The BBC has given its response to claims Naga Munchetty is receiving “unfair” special treatment at her new job.
The presenter, 51, announced last month that she is leaving BBC Breakfast after 17 years and moving to Radio 5 Live in January 2027.
Munchetty is said to have quit the BBC’s morning flagship show for another role at the corporation as a “two fingers” to the bosses who investigated her for allegations of bullying and misconduct.
She has since faced ”consternation” behind-the-scenes over claims she is getting special privileges at her new radio job.
There is reportedly uproar over the fact that she will be allowed to present three days in the Salford studio near Manchester, and two days a week from London near her Hertfordshire home.
Her prospective co-presenter will be expected to do five days a week in Salford.
The BBC has defended Munchetty, however, telling The Mirror: “Appointments into any presenting role are made on merit and in line with the BBC’s standard processes.
“We reject any suggestion that different standards have been applied in this instance.”
Presenter Nicky Campbell hosts his weekday show from both locations and Matt Chorley is based in London due to the political slant of his afternoon show.
Regarding Munchetty’s “special treatment”, a source had told The Mirror: “Many don't feel that is particularly fair, and that bosses have afforded her special treatment."
Munchetty's critics are also said to have "raised eyebrows" over the job advert to work alongside her amid the bullying row while she was on BBC Breakfast.
The advert for the “chief presenter” lists a number of attributes needed for the role including a “warm personality with the ability to see the funny side of life", the Mirror reports.
Munchetty was accused last year of being “hard” and “bullying” her coworkers and came under fire for two alleged incidents over a three-year period, according to a number of sources.
One source said: “The wording of the ad has raised a few eyebrows given all the hoo-ha on BBC Breakfast.”
She currently presents BBC Breakfast alongside Charlie Stayt every Thursday to Saturday, having joined the show in 2009.
In 2022, she allegedly used a crude word for a sex act and asked a colleague if they had done it.
The exact comment hasn’t been reported, however one source claimed it was, “crass, inappropriate and wildly unprofessional,” and added: “The person felt embarrassed.”
Munchetty was also accused of bullying a woman last year, with The Sun claiming she allegedly accused a younger staffer of stealing, without presenting evidence.
“It was humiliating. There was no evidence, no apology. The woman left not long after, completely demoralised,” an insider said.
In a separate alleged incident, Munchetty was accused of telling off an intern over the quality of her Marmite on toast.
In November, BBC bosses reportedly escalated their review into an official investigation into Munchetty’s alleged behaviour after more complaints were made.
It was later claimed the broadcaster assigned watchdogs to keep a close eye on Munchetty in the studios while the probe took place and she was allowed to remain on-air but would have members of production monitoring her.
The investigation has since been “quietly closed”, The Sun reported. The outcome was never made public.
Munchetty also faced backlash recently for making seemingly “rude” comments towards Carol Kirkwood during the weather presenter’s last day in April.
She made a series of playful remarks that viewers claimed were intended to “embarrass” Kirkwood, including saying that she was “waiting for the countdown” for Kirkwood to go.
After the backlash, sources insisted the pair are “close personal friends”.
Munchetty also ruffled feathers with her joke about Sally Nugent’s new hairstyle, saying: “We're meant to be serious journalists, not trying to look like we're presenting This Morning.”
Additionally, she was said to have been on frosty terms with her co-host Stayt.
Munchetty said of her BBC Breakfast departure: “Presenting a flagship programme on 5 Live is an opportunity that was simply too good to pass up. It will take a huge amount of work and require 100% of my focus and energy, and I'm really looking forward to throwing myself into the role.
“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."
She will replace Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards to present the morning programme on Radio 5 Live, with Burden becoming emotional as she announced their “really sad” exit.
