Naga Munchetty leaving BBC Breakfast for Radio 5 Live
Naga Munchetty is leaving BBC One's Breakfast after 17 years, swapping the TV sofa for Radio 5 Live Breakfast from January. The move puts the long-time co-host in the five-day radio chair as Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards exit that show, while her BBC Breakfast replacement has not been announced.
The BBC confirmed the switch on 28 July 2026. Munchetty has been one of the main hosts on BBC One's Breakfast for the past 12 years. She currently presents the TV show three days a week and 5 Live's mid-morning programme for another three. From January, she will present 5 Live Breakfast five days a week.
Key Takeaways
- Munchetty is leaving BBC Breakfast after 17 years for Radio 5 Live Breakfast.
- The radio role starts in January and runs five days a week.
- Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards are stepping down from 5 Live Breakfast.
- Burden will take Munchetty's mid-morning 5 Live slot; Edwards keeps Fighting Talk.
- BBC Breakfast's TV replacement has not yet been named.
Why is Naga Munchetty leaving BBC Breakfast?
Munchetty framed the change as a fresh challenge, not a departure from the corporation. "It has been a privilege to be part of the BBC Breakfast TV team for the past 17 years," she said, praising colleagues as friends as well as journalists.
"Presenting a flagship programme on 5 Live is an opportunity that was simply too good to pass up," she added. She said the role would need "100% of my focus and energy."
John McAndrew, the BBC's director of live and daily news, said she would be "hugely missed by the millions of viewers who've welcomed her into their homes each week," while noting she is staying with the BBC.
Who replaces her on TV and on 5 Live Breakfast?
Her replacement on BBC Breakfast has not been announced. On radio, 5 Live Breakfast will get a new co-host to join Munchetty in the studio.
Current 5 Live Breakfast hosts Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards said on Tuesday's show they are leaving. Burden, after 15 years on the breakfast programme, will move to Munchetty's Monday-to-Wednesday mid-morning slot. Edwards will remain host of weekend sport quiz Fighting Talk.
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What did Rachel Burden say about quitting?
According to The Independent, Burden became emotional on air and said she felt it was time to "poke myself out of my comfort zone" and "do something new" as personal priorities shifted. She said she was "really excited about launching my new show on the station."
Edwards said he would miss the audience, the team and Burden. He also joked he looked forward to "not waking up at 3.45am."
Separately, Burden confirmed she would no longer present on BBC Breakfast's Sunday morning shows, a change linked to BBC budget cuts, The Independent reported.