BBC Breakfast star taking extended break from show amid presenter shake-up
A BBC Breakfast presenter will be taking an extended break from the show amid a huge shake-up for the popular news programme. The breakfast show runs every morning from Monday through to Saturday.
There is also a separate segment on BBC News on Friday's and also on BBC Breakfast on the Saturday morning called Newswatch, which covers some of the biggest news of the week.
This week, the focus was on the Gregg Wallace and John Torode MasterChef scandal as well as the BBC's Gaza documentary. However, at the end of the segment, the presenter and journalist Samira Ahmed announced the segment would be going on a break.
She told viewers: "We are off the air for a few weeks now, but please do continue to get in touch with us over the summer and we'll be back with more of your thoughts about how the BBC covers news in the first week of September."
Fans were disappointed by the final segment for the summer. One wrote: "Disappointing....and last one too," whilst another shared: "Well, that was a waste of 10 minutes!! #BBCBreakfast." A third penned: "Not this again. #bbcbreakfast."
There have been real fears that Naga Munchetty could be leaving the BBC. Last month, it was revealed show boss Richard Frediani was on extended leave on the flagship show after complaints about his behaviour.
"Her team last week renewed talks with LBC. The Global Radio station would suit her as there's far less of the fluffy nonsense that's involved in working at the BBC," a source had said.
Reports say that Naga's representatives are currently in discussions with rival broadcaster LBC regarding a potential job change. Naga and Charlie Stayt present BBC Breakfast from Thursday to Saturday morning, while Jon Kay and Sally Nugent take the helm from Monday to Wednesday every week, except when they take breaks from the show for holidays.
The BBC recently released their salaries, with Charlie staying with the £190,000 salary band, whereas Naga has had a £10,000 increase to her earnings, moving from £345,000 to £355,000.
It has always been the case that Naga has been paid more than Charlie. Her pay packet accounts for 180 days of presenting on BBC Breakfast, as well as her Radio 5 Live programme and election coverage.
BBC Breakfast insiders have defended the under-fire boss at the centre of a bullying probe, with one claiming: "The truth will come out." Show boss Richard Frediani is on extended leave on the flagship show after complaints about his behaviour.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Alex Jones had ‘no idea' about complaints made against Jermaine Jenas
The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder was removed from the presenting team at BBC's Match Of The Day and The One Show following alleged issues relating to workplace conduct. Before he was sacked in August, Jenas had been a regular pundit on sports programmes and a presenter on BBC Radio 5 Live. Jones, 48, who co-presented with Jenas on The One Show, told the Big Issue she did not know about the complaints until he had left. She said: 'I very much take people on face value. But with JJ [Jenas] I didn't know what was going on. 'I had no idea. I thought he was taking extended leave. 'The BBC didn't share with me what was going on until they actually dealt with it. And, you know, they did what they thought was right. 'If that was my daughter and she felt uncomfortable with someone's behaviour, I hope that whatever company she was working for would deal with it swiftly as well.' After being sacked from the BBC, Jenas apologised, saying he had done 'nothing illegal' and that 'inappropriate messages' sent were 'between two consenting adults'. Months later, Jenas' wife, Ellie Penfold, announced the couple had split up after 16 years together. In a statement on her Instagram story, Penfold said: 'I never imagined I would have to share something so personal with the public, but given the situation, I feel it's necessary. 'After 16 years together and 4 wonderful children, Jermaine and I have decided to part ways. 'We will remain friends and continue to co-parent.' Jenas returned to broadcasting on TalkSport radio in February after the outlet distanced itself from him in the wake of his departure from the BBC. It is not the first time Jones has had a co-presenter leave The One Show with Jason Manford, who joined the programme at the same time as her in August 2010, resigning only three months into the role for sharing sexual internet messages with female fans. Despite co-presenting on the show for a few months, Jones said she is still 'really good pals' with Manford. – The full interview with Alex Jones can be read in this week's Big Issue, on sale now.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
MasterChef begins casting for next series as BBC ploughs on after sacking of Gregg Wallace and John Torode
MasterChef has begun casting for its next series as the BBC ploughed on after the sacking of Gregg Wallace and John Torode. The cooking show has been at the centre of scandal after Gregg was dismissed as a presenter after more than 40 complaints against him were upheld following a BBC investigation. Australian-born chef John, 59, also lost his job after two decades over allegations that he used the N-word, which he claims to have 'absolutely no recollection' of. But despite the chaos surrounding the show, MasterChef is forging ahead with a new series. Asking cooking hopefuls to apply, production company Banjay wrote: 'For over 20 years we have been putting Britain's best food talents through their paces. 'Cooking doesn't get tougher than this.' The website added: 'Whether you're an amateur cook looking to showcase your home-taught skills or a professional chef wanting to take your career to the next level you can apply for a UK MasterChef series below.' According to The Sun, Banjay said the decision to cast for a new series came 'after consultation with the contestants'. It comes after Gregg Wallace insisted that he is done with TV and the BBC before making a sensational claim that he was 'groped' during his time on MasterChef as he speaks out following his sacking from the show. The TV personality, 60, said in an interview, how he himself faced sexual harassment from a host of women 'on a regular basis' as he hit out at the broadcaster over their 'complaints procedure'. Speaking to The Sun, Gregg said: 'The whole complaints procedure needs to be readdressed - there are huge problems with it as things stand. Being on MasterChef was brilliant but I had so many bad experiences on that show too. 