New BBC row over Naga Munchetty getting 'special treatment' on 5Live breakfast show

A row has broken out over Naga Munchettys plum breakfast job on BBC Radio 5 Live amid claims she has received "special treatment." The 51-year-old star was handed the gig presenting the stations flagship show after quitting the BBC TV sofa after 17 years.

But insiders at the station claim there is "consternation" behind the scenes at 5 Live over the Corporations handling of the situation. There is uproar over the fact that Munchetty has negotiated a deal to present three days in the Salford studio, and two days a week from London near her Hertfordshire home.

It comes as her prospective co-presenter will be expected to do five days a week in Salford. A source said: Many don't feel that is particularly fair, and that bosses have afforded her special treatment." There is also upset that the role wasnt advertised, unlike that of her co-presenter. The source added: There is disquiet that the role has been handed to her on a plate, whereas prospective co-presenters will have to battle it out for the job.

The advert for the two-year fixed term contract role confirms that shortlisted candidates will be expected to record pilots, as well as being five days a week from our Salford studios. The source adds: Naga was a shoo-in whereas her co-presenter is expected to jump through various hoopsit doesnt strike some as particularly fair.

BBC sources told the Mirror that it was not unusual for 5 Live presenters to broadcast from different locations across the UK, and that it was normal for both established presenters to move between programmes and different presenting combinations to be tested.

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. It comes after Munchetty, one of the corporation's highest-paid stars with a salary of 365,000, had faced allegations that she had bullied junior staffers. Insiders claim she was accused of "humiliating" one female colleague and reprimanding an intern for incorrectly spreading Marmite on her toast.

One source said: The wording of the ad has raised a few eyebrows given all the hoo-ha on BBC Breakfast.

Munchetty, who currently hosts a mid-morning talk show on 5Live, also reportedly received a telling-off from station bosses in 2022 after a "crass, inappropriate and wildly unprofessional" off-air reference to a sex act. She has never commented on any of the allegations. However the Corporation launched a review into the BBC Breakfast claims against her last year, which is now no longer active.

The Mirror told this week how insiders at BBC Breakfast were hoping for a reset on the troubled show in the wake of Munchettys exit. A BBC source said: "The new job for Naga seems the best result for everyone. It was not a happy ship on Breakfast." They added: "However you look at it, hosting BBC Breakfast is a much bigger job than working on Five Live." A second source added: "After all the turmoil, it's clear a reset is needed."

It also comes after a disagreement with BBC Breakfast's editor Richard Frediani, with Munchetty having reportedly raised concerns about his conduct. He was later cleared of bullying allegations. Munchetty and her new co-host will take over from Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards, who announced that they would step down in December. She first joined Breakfast in 2009 and has co-hosted with Charlie Stayt since 2014. She has presented Radio 5's midmorning programme since 2021.

Announcing the news, 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% of my focus and energy, and I'm really looking forward to throwing myself into the role.

"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 and to start each day with our listeners every morning. 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."

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