BBC Breakfast’s Naga Munchetty has secured a pay rise, boosting her earnings to £355,000, while her long-time co-host Charlie Stayt remains stuck at £190,000. The news comes during a turbulent time for the programme, as its editor Richard Frediani is facing a bullying probe — and tensions behind the scenes are said to be boiling over.
According to the BBC’s newly released salary report, 50-year-old Naga saw her annual wage increase by £10,000, cementing her position in the broadcaster’s top ten earners. Charlie, however, saw no change in his pay packet for another year running.
Insiders claim that the working relationship between the show’s two presenters and Frediani has completely broken down. “Frediani has no relationship with Charlie and Naga,” a source told The Times. “They don’t speak. He doesn’t like them and they don’t like him.”
This uneasy atmosphere reportedly predates the internal investigation launched after Frediani was hit with misconduct allegations earlier this year. In a separate development, Naga herself was also accused of bullying a younger staff member in 2024, although no formal findings have been made public.
Despite the controversy, Naga still ranks 10th in the BBC’s list of highest earners — a list once again topped by Gary Lineker, who, despite his departure, remained in the £1.35 million bracket. Zoe Ball came second with £515,000, a notable drop from the previous year, and Alan Shearer followed with £440,000.
Other notable figures included Greg James (£425,000), Fiona Bruce and Nick Robinson (both on £410,000), and Laura Kuenssberg (£395,000). Meanwhile, stars like Claudia Winkleman and Michael McIntyre were absent from the list due to being paid via BBC Studios.
