Emma Vardy appeared on the BBC Breakfast sofa on Saturday morning (August 1), joining Charlie Stayt as co-presenter after Naga Munchetty was absent from the show.
Vardy, one of the BBC's best-known correspondents, has regularly filled in for the programme's main presenting team in recent years.
Away from the studio, Vardy recently announced the birth of her second child, a baby boy named Rocky Beau, born on February 9. Sharing the news on Instagram, she described it as "the most beautiful story" she had ever reported and said she and her family were "more in love than you can imagine". She thanked staff at the midwife-led Manchester Birth Centre at Wythenshawe for their care. Rocky Beau is Vardy's second child; she is also mother to two-year-old son Jago.
Naga Munchetty's absence
Vardy took over from Naga Munchetty, who usually hosts BBC Breakfast with Charlie Stayt from Thursday to Saturday. Munchetty had presented Friday's edition on July 31 but was absent on Saturday, with the BBC not addressing the change on air, reports the Mirror.
The switch comes days after Munchetty confirmed she will leave BBC Breakfast after 17 years to become co-presenter of BBC Radio 5 Live's flagship breakfast programme.
Radio 5 Live move
From January 2027, Munchetty will front the station's weekday breakfast show alongside a new co-host, following the departure of current presenters Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards in December. Until then, she has confirmed she will continue presenting both BBC Breakfast and her weekday Radio 5 Live programme.
In a statement, Munchetty described the new role as "simply too good to pass up", adding that she was "really looking forward" to it. She said: "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."
BBC Breakfast airs daily from 6am on BBC One.
