BBC crisis as Breakfast hosts Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt embroiled in ‘bullying row’ with boss
The BBC has been plunged into a fresh crisis as presenter Naga Munchetty is reportedly “barely speaking” to BBC Breakfast editor Richard Frediani amid bullying allegations.
Munchetty, 50, and co-host Charlie Stayt, 62, are said to have an “uneasy relationship” with their boss.
“Fredi has no relationship with Charlie and Naga, which is weird when they are half of his frontline presenting roster,” a source told The Times.
“It appears he doesn’t like them and they don’t like him — for whatever reason, they don’t talk to each other,” the source added.
According to Deadline, Munchetty has approached BBC News managers about her concerns regarding Frediani.
The senior newsreader is reportedly “quite open” with her misgivings towards his treatment of colleagues.
The latest row has “blown up” staff WhatsApp groups, according to one insider.
Deadline revealed in March that Frediani was the subject of at least two misconduct complaints.
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One allegation claims he physically shook a woman during a newsroom exchange in 2024.
At the time, Frediani was reportedly unaware of any complaints about his conduct.
The entertainment industry site also reported that sources claimed he was a “bully”.
Before joining BBC Breakfast, Frediani held senior roles at ITN, which produces ITV News.
Current and former ITN employees alleged he would shout, swear at and intimidate colleagues.
Sources told Deadline that various complaints had been made about his conduct during his time at ITN.
Newsreader Tina Daheley is also understood to have had reservations about working on the News at One bulletin under Frediani, The Times reports.
She was initially named as one of the hosts before the programme moved from London to Salford in May.
Daheley has since remained in her Radio 2 newsreader role instead of presenting on Mondays and Tuesdays as planned.
A source said she was “understandably very cross” when her picture was omitted from a press release about schedule changes.
Despite the controversy, Frediani is considered a widely respected editor within the BBC.
“He has a clear understanding of audiences that many others lack — and that is really valued,” said one insider.
Frediani had been promoted by bosses, with expanded responsibilities including oversight of the News at One and an extended Breakfast programme.
This crisis comes amid broader workplace culture issues at the BBC, which recently promised to publish findings from an independent review.
The corporation apologised to actress Amanda Abbington after she accused her Strictly partner Giovanni Pernice of bullying.
GB News has contacted the BBC over the reports.