BBC Breakfast staff defend 'overwhelmingly loved' boss under fire from Naga Munchetty - claiming 'he's not a bully at all and the truth will come out'
BBC Breakfast staff have defended their 'overwhelmingly loved' boss under fire from Naga Munchetty - and claimed 'he's not a bully at all and the truth will come out'.
It comes after it was revealed last week that editor Richard Frediani has reportedly taken an extended period of leave, after an internal review of bullying and misconduct allegations was opened into the show.
It was previously claimed that the show's staff are feeling increasingly 'uneasy' around Frediani, and just last week it was claimed that Naga and other presenters no longer speak to their 'loathed' boss.
But now some have rushed to defend Frediani.
One of those members of staff told The Mirror: 'He is not a bully at all and the truth will come out.
'He's a great boss and was - and is still - overwhelmingly loved by the team, who respect his drive, expertise, and journalistic ambition.
'He has delivered great audiences and the first ever Bafta for Breakfast.
'He can be brash and opinionated but works so hard for his team and allows people to flourish.'
Another said: 'Yes, he is old-school and can rub people up the wrong way but it's always in the pursuit of great television.
'It's the best-rating breakfast show in the country - it's not supposed to be a walk in the park.
'Some - Naga included - need to understand this. It feels like it's a case of presenter power turfing out a brilliant journalist.'
Last week the BBC have reportedly launched a bullying probe into BBC Breakfast, which has been branded 'toxic' behind the scenes in the latest crisis for the corporation.
Back in April, MailOnline exclusively revealed some staff had expressed unhappiness with the show's editor Richard Frediani, accusing him of being on occasion 'aggressive' and 'belittling' towards his underlings.
Now, tensions are said to be 'rife' between hosts and Charlie Stayt and Naga , who has already expressed her uneasiness about Frediani's behaviour, with the probe said to have left the newsroom 'divided'.
A source told The Sun at the time: 'To the viewer BBC Breakfast is a warm, gentle programme, one that is flourishing in the ratings. But beyond the cosy red sofa it is a very different picture.
'Several people — crew, production and even presenters — have been very unhappy'.
'Tension between Charlie and Naga is rife.
'Fredi is very old-school and has some slightly tyrannical tendencies.
'He is very cerebral but also quite aggressive in his methods. Some people think a recent promotion has gone to his head'.
'Meanwhile, Naga, who is passionate about speaking up if she believes something is wrong, has spoken to people who are unhappy.
'Formal complaints have been lodged, so the BBC has to be seen to act.
'The probe has really divided the newsroom'.
More recently BBC Breakfast staff have reportedly compared the studio to 'the Hunger Games' after an internal review of bullying and misconduct allegations was opened into the show.
BBC Breakfast has been on our screens since 2000 and Fredani joined the show in 2019.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Race Across the World star shares heartfelt post after relationship update
Race Across the World viewers saw Sioned Cray and her partner finish in third place on the beloved BBC show. Viewers of Race Across the World witnessed young contestants Fin Gough and Sioned Cray secure third place on the BBC programme, falling short to mother-son team Caroline and Tom Bridge. Despite not bagging the £20,000 jackpot, the20-year-old Sioned took a moment to express her gratitude for the support they received. However, after viewing her heartfelt video message, Sioned's followers were quick to make a request. In her video, she stated: "I'm going to get straight into it before I start rambling. The whole race it felt like we needed to win, at the end it admittedly felt disappointing all because of competitiveness and being desperate to be the best, always. "But, after coming back, I soon realised that we were winners regardless. Watching it all back and seeing the growth, both in myself and Fin individually as well as together, highlighted that for me. "The experience as a whole and what we gained from it is the true prize and having the title of being winners would've' just been a bonus, that's most definitely, not that deep.I feel like I owe a whole load of thank you's, and to be honest, I'm struggling with where to start." The BBC star proceeded to extend her thanks to some of the crew who helped create the show, particularly those who worked behind the scenes during their race. Sioned disclosed that the crew tolerated their squabbling, indecisiveness and 'being annoying teenagers' throughout their two-month journey ,reports Plymouth Live. However, she added: "We shared a lot of funny and emotional moments which are now my core memories for life." Despite sometimes wishing for assistance from the crew, Sioned admitted that she's grateful they didn't intervene, as it allowed her and Fin to fully immerse themselves and grow from the experience. She went on to express gratitude towards the entire BBC team and fellow contestants. Sioned remarked: "We now can call them lifelong friends, and yes we have 60-year-old best friends!" The response to their journey was overwhelmingly positive, with fans quickly taking to social media to suggest that Sioned and Fin should star in their own travel series. One fan exclaimed: "Nooooooooo, can't believe it's over. Best one yet and you're all lovely people. You should both do a YouTube travel channel, and/or team up with some of the others. You'd get lots of views." Another admirer commented: "You two were brilliant, and hopefully, see you both back on our screens soon!" Caroline, a previous winner of Race Across the World, praised them: "That could have been your presenting audition as you nailed it. Born to the job and such lovely sentiments as always my dear friend." A follower expressed their family's affection: "Sioned me and the kids (12 year old boy and 10 year old girl! ) are desperate to see more of you and Fin - hoping you can get a gig presenting/your own show on s4c? We fell in love with you both on the show!" Another supporter suggested: "You and Fin could be an awesome presenter duo!" During the reunion episode, Sioned and Fin gave BBC fans an update on their relationship status. Speaking about their experience, Fin said: "It was a good way to see if we can do it forever, or this isn't for us, let's split up. But that wasn't the case, we are still together, and we're going well. I think that was a big challenge and the best challenge we could've had together."
