Rick Edwards has paid tribute to his co-star Rachel Burden as she prepares to change her role on BBC Radio 5 Live, 15 years after she joined the station. The pair are stepping down as co-hosts of the 5 Live Breakfast Show in December after five years together.
New roles announced
It was confirmed on Tuesday, July 28, that Burden will move to front the weekday mid-morning programme from Monday to Wednesday, while Edwards continues to present the station's Fighting Talk on Saturday mornings. Naga Munchetty will leave BBC Breakfast after 17 years to become the new co-presenter of the radio show, with a co-star yet to be announced.
Social media tribute
Edwards took to social media to share a series of photos of them together over the years, writing: "First things first - I HAVE AGED CONSIDERABLY SINCE THAT FIRST PHOTO, GOOD GRIEF." He added: "It does feel a bit premature to post this because, mercifully, Rach and I will still be on air together for a few more months, but given the announcement yesterday - we’re leaving @bbc5live Breakfast at the end of the year - I am already thinking about how much I will miss this lady."
He described her as "smart, funny, warm, kind, brilliant, incisive, speed-walking, vape-hating lady (with an eccentric approach to baking)" and said he started the breakfast show as a fan of hers and will end it as a "super-fan, and super-friend." Edwards noted they giggle even more off air than on air.
Sharing memories, Edwards recalled a park run with a national treasure, getting sledged by cricketing royalty, and being immortalised by a caricaturist. He mentioned getting through five Prime Ministers, one of whom he interviewed with a hole in his trousers. The pair created the Up Down Quiz travel coffee cup, attempted to eat a Terry’s Chocolate Orange in under 57 seconds, played backgammon live, and won an Aria.
Edwards concluded by saying he "absolutely loved" working on 5 Live Breakfast with Burden, who became emotional when announcing their departure live on air.
