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Naga Munchetty confirms BBC Breakfast exit after 17 years with flagship morning show
Munchetty will be taking up a new role as co-presenter of 5 Live Breakfast.
BBC/James Stack
- James Hibbs
Published: Tuesday, 28 July 2026 at 10:12 am
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It has been confirmed that Naga Munchetty will be leaving BBC Breakfast, after presenting the morning show for 17 years.
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Munchetty, who has been a main presenter on the programme for 12 years, will leave in December, in order to take up a new role as co-presenter of BBC Radio 5 Live's Breakfast programme in the new year.
A new BBC Breakfast presenter will be recruited in due course, the corporation has confirmed.
Munchetty will be co-presenting 5 Live Breakfast five days a week from January 2027, as Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards are stepping down.
As part of these changes, Burden will be moving to present the weekday mid-morning programme on Radio 5 Live from Monday to Wednesday, while Edwards will front Fighting Talk on Saturday mornings and continue to remain "a key part of the station's output".
Munchetty's new co-host will be recruited in due course.
Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty for BBC Breakfast. BBC/James Stack
On joining 5 Live Breakfast, Munchetty said: "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.
"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.
"Over the last five years, I've been privileged to build a relationship with 5 Live listeners on the mid-morning programme and help shine a light on the issues that matter most to them. I'm excited to build on that in the Breakfast slot and to start each day with our listeners every morning.
"Between now and January, I'll continue presenting the two programmes I love. I'm sure there will be plenty of news to cover, and it will very much be business as usual."
John McAndrew, director of Live and Daily News, said: "After more than a decade on screen for BBC Breakfast, Naga will be hugely missed by the millions of viewers who’ve welcomed her into their homes each week. I’m very pleased that Naga will be staying with the BBC and I wish her the best of luck at 5 Live."
Meanwhile, Burden said of leaving 5 Live Breakfast: "After 15 years hosting 5 Live Breakfast, I’ve decided it’s time for a change - and I’m really excited about launching my new show on the station.
"It’s been an absolute joy and privilege to be part of our listeners’ mornings for all these years. We have been through life-changing events together - from the pandemic to huge political moments, and great sporting journeys.
"They are my extended family, and we’ll carry on doing what we do best - telling stories, sharing experiences and working out the world together. Just this time, on a little bit more sleep."
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Edwards added: "The annoying part for me is that five years on a breakfast show is a decent stint, but next to Rachel’s 15-year marathon, it does look inconsequential.
"I’ll really miss our wonderful audience, I’ll miss the fantastic team, I’ll miss regularly eating cake before dawn, but most of all I’ll miss Rach - a colleague who has become a friend, and also a mentor, because she’s so much older than me. Two things I am of course looking forward to are not waking up at 3.45am, and vaping without fear of violent recrimination.
"I’m so grateful to 5 Live for all the opportunities they’ve afforded me - from going to World Cups in far flung locations, to vox pops in covered markets in the Greater Manchester area. Who knows what they have in store for me next? That’s not a rhetorical question. Who do I need to speak to?"
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Authors
James HibbsDrama Writer
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
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