BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty, 47, was forced to leave the show less than 20 minutes into Friday's live broadcast after losing her voice. Co-host Charlie Stayt, 60, was left to present the remainder of the programme solo, initially believing her absence would be temporary.
During her brief time on air, Munchetty appeared to be struggling with a sore throat. Stayt explained to viewers: 'You may have noticed this morning, Naga has just stepped away from the sofa for a moment, with a slight struggle with her voice.' However, she did not return.
The incident follows Munchetty's recent admission that she was branded 'b***dy useless' by bosses early in her career. Speaking to Radio Times last month, she recalled having copy 'thrown at her' and leaving the office in tears as a print journalist, but said the harsh treatment ultimately made her better at her job.
She said: 'I had copy thrown at me when I first started in newspapers. I was told I was b****y useless. I did go home many a day in tears, but equally, I learnt not to make mistakes, that mistakes weren't acceptable.' She added that the fear of making mistakes made her research 'twice as well and to the best of her ability.'
