The opening night of "I’m Every Woman: The Musical," a new show celebrating the life of Chaka Khan, experienced significant disruption at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in London. The performance, scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., was delayed by 40 minutes as organizers awaited the arrival of guest of honor Chaka Khan.
The 73-year-old music legend was reportedly held up by red carpet interviews, eventually taking her seat around 7:40 p.m., which allowed the production starring Alexandra Burke to commence. One attendee described the situation as "chaotic" and "insulting to the cast and crew," noting that the audience grew restless during the extended wait.
Further complicating the opening night, BBC presenter Naga Munchetty was observed leaving the theatre during the interval and did not return for the second half. Munchetty, who had been among the late celebrity arrivals and did not pose for pre-show photographs, was later seen smoking and walking with her husband towards a Tube station. A source suggested her early departure might be unwelcome by the publicity team.
The production, which aims to tell the "untold story" of Chaka Khan's life, has reportedly received unfavorable reviews, including a one-star rating from The Standard. The show has a running time of two hours and 30 minutes, with ticket prices ranging from £28 to £65.
Munchetty's appearance at the musical premiere follows recent news that she will be leaving BBC Breakfast after 17 years to join Radio 5 Live's flagship breakfast program in the new year. This transition comes after reports of past controversies, including a probe into allegations of bullying a junior staffer and a meeting regarding a remark made during a radio ad break. Sources have indicated that Munchetty felt she was made to appear as a "monster" during the fallout from these complaints.