Rick Edwards has spoken after it was announced he will be stepping down from BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast at the end of the year, sharing an emotional tribute to his co-host Rachel Burden.
The presenter took to Instagram to reflect on their years together on air after the BBC confirmed earlier this week that Naga Munchetty will take over the flagship breakfast programme from January.
Edwards reflects on partnership
Alongside a gallery of photographs from their time hosting the show, Edwards joked: “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.”
Praising Burden, he continued: “This smart, funny, warm, kind, brilliant, incisive, speed-walking, vape-hating lady (with an eccentric approach to baking).
“I started the breakfast show as a fan of hers, and will end it as a super-fan, and super-friend.”
Reflecting on their partnership, Edwards wrote: “Spending time with her every morning has been such a joy. We giggle even more off air than we do on air (which is arguably too much).”
Favourite moments recalled
He then looked back on some of their favourite moments together, recalling: “We did a park run with a national treasure. We got sledged by cricketing royalty.
“We were immortalised by a caricaturist who I don't think had ever seen our faces. We got through 5 (five) Prime Ministers, one of whom I interviewed with a hole in the seat of my trousers.
“We created the much-coveted Up Down Quiz travel coffee cup. We tried and failed to eat a Terry's chocolate orange in under 57 seconds. We played a game of backgammon live on the show. We enjoyed Nice People Doing Nice Things at 6.55am. We won an Aria!”
He signed off simply: “I've absolutely loved it.”
Burden and Munchetty reactions
His heartfelt post comes after Burden admitted she “struggled to hold it together” while announcing her own departure from the breakfast programme after 15 years. Although she is leaving the show, she will remain with the BBC in a new role.
The presenting shake-up follows Naga Munchetty's decision to leave BBC Breakfast after 17 years. Munchetty, who has fronted Radio 5 Live's weekday mid-morning programme since 2021, will begin presenting 5 Live Breakfast in January.
Announcing the move, she 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.”
