The extent of the toxic feud that’s torn apart BBC Breakfast has reportedly been revealed, with sources branding the show’s bullying probe ‘the tip of the iceberg.’
On Monday it was claimed that a bullying probe had been launched into the crisis-hit show, with much of the upset centred around its bullish editor Richard Frediani.
It’s being claimed by The Sun that tensions between two of Breakfast’s hosts, Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt, are threatening to explode, due to their opposing views behind the scenes.
It’s thought that the show’s staff are feeling increasingly ‘uneasy’ around boss Frediani if they are not a person he favours, and host Naga is reportedly ‘at her wits end’ over the tensions.
Sources also claim that Frediani feels he is ‘untouchable’ after the show scooped a BAFTA Television Award in May.
It’s also being claimed that some staff avoid being left alone with him following an allegation last year that he physically shook a lower-ranking female editor, with the complaint upheld following a BBC investigation.
The extent of the toxic feud that’s torn apart BBC Breakfast has reportedly been revealed, with sources branding the show’s bullying probe ‘the tip of the iceberg’
On Monday it was claimed that a bullying probe had been launched into the crisis-hit show, with much of the upset centred around its bullish editor Richard Frediani
A source said: ‘The probe into Fredi’s bullying is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to BBC Breakfast. In reality, the smiles on the red sofa mask growing tension and an increasingly toxic culture, driven from the top down, with its unwitting presenters at the heart.
‘Naga is incredibly approachable and friendly to everyone on set. Charlie is very professional and tries to disengage from any politics. But some stars, like Sally Nugent, are loved by Fredi, whereas others, like Naga and Charlie, are not.
‘Frankly, he can be mildly terrifying if you’re on the wrong side of him.’
The source went onto claim that some younger staff are choosing to ‘keep their heads down and weather the storm’ due to fears for their jobs.
A BBC spokesperson told the publication: ‘While we do not comment on individual cases, we take all complaints about conduct at work extremely seriously and will not tolerate behaviour that is not in line with our values.
‘We have robust processes in place and would encourage any staff with concerns to raise them directly with us so they can be addressed.’
It’s thought that Naga is ‘at her wits end’ over the tensions, and given she is known for supporting younger journalists backstage, is frustrated with how the toxic atmosphere is being tolerated.
In a recent interview, Naga insisted she and Charlie, who host Breakfast from Thursday to Saturday, were ‘good friends’, amid reports they had fallen out.
MailOnline has contacted the BBC for further comment.
It’s being claimed by The Sun that tensions between presenters Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt are threatening to explode, due to their opposing views behind the scenes
It comes following reports that the BBC launched a bullying probe into the flagship Breakfast show, with the investigation set to look into claims dating back as far as 2019.
A source told The Sun: ‘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’.
They went on to claim that some believe Fredani, known as Fredi, is simply doing his job others think his methods are ‘too tough’ for 2025.
It comes following a difficult few years for the BBC, with Huw Edwards pleading guilty to having indecent images of children, Jermaine Jenas axed after a sexting scandal and Gary Linekar axed over Anti Semitism claims.
An insider told MailOnline in April that Munchetty is ‘quite open’ about her ill-feeling towards Frediani. Another said that she has an ‘uneasy relationship’ with him.
The Mail revealed that displeasure was intensifying at the BBC’s northern base in Salford, where staff have watched Frediani’s rise – from Breakfast boss to arguably the most powerful BBC editor outside London – with growing disbelief.
One said: ‘You have to wonder what on earth is going on. The BBC claims to be this no-nonsense, woke, kind place – yet Fredi has been able to keep climbing the ladder. HR and his bosses are aware of [past] bullying claims against him.
‘He’s still allowed to hire, as we saw with Nina [Warhurst, who has just been appointed a regular presenter] this week, and presumably fire. He has so much power, it doesn’t feel right at all.’
The ordeal began, when media and entertainment industry news site Deadline alleged that Frediani was the subject of at least two misconduct complaints, including one from a woman who had her grievance upheld after claiming that the Breakfast editor physically shook her during a heated newsroom exchange last year.
It’s thought that the show’s staff are feeling increasingly ‘uneasy’ around boss Frediani if they are not a person he favours, and host Naga is reportedly ‘at her wits end’ over the tensions
It’s also being claimed that some staff avoid being left alone with Richard (pictured) following an allegation last year that he physically shook a lower-ranking female editor
Others also came forward with their experiences. One person claimed to have witnessed an incident in 2019, during which a ‘clearly angry’ Richard backed a Breakfast colleague up against a wall and was ‘jabbing his finger’ as he voiced displeasure about that morning’s show.
The website reports that two sources alleged that Frediani is also known for ‘screaming’ down the phone at other BBC News desks and complaining about the quality of content they hand over to the Breakfast show.
Whether these allegations were upheld or dismissed is not known.
There was widespread internal dissatisfaction with Frediani in 2020, less than a year into his reign as editor of BBC Breakfast, after he was poached from ITV News.
During the pandemic, MailOnline’s Katie Hind was inundated with anonymous emails from staff at BBC Breakfast which said a series of complaints have been made to the corporation’s management and its HR department about an ‘intimidating and bullying’ culture, which had led to long-term members of staff leaving their jobs.
One employee, who wished to remain anonymous, said ‘the whole atmosphere has become poisonous’ and like a ‘boys’ club’. Again, it is unclear whether these allegations were upheld or dismissed.
After the story was published in The Mail on Sunday, a number of people who had worked with Frediani got in.
They said he was unpleasant to them during his tenure at ITV where he served as head of news. They were devastated – but not surprised – to hear that there were allegations that he had gone on to behave ‘aggressively’ in his new role.
One wrote: ‘I read your piece about Richard Frediani, recognising a lot of his character. I and others who suffered under him at ITV expected this would happen.’
So why, despite these claims about his behaviour at work, did Frediani continue to rise through the ranks?
The answer appears to lie with the Beeb’s current chief executive of news, Deborah Turness. As CEO of ITN until 2022, she was Frediani’s boss and they latterly joined up again when she joined the corporation.
Sources at the BBC say she was ‘involved’ in his rise to become the boss of News at One – though senior sources at the Corporation strongly deny it, insisting it was not a promotion but an addition to his existing job. The BBC would not answer questions over whether he’d had a pay rise.
BBC Breakfast staff have said that they are far from happy that Turness is still backing Frediani.
‘There is no way she hasn’t heard what we have all heard,’ says one insider. ‘It was written about as far back as 2020 so surely she must have seen that.’
The Mail revealed that displeasure was intensifying at the BBC’s northern base in Salford, where staff have watched Frediani’s rise with growing disbelief
Tim Davie, the director-general, has said he wants the management consultancy leading the review to make practical recommendations about how managers can create a culture where there is ‘zero tolerance’ for wrongdoing.
The BBC said that it did not comment on individual HR issues. However, it stressed that the welfare of its employees takes priority, and it takes any complaints about conduct at work extremely seriously.
After allegations about Frediani’s behaviour were made, staff at Breakfast and News at One were emailed by John McAndrew, BBC News director of programmes, to remind them about the corporation’s approach to complaints of wrongdoing.
‘With regard to culture and behaviour – and this stands for all of our teams across the organisation – please be assured that if, or when, any allegations of any inappropriate behaviour come to me, they will be taken seriously, comprehensively investigated, and if upheld, action will be taken,’ he wrote.
Yet staff say this message is hard to take seriously.
‘The BBC claim to be such a wonderful employer and look after their staff,’ says one BBC source. ‘But it seems that’s more likely to be the case if you are in the gang.’
