Rick Edwards has spoken out after it was announced that Naga Munchetty will replace him and Rachel Burden on the BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast show. Munchetty confirmed she will leave BBC Breakfast after nearly two decades to move to the radio airwaves in January.
Edwards pays tribute to co-host
Edwards, who will leave the breakfast show to make way for Munchetty, shared a lengthy tribute to his co-host after five years of working together. He wrote on Instagram: "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."
Describing Burden, Edwards said: "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."
Reflections on their time on air
Edwards recalled highlights of their time together: "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."
He also mentioned creating the "much-coveted Up Down Quiz travel coffee cup," attempting to eat a Terry's chocolate orange in under 57 seconds, playing backgammon live, and winning an Aria. "I've absolutely loved it," he concluded.
Fan reactions
Fans flooded Edwards' comments with support. One wrote: "Mornings just won't be the same. But I'm rooting for a podcast for the two of you." Another said: "Beyond sad. You and Rachel are bloody brilliant. Thank you very much for all the larks."
Munchetty has co-hosted BBC Breakfast for 17 years and led Radio 5's weekday mid-morning programme since 2021. She will now move to the breakfast show, while Burden will move to the 11-2 slot on weekdays in 2027. Edwards' next steps have not been announced.
Burden's emotional farewell
Burden shared an emotional post on Instagram, saying: "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: "I get to stay at 5live and start a new show on my own in 2027, taking up the 11-2 slot on weekdays. @tvnaga is going to be brilliant in the morning. 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!)"
