Naga Munchetty has been pictured for the first time since announcing her departure from BBC Breakfast, where she hosted for 17 years. She is set to begin a new role at Radio 5 Live in the new year, taking over from Rachel Burden.
Munchetty's move comes after it emerged that a probe into alleged workplace bullying, which had been ongoing for over a year, was quietly dropped. The broadcaster was reportedly subject to review last summer following complaints spanning a three-year period, involving allegations of unkind remarks and off-colour jokes. Despite the scrutiny, Munchetty remained on air.
Reports in the Daily Mail suggest Munchetty's departure is a victory following the investigation, which some insiders described as making her "made to look like a monster" and a win for a perceived "boys club" culture at BBC Breakfast. An insider told the Daily Mail that her move to Radio 5 Live is "no doubt 'two fingers' to the TV bosses" who investigated her.
Allegations included an unkind comment to fellow presenter Sally Nugent regarding a new look, and a remark about weather presenter Carol Kirkwood having "aged a bit." There were also claims of a frosty relationship with co-host Charlie Stayt and reports of her being questioned over an alleged sex joke and upsetting Geri Halliwell-Horner. The complaints surfaced after BBC Breakfast editor Richard Frediani took leave due to separate bullying and misconduct allegations; Frediani has since been cleared and returned to work.
Despite the controversy, some BBC insiders view her appointment to the 5 Live Breakfast role as a sign of continued support from the corporation. Recent reports indicated Munchetty received a pay rise, placing her annual salary between £360,000 and £364,999.
Munchetty expressed her enthusiasm for the new role, stating, "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." She added, "It has been a privilege to be part of the BBC Breakfast TV team for the past 17 years... Presenting a flagship programme on 5 Live is an opportunity that was simply too good to pass up." She will co-host the show, broadcasting live from Salford and London.
In addition to her BBC roles, Munchetty has earned significant income from external activities. These include hosting a podcast, participating in panel discussions, and giving talks at literary festivals, earning thousands of pounds on top of her salary. The BBC permits presenters to undertake external work under strict guidelines regarding management approval, conflicts of interest, commercial endorsements, and impartiality. A BBC spokesperson confirmed that all external paid work is approved in line with guidelines for transparency.