Furious viewers of BBC Breakfast have issued formal complaints to the channel over Naga Munchetty‘s ‘sly and awkward’ jibe at her departing co-star Carol Kirkwood.
The exchange came during Carol’s final day on the morning flagship show back in April, when she bid farewell to her role as a weather presenter after 25 years.
Naga couldn’t help but have one final jokey dig at Carol before she headed off, as the pair have been known to exchange humorous blows on our screens over the years.
But viewers at home were less impressed, and it’s now been revealed that some have issued formal complaints to the channel.
However, The BBC‘s Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) ruled that the complaints were not upheld.
It comes as Naga’s future at BBC Breakfast remains in doubt after a formal investigation was launched over accusations of bullying.
Furious viewers of BBC Breakfast have issued formal complaints to the channel over Naga Munchetty’s ‘sly and awkward’ jibe at her departing co-star Carol Kirkwood
The exchange came during Carol’s final day on the morning flagship show back in April, when she bid farewell to her role as a weather presenter after 25 years
Naga’s comments to Carol came as the show bid farewell to her after two decades with the broadcaster.
After playing some of Carol’s best bits, Naga jokingly told her: ‘I am just waiting for the countdown for you to go!’
Everyone burst into laughter in the studio, but those watching at home weren’t so impressed.
Taking to social media, some viewers wrote: ‘Maybe Naga and Carol really didn’t get on…’; ‘Where was Naga Munchetty’s tribute to Carol Kirkwood amongst all the others on her last day presenting the weather on?’
Another said: ‘Naga didn’t do a pre-recorded solo tribute like the other newsreaders did who’ve worked with her for years. Instead she tried her usual gotcha tactics to embarrass Carol.’
But one pointed out: ‘Naga was there and gave her the Little Miss Sunshine picture.’
Naga continued: ‘So here is a rare glimpse into me being lovely to you… So what do we call you? Not off-air! On-air. Little Miss Sunshine maybe?’
She continued: ‘We’ve been seeing these VTs all day, tributes, we all think you’re great, secretly. We know when we say to anyone ‘Carol is off’, they go, ‘Oh my goodness. No!’
‘You know the little Mr Men? What would we all be? Sleepy? Little Miss Sleepy? I think as Adam Hargreaves depicted, Little Miss Sunshine.’
It comes as Naga’s future at BBC Breakfast remains in doubt after a formal investigation was launched over accusations of bullying
Insiders also told The Daily Mail that the comments were seen as ‘bizarre’ by crew members.
A BBC source told the Daily Mail: ‘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.’
Naga’s future at BBC Breakfast remains in doubt after a formal investigation was launched into her behaviour in November.
The broadcaster is said to be allowed to stay on at the channel, but that she will only work with certain producers while the probe takes place.
A source told The Sun at the time: ‘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.’
Naga faces an uncertain future on the broadcaster, with reports Deborah Turness’s resignation could leave her ‘vulnerable’.
The former CEO of BBC News quit in November last year over the botched editing of one of Donald Trump’s speeches by Panorama.
An insider told the publication at the time: ‘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 was accused of making 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 is no longer represented by agents M&C Saatchi, who also dropped former 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 that of her co-host Charlie, who remained in the £190,000 bracket, as tensions between the pair are said to be ‘rife’.
Last year, the Daily Mail told how Naga has been holding discussions with Sky News and radio station LBC in an apparent bid to leave the corporation, industry sources have revealed.
In a surprise move, the presenter held talks with both broadcasters in what appears to be an attempt to escape the toxic atmosphere on the programme she co-hosts three days a week with Charlie.
Sources said the talks broke down, with some bosses at the networks unsure about Naga’s ‘tough ways’ and deciding against continuing negotiations.
One said: ‘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.
‘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.’
It has been a rocky time for the BBC after director general Tim Davie and Deborah, 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 was sacked following a series of misconduct allegations relating to his time on the series.
Then, in September, Irish chef Anna Haugh was announced to take over 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.
