Why is Naga Munchetty leaving BBC Breakfast?

NAGA Munchetty has been a staple of British morning television for nearly two decades. But the veteran broadcaster is officially waving goodbye to the famous red sofa. In January 2027, Naga will be moving away from television cameras Credit: Getty The broadcaster will remain in her current role on BBC Breakfast until she begins her new job Credit: Getty Having joined BBC Breakfast in 2009, she has spent 17 years waking up the nation with the day’s biggest news stories. Now, she’s preparing to step down and transition to a brand-new role. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! But with such a long career on television, her departure has left many viewers wondering what prompted the change. Why is Naga Munchetty leaving BBC Breakfast? Naga is leaving BBC Breakfast to take the helm of the Breakfast show on BBC Radio 5 Live. Starting in January 2027, she will be moving away from the television cameras to become the new co-host of the station’s early morning slot. She’ll be taking over from current presenters Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards, who are stepping down from the programme in December. Naga is already a highly familiar voice to the station’s listeners, and has presented 5 Live’s weekday mid-morning programme since 2021. Speaking about her departure, Naga said: “I’m thrilled to be joining 5 Live Breakfast in January. Most read in News TV “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.” Does it have anything to do with the bullying probe? Naga’s BBC Breakfast departure is being framed as a natural career progression. But the timing of her exit has raised questions, coming after the presenter faced accusations of “bullying” staff members. In 2024, Naga was hauled in by BBC bosses over alleged bullying behaviour directed at a female employee, the most junior staffer on the team at the time. As part of this behaviour, the star is said to have falsely accused the woman of stealing, which resulted in a tense showdown. Other claims that emerged during this period included an incident where Naga reportedly laid into an intern for incorrectly spreading Marmite on her toast. She was also reprimanded for a separate incident that took place inside the BBC Radio 5 Live studio in 2022. During an off-air break, Naga was said to have used a crude slang term for a sex act, before asking a colleague if they had ever done it. The comment became widely known among staff at 5 Live. One source described the 2022 incident as: “Crass, inappropriate and wildly unprofessional. The person felt embarrassed.” Despite these controversies and being spoken to by senior management, it is understood that no formal disciplinary action was ever taken against her. While the backdrop of the probes has caused speculation, the BBC continues to stand by the presenter. Naga will remain in her current role on BBC Breakfast until she begins her new radio slot in January. Comment now