5 Live presenter being replaced by Naga Munchetty overcome with emotion as new gig is announced
It was announced on Tuesday (28.07.26) that Naga Munchetty will be co-hosting the 5 Live Breakfast show five days a week from January 2027 - leaving BBC Breakfast after 17 years to do so.
The radio presenter being replaced by Naga Munchetty on 5 Live Breakfast admitted she was “struggling to hold it together” as news of her new gig was made public.
It was announced on Tuesday (28.07.26) that Naga will be co-hosting the 5 Live Breakfast show five days a week from January 2027 - leaving BBC Breakfast after 17 years to do so.
She’ll be taking over the 5 Live gig from Rachel Burden, who has hosted the breakfast radio show since 2011 and was overcome with emotion as she broke the news of her successor.
She said: “I have some news to share, with you, ah, I really need to try and keep it together.”
Reflecting on hosting the show, and co-hosting with Rick Edwards for the past five years, Rachel continued: “I have loved, I think, almost every single minute of it.
“But we have both been thinking a lot in recent months about what comes next, and I guess how we meet sort of shifting priorities in our lives.”
A video clip of Rachel’s emotional announcement was shared on Instagram by Radio 5 Live, who wrote: “Breakfast hosts, Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards, announced this morning that they will step down in December.
“Naga Munchetty will become the new co-presenter of 5 Live Breakfast, taking the helm of the station's flagship morning programme five days a week from January 2027.
“As part of the changes, Rachel Burden will move to present the weekday mid-morning programme, Monday to Wednesday 11-2pm, following 15 years on the station's Breakfast show.”
In a statement after news of her new job was announced, Naga said: "I'm thrilled to be joining 5 Live Breakfast in January. Live news, great conversations and connecting with audiences are what I love most about broadcasting, and 5 Live does all of that brilliantly.
"It has been a privilege to be part of the BBC Breakfast TV team for the past 17 years, working alongside an incredibly talented and hard-working group of journalists who are not only outstanding colleagues but also great friends.
"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 per cent of my focus and energy, and I'm really looking forward to throwing myself into the role."
The Strictly Come Dancing 2016 contestant is no stranger to BBC Radio 5 Live as she has guided listeners through the biggest stories and talking points on the station's weekday mid-morning show since 2021.
Naga said: "Over the last five years, I've been privileged to build a relationship with 5 Live listeners on the mid-morning programme and help shine a light on the issues that matter most to them.
"I'm excited to build on that in the Breakfast slot and to start each day with our listeners every morning."
She concluded: "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."
The newsreader's 5 Live Breakfast Show co-host and replacement on BBC Breakfast will be announced in due course.
