Naga Munchetty is leaving BBC Breakfast after 17 years to take over the breakfast programme on BBC Radio 5 Live from January 2027. She will host the show five days a week alongside a co-host yet to be recruited.
Munchetty joined BBC One's Breakfast as a finance reporter and has been a main presenter for the past 12 years. She currently presents 5 Live's mid-morning programme on some weekdays.
Changes at 5 Live Breakfast
The move comes after current 5 Live Breakfast hosts Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards announced on Tuesday that they will step down in December. Burden will move to present the weekday mid-morning programme from Monday to Wednesday, 11am-2pm, following 15 years on the breakfast show. Edwards will host Fighting Talk on Saturday mornings.
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."
Burden added: "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."
