BBC Breakfast anchor Rachel Burden experienced an on-air moment of confusion on Thursday when she mixed up the days of the week. The incident occurred around 6 a.m. as the program transitioned into its regional weather segment.
"Good morning, it's Sunday the 20th of… no it's not! It's Thursday! That's a good start isn't it!" Burden, 51, announced before correcting herself to "Thursday 20th of August, good morning everyone." Co-host Charlie Stayt, 64, responded by suggesting they "start all over again."
This is not the first time Burden has made a notable on-air error. In 2024, she mistakenly announced Oxford as the winner of the Men's Boat Race, when Cambridge was the actual victor.
Career Transition
Burden's on-air slip comes as her role at BBC Radio 5 Live is set to change. In December, she will step down from the 5 Live Breakfast show after 15 years to present the weekday mid-morning program from Monday to Wednesday.
Naga Munchetty is slated to take over the 5 Live Breakfast show in January 2027, replacing Burden. Munchetty will be leaving BBC Breakfast after 17 years to assume the new role. She has been hosting the weekday mid-morning program on BBC Radio 5 Live since January 2021.
Burden reflected on her departure from the 5 Live Breakfast show last month, expressing her deep affection for the program. "I have loved, I think, almost every single minute of it," she said, visibly emotional. She and her co-host, Rick Edwards, had been with the show for five years, while Burden had been a co-presenter for over 15 years. She stated that she and Edwards had been contemplating their next steps and life priorities.
Radio 5 Live announced the changes on their Instagram grid, confirming that Munchetty would be the new co-presenter of the flagship morning program five days a week, commencing in January 2027. The announcement also noted that Burden would move to the mid-morning slot.
Munchetty's transition to a more prominent radio role follows previous scrutiny. Her position on BBC Breakfast was previously questioned after a formal investigation into allegations of bullying a junior staffer.