Naga Munchetty ‘had talks with Sky News' but her ‘tough & difficult reputation' scuppered bid to escape ‘toxic' BBC
NAGA Munchetty has "had talks with Sky News" but her "difficult reputation" ruined her chances of leaving the BBC, insiders claimed.
It comes amid the Sun's exposé on toxicity at the morning show, with editor Richard Frediani on leave amid bullying claims.
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Naga, 50, has also come under fire and was rapped for allegedly bullying a junior staffer on BBC Breakfast last year.
She is also said to have made a crude quip about a sex act in an off-air break on Radio 5 Live in 2022.
Now industry insiders have claimed Naga had been in talks with Sky News and radio station LBC in an attempt to ditch the Beeb.
Sources alleged discussions were quickly scrapped because network bosses were weary of the presenter's "tough" persona.
"There were quite a few discussions with both Sky and LBC but then it was decided by both that they wouldn't go any further," an insider told the Mail.
"She is quite sharp and it is perhaps not what they were looking for, so it all kind of fell apart.
"Rightly or wrongly, Naga has a reputation for being quite tough and difficult at times – they didn't like that."
This comes as Naga - now at the centre of a BBC Breakfast toxicity row - has been rapped for two incidents in three years.
Yesterday the presenter opened up and said she hates bullies in a new interview.
She said: 'I was no angel but I hated seeing people bullied.
BBC star Naga Munchetty hauled in by bosses over allegations she BULLIED a junior staffer and 'made an off-air sex jibe'
"I remember there were a couple of kids in school who were bullied and I just hated it.
"So I'd always kind of be that person who would speak to everyone.'
Earlier this week, The Sun exclusively reported how things were not all rosy on the show's iconic red sofa.
We told how anchor Naga had been hauled in by show bosses amid allegations she bullied a junior staffer.
Naga was also hauled in over a sex jibe made at Radio 5 Live where she is said to have used a crude slang term for a sex act during an off-air break — before asking a colleague if they had done it.
The alleged remark stunned the Radio 5 Live studio and led to Naga being hauled before bosses.
She was reprimanded by a senior producer but no formal action was taken.
The comment became widely known at 5 Live, with one source describing the 2022 incident as: 'Crass, inappropriate and wildly unprofessional. The person felt embarrassed.'
We can also reveal that on BBC Breakfast last year, she was rapped for the alleged bullying of a woman, who was the most junior staffer.
As part of the bullying behaviour, the star is said to have falsely accused her of stealing, which led to a closed-door showdown.
The source said: 'It was humiliating. There was no evidence, no apology. The woman left not long after, completely demoralised.'
Another insider added: 'That wasn't an isolated incident. It really is the tip of the iceberg.'
Naga is the first female presenter to be caught up in the series of scandals which have gripped the BBC.
Strictly's Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima had to leave over bullying claims, and Wynne Evans quit the live tour over the word 'spitroast', which can be a sexual reference.
But the broadcaster is now facing questions of double standards.
A Breakfast insider said: 'If a male presenter made a sexual comment like that or falsely accused someone of theft, he'd be out the door. But with Naga, it gets brushed off.'
A BBC spokesperson said: 'While we do not comment on individual cases, we take all complaints about conduct at work extremely seriously.'
Breakfast is already in turmoil amid claims of a 'deeply divided workplace' and off-air tensions between Naga and co-host Charlie Stayt.
The flagship show's editor Richard Frediani is also at the centre of a formal bullying investigation.
It was confirmed the BBC was conducting an internal review into his behaviour and general allegations of toxicity on the show.
An internal email was sent to the BBC Breakfast team thanking them for their 'professionalism' as they continue their work amid the row.
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