'Had I wanted to raise any complaints, I'd have had the decency to speak to that person directly. Privately, not publicly. My God, can you imagine the complaints I could have made? Have you got any idea of the sexual references made to me on a daily basis? 'How many times I've been touched by women wanting a selfie? How many times I've been groped? How many times suggestive comments have been made to me? How many female contestants have said inappropriate things on MasterChef?' Gregg added that the thought of complaining wouldn't even 'cross my mind', noting that he wasn't suggesting that groping was 'right', but it was 'happening to me on a regular basis.' The disgraced TV star went on to that he was often 'shouted at and bullied', claiming contestants had a perceived notion that presenters were 'god-like' and adding that he doesn't wish for anyone to be 'dragged through' what he has. MailOnline have contacted BBC representatives for comment. Meanwhile, Gregg, who has been reported to have been banned from working at the BBC, told how he washed his hands of both the TV industry and the BBC having been 'hurt' by recent events. He noted he didn't want 'anything to do with' telly or the broadcaster, before acknowledging that his TV career is now over. When asked if he will watch the upcoming series of MasterChef, he replied with a defiant 'No, no, no, no', stating that he's 'pleased' for the contestants on the show as it was never really about former co-star John Torode and himself. He added that he 'didn't care' who hosted the show next, insisting that MasterChef would be 'absolutely fine' without himself and John at the helm. Gregg's comments come after it was revealed that the BBC would air its amateur 2025 series of MasterChef. In the nine months since the hit BBC programme finished filming last Autumn there have been questions over whether it would ever be broadcast following allegations of inappropriate behaviour against presenters Gregg and John. Meanwhile, Gregg, who has been reported to have been banned from working at the BBC , told how he washed his hands of both the TV industry and the BBC having been 'hurt' by recent events Now the corporation has revealed that the amateur series of MasterChef filmed last year, before allegations against Gregg and John were upheld, will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from August 6. The MailOnline understand that the BBC have told the MasterChef production company Banijay that the show should reduce Gregg and John's screen time to a minimum in light of the report's findings. A source said: 'The BBC have made it clear that it should limit the amount of airtime the presenters have in the editing of the new series, with a bigger focus on the contestants who are at the heart of the competition.' 'Neither Gregg nor John will appear in BBC iPlayer thumbnails and they will not be doing any promotional activity around the latest series.' 'All of the brilliant new contestants were consulted on whether the series should be broadcast, and no one objected.' 'Everyone involved is very keen to promote the hard work of the contestants and that will be our priority.'
Western Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
Alex Jones had ‘no idea' about complaints made against Jermaine Jenas
The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder was removed from the presenting team at BBC's Match Of The Day and The One Show following alleged issues relating to workplace conduct. Before he was sacked in August, Jenas had been a regular pundit on sports programmes and a presenter on BBC Radio 5 Live. Alex Jones attending the 2025 Bafta Television Awards with P&O Cruises at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall in London (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Jones, 48, who co-presented with Jenas on The One Show, told the Big Issue she did not know about the complaints until he had left. She said: 'I very much take people on face value. But with JJ [Jenas] I didn't know what was going on. 'I had no idea. I thought he was taking extended leave. 'The BBC didn't share with me what was going on until they actually dealt with it. And, you know, they did what they thought was right. 'If that was my daughter and she felt uncomfortable with someone's behaviour, I hope that whatever company she was working for would deal with it swiftly as well.' Jermaine Jenas insists he has taken responsibility for the conduct which led to his dismissal (Nigel French/PA) After being sacked from the BBC, Jenas apologised, saying he had done 'nothing illegal' and that 'inappropriate messages' sent were 'between two consenting adults'. Months later, Jenas' wife, Ellie Penfold, announced the couple had split up after 16 years together. In a statement on her Instagram story, Penfold said: 'I never imagined I would have to share something so personal with the public, but given the situation, I feel it's necessary. 'After 16 years together and 4 wonderful children, Jermaine and I have decided to part ways. 'We will remain friends and continue to co-parent.' Alex Jones and Jason Manford stand outside Western House, London, after appearing on Chris Evans's Radio 2 breakfast show (Fiona Hanson/PA) Jenas returned to broadcasting on TalkSport radio in February after the outlet distanced itself from him in the wake of his departure from the BBC. It is not the first time Jones has had a co-presenter leave The One Show with Jason Manford, who joined the programme at the same time as her in August 2010, resigning only three months into the role for sharing sexual internet messages with female fans. Despite co-presenting on the show for a few months, Jones said she is still 'really good pals' with Manford. – The full interview with Alex Jones can be read in this week's Big Issue, on sale now.
