Naga Munchetty reportedly faced a series of bullying allegations before her departure from BBC Breakfast. The 51-year-old presenter is leaving the morning show to move to BBC Radio 5 Live.
Allegations of Bullying
Munchetty was placed under review last August following complaints of bullying over a three-year period. She was accused of bullying a female colleague and making a “wildly unprofessional” off-air sex joke that left a co-worker “humiliated.” She has never publicly commented on the claims.
In 2022, she allegedly used a crude word for a sex act and asked a colleague if they had done it. The exact comment has not been reported, but one source described it as “crass, inappropriate and wildly unprofessional. The person felt embarrassed.”
Munchetty was also accused of accusing a younger female staffer of stealing without presenting evidence. An insider said: “It was humiliating. There was no evidence, no apology. The woman left not long after, completely demoralised.”
In November, BBC bosses escalated their review into an official investigation after more complaints were made. Watchdogs were assigned to monitor Munchetty in the studios while the probe took place, and she was allowed to remain on-air with production monitoring her. The outcome of the investigation has not been publicly revealed.
Comments to Carol Kirkwood
Munchetty also faced backlash in April for remarks towards weather presenter Carol Kirkwood during her last day on the show. Munchetty made a series of jokey comments that viewers claimed were intended to “embarrass” Kirkwood, with some speculating the pair “really don’t get on” behind the scenes.
Kirkwood appeared surprised that Munchetty was in the studio, saying: “Thank you all for coming - and even you, Nags!” Munchetty replied with a deadpan expression: “I’m just waiting for the countdown for you to go!” before laughing. She later presented Kirkwood with a framed illustration by Mr Men artist Adam Hargreaves, portraying her as Little Miss Sunshine. When a weather-themed cake was brought over, Munchetty quipped: “Are you going to break the habit of a lifetime and actually share the cake?”
After the backlash, a TV insider told The Sun: “Naga and Carol have been very close personal friends for many years, as well as being very good colleagues as part of the BBC Breakfast Team. Everyone involved in Carol Kirkwood’s last programme for Breakfast on 1 April was there to pay tribute to Carol’s long service for the BBC, and they all did so fittingly.”
