BBC has apologised to BBC Breakfast viewers after the show was hit by a series of technical blunders during Thursday’s broadcast.
Presenters Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt were fronting the flagship show from Salford when an unexpected glitch briefly knocked the broadcast off air in some regions.
According to viewers, the interruption saw the programme suddenly cut to footage of a pastor before returning to the live studio while others had a frozen screen.
While many areas appeared unaffected, those who experienced the disruption took to social media to share their confusion and frustration.
“I had a frozen screen but it was flashing green and orange, no sound, thought my TV had broken!” a disgruntled viewer penned on X.
“My head hurts now,” another shared about the glitch. A third asked: “Anyone else got tbnuk just taken over #bbcbreakfast? (sic)”.
A fourth commented: “Very odd that there was no apparent awareness by the presenters after it cleared?”
However, some viewers revealed that suffered the technical issue more than once.
A baffled viewer remarked: “Its just happened again & also on iplayer, but still #BBCBreakfast on BBCNews! I have Virgin - it may be coming through their feed?”
Addressing the technical glitch, a BBC spokesperson shared: “Due to a technical issue, viewers in the Midlands experienced a short interruption to BBC Breakfast this morning.
“We apologise for this.”
The incident comes amid reports that Stayt is “under review” following complaints lodged by colleagues.
According to The Sun, Stayt, 63, is being assessed alongside his co-host Naga Munchetty, 50, after concerns were raised about their behaviour behind the scenes.
They allege that an external HR adviser from consultancy firm PwC has been working with the BBC to examine workplace culture on the long-running programme.
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The reported review follows allegations of bullying made against both Munchetty and BBC Breakfast editor Richard Frediani earlier this year.
Frediani, who has overseen the show from its Salford studios since 2019, was said to have taken extended leave during an external consultation and has since returned to his role.
A source told the outlet: “A number of people have come forward to share their experiences with Charlie, so the BBC has officially moved to place the complaints under review.
“Charlie and Naga will be assessed separately.”
Staff are said to have raised concerns about “rudeness”, “bullying”, and conduct that allegedly undermined team members.
Munchetty, who joined the show in 2014, has also faced her own complaints in recent years and was reportedly spoken to by bosses over two separate incidents in a three-year period.
A BBC spokesman told The Sun: “While we do not comment on individual cases, we take all complaints about conduct at work extremely seriously and will not tolerate behaviour that is not in line with our values.”
