BBC broadcaster Rachel Burden has confirmed she will leave her weekday breakfast show on BBC Radio 5 Live after 15 years. The 51-year-old, also known as a weekend presenter on BBC Breakfast, announced her departure in an Instagram statement following a stationwide shake-up.
Burden's statement on leaving
Alongside a selfie from the studio, Burden wrote: "I am incredibly lucky. For the last 15 years I have woken up every morning and gone to work to do a job I love with a team of people who are talented and funny and kind. I can count on one hand the number of days I didn’t want to be there."
She added: "But I can’t do this job forever. At some stage, we all need to push ourselves off our butts, however lovely and comfy the seat, and change things up, do something new. So, my time on 5live breakfast - along with Rick - will be drawing to a close at the end of the year."
New show and successor
Burden will stay at 5 Live and start a new solo show in 2027, taking the 11-2 slot on weekdays. BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty will replace her as co-presenter of 5 Live Breakfast from January 2027. Burden praised Munchetty, saying: "She has the energy and the passion, and love for the 5live audience to make the breakfast show her own, alongside her new co-presenter (tbc!)"
Burden also thanked her co-host Rick Edwards and mentor Nicky Campbell. Rick Edwards will continue at 5 Live, fronting Fighting Talk on Saturday mornings and remaining a key part of the station's output.
Listener reactions
Longtime listeners expressed sadness. One fan commented: "Waaaaaaaaah! How am I going to manage in the mornings without you and @rickedwards1 bickering like siblings to make me laugh." Another said: "Sorry, you’ll be moving on. You’ve been a part of my working day routine for years." A third added: "So sad to hear you are leaving the breakfast show but pleased I will still hear you on 5 live."
