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Naga Munchetty reportedly faced a slew of bullying allegations before she quit BBC Breakfast.
The host, 51, was said to have been placed under review last August following complaints of bullying over a three-year period.
She was accused of bullying a female colleague and making a “wildly unprofessional” off-air sex joke that left a co-worker “humiliated”, as well as apparently chastised an intern over the way they spread her Marmite on toast. She has never publicly commented on the claims.
As the presenter leaves BBC Breakfast to move to BBC Radio 5 Live, we take a look at the lengthy list of accusations.
Naga Munchetty was reportedly accused of bullying colleagues over a three-year period BBCShe 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.
She allegedly used a crude word for a sex act and asked a colleague if they had done it in 2022.
The exact comment hasn’t been reported, however one source claimed it was, “crass, inappropriate and wildly unprofessional. 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.
The broadcaster also allegedly told off an intern who brought her breakfast in the office 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.
Munchetty with her co-host Charlie Stayt BBC Breakfast 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.
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The outcome of the investigation has not been publicly revealed. The Standard has contacted Munchetty’s representative for comment.
Munchetty also faced backlash recently for making seemingly “rude” comments towards Carol Kirkwood, 63, during the weather presenter’s last day in April.
She made a series of jokey remarks that viewers claimed were intended to “embarrass” Kirkwood, with some even speculating that the pair “really don’t get on” behind-the-scenes.
Several colleagues joined Kirkwood on the sofa to bid farewell including Dan Walker, Mike Bushell, Matt Taylor, who will replace Kirkwood as weather presenter, and Munchetty.
Kirkwood appeared surprised that Munchetty was in the studio, saying: “Thank you all for coming - and even you, Nags!”
She was accused of being ‘rude’ to Carol Kirkwood (right)BBCMunchetty said with a deadpan expression, “I’m just waiting for the countdown for you to go!” before laughing.
She then presented Kirkwood with a framed illustration by Mr Men artist Adam Hargreaves, portraying her as Little Miss Sunshine in a nod to her career as a weather correspondent.
After a special weather-themed cake was brought over to Kirkwood, she quipped: “Are you going to break the habit of a lifetime and actually share the cake?”
Kirkwood replied, “No, Naga, absolutely not - why would I do that?” and Munchetty responded: “Exactly. Why change it? We're only going to remember you one way.”
After the backlash, a TV insider told The Sun: “Naga and Carol have been very close personal friends for many years, as well as being very good colleagues as part of the BBC Breakfast Team.
“Everyone involved in Carol Kirkwood’s last programme for Breakfast on 1 April was there to pay tribute to Carol’s long service for the BBC, and they all did so fittingly.”
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 reportedly made a dig about Sally Nugent’s hair makeoverBBCMunchetty 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."
Her Radio 5 Live predecessor Rachel Burden said she was “really sad” and struggling to “keep it together” as she announced hers and Edwards’ exit on Tuesday.
“I have some news to share, with you, ah, I really need to try and keep it together,” the broadcaster said in an emotional message on their show.
“I said I’d keep it together! We have been working together on 5 Live Breakfast for five years now, and I have been co-presenting this show for over 15 years. And 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.”
She revealed they would be stepping down from the Breakfast show in December, but Burden would still be working at 5 Live and is “never leaving this place”.