The Sun
39 minutes ago
- The Sun
Former Emmerdale actress making return to soap in just days – months after being axed from ITV show
A FORMER Emmerdale actress is making a return to soap in just days - months after being axed from the Dales. Daisy Campbell, who played Amelia Spencer on the ITV soap opera, will be back on screens this weekend. 4 The actress, 21, will be joining the cast of BBC medical soap Casualty this Saturday. In surprise news, it has been confirmed that the star will take on a guest role during this weekend's episode. She will play the role of Georgina Birch in the programme. Her character and plot details are being kept a closely guarded secret until the episode airs. It marks her first big-screen role since her Dales departure last year. Daisy was axed from her role after 13 years after being left without any family or connections in the Emmerdale village. Her on-screen father had been jailed after becoming a one-punch killer with her daughter's dad, Samson, also sent to prison for assault. Speaking about her then-impending exit last year, Daisy told The Mirror: "It wasn't my choice to leave Emmerdale and it was a shock at first. "Being in Emmerdale is all I have ever known. "I've spent the whole of my childhood growing up in the soap and it felt daunting." Daisy Campbell's Emotional Exit from Emmerdale Bosses gave their decision to the actress last May and she needed time to "grieve" before she officially announced her departure in October 2024. Biggest soap stunts By Conor O'Brien Soaps are no stranger to dramatic stunts in the storylines. Not only do these moments create a spectacle for viewers, they also fundamentally change characters' lives. Here is a look at some of the biggest soap stunts from over the years. CORONATION STREET Tram crash (2010): The ITV soap marked its 50th anniversary with a intense tram crash - and live episode to boot. Overall, the crash and its effects were broadcast across a week in December 2010. Its resulting chaos saw regular characters Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold) and Molly Dobbs (Vicky Binns) die. Richard Hillman tries to kill the Platts (2003): Of all the men unlucky-in-love Gail tied the knot with, Richard Hillman (Brian Capron) is probably the one she regrets most in hindsight. In 2003, murderer Richard tried to kill his step-family: first by gassing them with car fumes and then driving Gail (Helen Worth), Sarah (Tina O'Brien), David (Jack P. Shepherd) and Bethany (Amy and Emily Walton) into a canal. EASTENDERS Queen Vic fire (2010): In September 2010, EastEnders bid farewell to matriarch Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor) as a permanent fixture on the soap - she returned as a guest before the character's death in 2016. In the build-up to her initial exit, Peggy had trapped crack cocaine-addicted son Phil (Steve McFadden) in the Queen Vic. However, he escaped and set the boozer on fire. Bus crash (2017): In April 2017, a total of 11 Albert Square residents had their lives at risk in a terrifying bus crash. The stunt saw a double decker bus - the 764 to Barking - lose control and crash through the Albert Square market before hitting a low-level bridge. Notable passengers at the time included Denise Fox (Diane Parish) and Louise Mitchell (Tilly Keeper). EMMERDALE James Barton's death (2016): Interestingly about James' (Bill Ward) death was that it came in a spiral of events. After wife Emma (Gillian Kearney) locked James up in a jealous rage, he escaped and they tussled on a bridge over the bypass. Emma pushed him and James fell into traffic, in turn causing a 12-vehicle pile up, As well as James dying, key characters including Ashley Thomas (John Middleton) and Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry) were injured. 4
The Sun
39 minutes ago
- The Sun
Legendary racehorse trainer famed for ‘spectacular' Derby winner announces retirement with son taking sole charge
