| TL;DR Naga Munchetty is leaving BBC Breakfast after 17 years. Her final appearance is expected in December 2026.She will host 5 Live Breakfast on BBC Radio 5 Live from January 2027, replacing Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards.She said the radio role was “an opportunity that was simply too good to pass up”.The BBC has not confirmed her Breakfast replacement. Sally Nugent is reported to be the frontrunner.Born on 25 February 1975 in Streatham, south London, she has been one of Breakfast’s main presenters for 12 years. |
Naga Munchetty is counting down her final weeks on the BBC Breakfast sofa. The presenter announced in July that she is leaving the BBC One programme after 17 years to take over the breakfast slot on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Here is everything we know about her departure, her new job, who might replace her, and the career that made her one of the best-known faces on British morning TV.
Is Naga Munchetty Leaving BBC Breakfast?
Yes. The BBC confirmed on 28 July 2026 that Munchetty will leave BBC Breakfast to host 5 Live Breakfast, starting in January 2027, according to RTÉ.
She joined Breakfast as a finance reporter and has been one of its main hosts for the past 12 years, most recently alongside Charlie Stayt.
What she said
Munchetty said she was thrilled to be joining 5 Live Breakfast in January and described her 17 years on the TV programme as a privilege.
She praised the Breakfast team as outstanding colleagues and great friends, and said presenting a flagship 5 Live programme was too good an opportunity to turn down.
Has Naga Munchetty already left?
No. Many viewers have asked this, but she is still presenting the show. She is expected to remain on air until shortly before her new job begins, with her final Breakfast appearance expected in December 2026.
Naga Munchetty’s New Radio 5 Live Job
From January 2027, Munchetty will present 5 Live Breakfast, the station’s flagship early morning news programme. She will replace current hosts Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards.
It is not her first job at 5 Live. Since January 2021 she has also presented a weekday mid-morning show on the station, which she has combined with her Breakfast TV shifts.
| Detail | Information |
| New show | 5 Live Breakfast, BBC Radio 5 Live |
| Start date | January 2027 |
| Replacing | Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards |
| Final BBC Breakfast show | Expected December 2026 |
| Co-host | Not yet announced |
Who Will Replace Naga Munchetty on BBC Breakfast?
The BBC has not yet announced her successor. Several names have been linked with the role:
- Sally Nugent, an existing Breakfast presenter, is reported to be the frontrunner.
- Steph McGovern, a former Breakfast regular.
- Nina Warhurst, who presents BBC News at One.
- Tina Daheley, a familiar voice on BBC Radio 2.
- Emma Vardy, a BBC presenter and correspondent.
These are reports and speculation, not confirmed appointments. Expect an announcement before her final show in December.
Naga Munchetty Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
| Full name | Subha Nagalakshmi Munchetty-Chendriah |
| Date of birth | 25 February 1975 (age 51) |
| Birthplace | Streatham, south London |
| School | Graveney School, Tooting |
| Known for | BBC Breakfast; BBC Radio 5 Live |
| BBC Breakfast | 2009 to December 2026 |
| Next role | 5 Live Breakfast from January 2027 |
| Husband | James Haggar |
| Previous employers | Evening Standard, Reuters Financial Television, Bloomberg TV |
Sources: Wikipedia, IMDb, Leading Authorities.
Naga Munchetty’s Career
Munchetty started out in print, with her first job at the Evening Standard. She then moved into business journalism, reporting for Reuters Financial Television before landing a senior presenting role at Bloomberg TV, where she interviewed central bankers and company bosses.
Joining the BBC
She joined BBC Two’s Working Lunch in October 2008. From August 2010 she presented early morning news bulletins, and she gradually moved onto the main Breakfast sofa.
She has said the late Bill Turnbull was instrumental in getting her more regular Breakfast shifts. She presented her first ever shift on the programme alongside him.
Other BBC work
- BBC World News and BBC News channel bulletins.
- Newsnight, which she presented on BBC Two in August 2016.
- Sunday Morning Live on BBC One in 2016.
- Money Box on BBC Radio 4.
- Guest appearances on A Question of Sport, Have I Got News for You and The Weakest Link.
Career Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
| December 2026 | Expected final BBC Breakfast appearance |
| July 2026 | Announces she is leaving Breakfast for 5 Live Breakfast |
| September 2022 | Speaks publicly about her adenomyosis diagnosis |
| January 2021 | Starts weekday mid-morning show on BBC Radio 5 Live |
| 2019 | Trump comments ruling, later overturned by the BBC |
| August 2010 | Begins presenting early morning BBC news bulletins |
| October 2008 | Joins BBC Two’s Working Lunch |
| Before 2008 | Evening Standard, Reuters TV and Bloomberg TV |
The 2019 Trump Row
Munchetty made headlines in 2019 after a discussion on Breakfast about Donald Trump’s comments telling four congresswomen of colour to “go back” to where they came from.
She said that every time she had been told to go back to where she came from as a woman of colour, it had been embedded in racism.
In September 2019 the BBC’s complaints unit ruled she had breached impartiality guidelines. After a fierce public backlash, Director-General Tony Hall reversed the decision, saying the unit had got it wrong.
Many colleagues and public figures, including Bill Turnbull and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, backed her.
Naga Munchetty’s Health
In September 2022, Munchetty revealed she had been diagnosed with adenomyosis, a condition in which the lining of the womb grows into the muscle wall of the womb. It can cause severe pain and heavy periods.
She has spoken openly about her experience of living with chronic pain, helping to raise awareness of a condition many women had never heard of.
Naga Munchetty’s Husband and Personal Life
Munchetty grew up in Streatham and attended Graveney School in Tooting. She has one younger sister.
She is married to James Haggar, a broadcast consultant. The couple keep their private life largely out of the spotlight.
Outside work, she is a keen golfer and a dog lover who has volunteered with Dogs Trust. She ran the 2013 London Marathon for the mental health charity United Response.
Naga Munchetty’s Salary
The BBC publishes pay bands for its highest-paid presenters each year. Munchetty has been reported to earn around £365,000 a year, which includes her work on both BBC Breakfast and Radio 5 Live.
Her pay after the move to 5 Live Breakfast has not been disclosed. The figure will appear in a future BBC annual report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Naga Munchetty leaving BBC Breakfast?
Yes. She is leaving after 17 years. Her final appearance is expected in December 2026.
Where is Naga Munchetty going?
She will present 5 Live Breakfast on BBC Radio 5 Live from January 2027.
Has Naga Munchetty already left BBC Breakfast?
No. She is still presenting the programme and is expected to stay until December 2026.
Who is replacing Naga Munchetty on BBC Breakfast?
The BBC has not announced a replacement. Sally Nugent is reported to be the frontrunner.
How old is Naga Munchetty?
Naga Munchetty is 51. She was born on 25 February 1975.
Who is Naga Munchetty’s husband?
She is married to James Haggar, a broadcast consultant.
What is Naga Munchetty’s real name?
Her full name is Subha Nagalakshmi Munchetty-Chendriah.
What illness does Naga Munchetty have?
She has adenomyosis, a womb condition that can cause severe pain. She revealed her diagnosis in September 2022.