Naga Munchetty returned to the BBC Breakfast sofa on Thursday after a mysterious absence that sparked concern among viewers. The 48-year-old presenter joined Charlie Stayt to host the morning programme, and immediately clashed with policing minister Chris Philp over Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's remarks on transgender issues.
During the interview, Munchetty pressed Philp on whether Sunak's joke about defining a woman was appropriate, given that Esther Ghey, the mother of murdered transgender teenager Brianna Ghey, was present in the Commons chamber. The prime minister had mocked Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer for changing his position on the definition of a woman, a comment Brianna's father described as 'degrading'.
Munchetty said: 'Do you think that jibe was appropriate when the mother of Brianna Ghey, Esther, was in the house?' Philp responded that Sunak was not talking about trans issues or Brianna, but about Labour's U-turns. Munchetty countered: 'I agree. But he did not need to use defining a woman in that moment in time, did he?'
Viewers had expressed concern last week when Munchetty was replaced by Nina Warhurst and Rachel Burden. Many took to social media to welcome her return, with one tweeting: 'Good to see Naga back and holding people to account.' Another wrote: 'Good to see Naga back and pinning Chris Philip down over Sunak’s terrible comments.'