PAUL COLE, the man I like to call 'Generous' and the trainer of the horse with that name who stormed to Derby victory in 1991, is set to relinquish his licence. "I looked out at a horse this morning and just thought the time has come for me to retire," Cole told me. 2 2 He said: "I've been sharing the licence with my son Oliver since 2020, and I'm just very old now. "Oliver knows what he's doing and is more than capable." With over 1,500 British winners to his name, Cole has been training out of his yard in Whatcombe, Wantage, since 1987 and has sent out a whole host of big-race winners during the last three decades, headlined by Generous, the spectacular 1991 Derby, Irish Derby and King George hero. Other notable triumphs for Cole, who was also crowned champion Flat trainer in Britain at the end of that memorable 1991 campaign, include the Classic victory of Snurge in the 1990 St Leger and the success of Mr Dinos in the 2003 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. Other names familiar to a certain age group include Pass the Peace, Pouliches heroine Culture Vulture, Broken Hearted, Ruby Tiger and Bint Pasha. Cole could land a punt in big handicaps like the Lincoln and at one stage was 'King' of the two-year-olds. He also embraced the International scene, taking the 1992 Washington DC International with Zoman, two Italian Derbys, an Irish Oaks with Knights Baroness and Group 1s in Germany with Ibn Bey. Snurge banged in a Canadian International and Rubyt Tiger an EP Taylor. At Royal Ascot, Cole had 21 victories and one in partnership with Oli. They included juvenile successes with the likes of Dilum, Magic Ring, Fair Cop and Sri Pekan. Cole puts his success down to luck and a strong determination, helped very much by his late and much loved wife Vanessa, who sadly passed in May last year. He said: "Vanessa was a fantastic wife and a fantastic trainer's wife. She brought calmness and understanding. I could not have found anyone better." Of how it all started, Cole revealed: "My dad had farms but he sold then in the war which wasn't a great idea. "However, I was always around horses and went hunting. But we didn't have a lot of money. "My father knew someone who had a caravan park in Bournemouth and asked him if he would lend me the money to lease a yard. "One way or another I got a few horses together and I went to the Jockey Club to get a licence but I saw straight away there was a 'no' by my name. "You see, back then, you had to be in the right group of people to get accepted. "It was just after National Service was ending and the Jockey Club didn't understand that it was suddenly going to be approached by younger people who wanted to get in on the scene. "I had to re-apply but I wasn't going to give up. I wasn't that academically bright and it was just a case of thinking, 'what can I do?'. "I was thinking about being a stud manager when I was 21. But in the end I had no doubt what I really wanted to do. "I always had a feeling I would end up at Whatcombe and I'll continue living here and Oli will train here. "It was one of my ambitions to be here. I just had to facilitate how I was going to get here. "When we arrived it was nothing like it is now. It was all creosote and nails. Not much else." The 'Generous' year came about in unusual circumstances. The famed trainer told me: "Anthony Penfold was racing manager for Fahd Salman, and we met at Heathrow before heading to Goffs's. "I said to Anthony there would be some big buyers in Ireland and we would have to go for a horse with an unusual colour or pedigree. We got both. "Generous was like Roy Rogers' famous animal Trigger in that he was a flashy chestnut and by Caerleon who wasn't that popular. "We did have to go above budget, to 200,000 Irish guineas, but we got him. "Generous was the best I trained. He had an incredible turn of foot – he won over 5f first time out. "When he kicked nothing was going to pass him." Cole always trained with a mission. He said: "I have loved training but it was a way of earning some money, be able to get married and be able to educate the children. "That's why we travlled the horses so much. So we could earn people money who owned the horses.' Cole continued: "I loved to buy a cheap horse and win a big race. I think we got Sarab for £1800 and he won the Foret. That was special. "Snurge went everywhere. A warrior and a traveller." Cole has used many jockeys in his time, but Richard Quinn, Alan Munro and most recently, Jamie Spencer, a good friend of another of Cole's sons, Alexander, have been most in demand. Cole said: "Richard Quinn started with me. But Fahd Salman had a lot of advisors and they didn't always want him. "That said, I never really had any falling out with jockeys. "Quinn did the job that was needed. Alan Munro won the Derby on Generous and Jamie Spencer has done very well. He's a jockey for a certain type of horse." It's the end of an era with the retirement of Paul Cole. It follows the departure of the late Sir Henry Cecil, Sir Michael Stoute and Roger Charlton, huge names of the game. They all loved this sport. Cole finished off by saying to me: "What a lucky decision I made to go into racing. I started very humbly. And we won some of the biggest races." . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
