga’s representative for comment. She won’t be the only presenter broadcasting from both London and Salford. Most read in TV Nicky Campbell hosts his own weekday show from both locations and Matt Chorley is based in London due to the political focus of his afternoon show. Naga will continue to host BBC Breakfast until her new gig in the New Year. She said last week: “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. Naga announced last week that she’s leaving BBC Breakfast after 17 years Credit: Shutterstock Editorial She’s joining the 5 Live full team Credit: BBC Press Handout “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’s already a familiar voice to Radio 5 Live listeners as she’s presented the weekday mid-morning slot from Monday to Wednesday since 2021. Naga first joined the BBC Breakfast team back in 2009 and currently presents alongside Charlie Stayt every Thursday to Saturday. Rick took to Instagram in the wake of the news of him being replaced by Naga as he shared a touching message on Instagram. Sharing a slew of snaps from his time on the show with Rachel, Rick penned: “First things first – I HAVE AGED CONSIDERABLY SINCE THAT FIRST PHOTO, GOOD GRIEF. “It does feel a bit premature to post this because, mercifully, Rach and I will still be on air together for a few more months, but given the announcement yesterday – we’re leaving @bbc5live Breakfast at the end of the year – I am already thinking about how much I will miss this lady,” he emotionally wrote. Naga is replacing Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards as the pair got emotional after the news broke Credit: BBC 5 Live Rick took to Instagram to share his own statement Credit: BBC 5 Live “This smart, funny, warm, kind, brilliant, incisive, speed-walking, vape-hating lady (with an eccentric approach to baking). “I started the breakfast show as a fan of hers, and will end it as a super-fan, and super-friend,” Rick said, swooning over his sweet bond with Rachel. He went on: “Spending time with her every morning has been such a joy. We giggle even more off air than we do on air (which is arguably too much).” Rachel shared her own message live on air as she said: “I have some news to share, with you, ah, I really need to try and keep it together. “I said I’d keep it together! We (her and Rick) have been working together on 5 Live Breakfast for five years now, and I have been co-presenting this show for over 15 years. “And I have loved, I think, almost every single minute of it. “But we have both been thinking a lot in recent months about what comes next, and I guess how we meet sort of shifting priorities in our lives.” Comment now