BBC Monitors Naga Munchetty Amid Bullying Probe

The BBC have assigned watchdogs to monitor Naga Munchetty after a formal investigation was launched into her behaviour, according to reports.

The BBC Breakfast host, 50, who is paid between £355,000 and £359,999 a year, is said to be allowed to stay on at the broadcaster, but that she will only work with certain producers while the probe takes place. 

Naga, who has fronted daytime TV for 15 years and has a Radio 5 show, was initially placed under review in August after it was claimed several colleagues had logged concerns over her ‘hard’ and ‘bullying’ behaviour.

But last week it was reported that bosses had decided to escalate the situation and launch a formal investigation after further complaints were made. 

A source told The Sun: ‘Naga has not been taken off air but now has certain members of production monitoring her and her interactions.

‘She’s only allowed to speak to specific people too. It’s far from ideal as a way of working and everyone hopes it comes to a head someway or another soon.’ 

Daily Mail has contacted Naga’s representatives for comment.  

Naga faces an uncertain future on the broadcaster, with reports Deborah Turness’ resignation could leave her ‘vulnerable’.

CEO of BBC News, Deborah quit earlier last week over the botched editing of one of the President’s speeches by Panorama.

An insider told the publication last week: ‘The Naga situation has been an albatross around Breakfast’s neck since June when the endemic bullying at Media City was first exposed by The Sun.

‘Whilst others have been cleared, the review on Naga has done the opposite – with further complaints against her.

‘They had no choice but to take things from the slightly softer ‘under review’ to formal investigation. Of course, her detractors are gossiping that the timing with Deborah’s departure isn’t exactly a coincidence.’ 

The BBC has repeatedly declined to comment on the allegations, saying: ‘We do not comment on individual HR matters.’ 

Naga’s own conduct was thrown into doubt when BBC Breakfast’s editor Richard Frediani reportedly took an extended period of leave, after an internal review of bullying and misconduct allegations was opened into the show.

Naga was reportedly spoken to by executives after a junior staffer accused the journalist of bullying them.

She was also reportedly hauled into a meeting after she made a sex jibe during an ad break while hosting her radio show.

The presenter is believed to have used a crude slang term for a sex act and reportedly asked a colleague if they had ever done it. 

Naga’s co-host Charlie Stayt also remains ‘under review’, according to the publication.

Naga is no longer represented by agents M&C Saatchi, who also dropped BBC One Show host Jermaine Jenas after his sexting scandal. 

Her new agents have reportedly ‘held talks with rival station LBC’ to explore other opportunities. 

The journalist is paid almost double of her co-host Charlie, 63, remained in the £190,000 bracket as tensions between the pair are said to be ‘rife’.

Naga hosts BBC Breakfast on Thursdays to Saturdays with Charlie, while Jon Kay and Sally Nugent anchor the programme from the start of the week.

It has been a rocky time for the BBC after director general Tim Davie and Deborah Turness, chief executive of BBC News, sensationally stepped down amid an impartiality row after an internal report accused it of institutional bias and censorship. 

MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace, 61, was sacked following a series of misconduct allegations relating to his time on the series. 

Then in September, Irish chef Anna Haugh, 44, was announced to takeover from John Torode, who lost his job after two decades over allegations he used ‘racist language in 2018’, something he claims he has ‘no recollection’ of.