BBC Breakfast cancelled in extremely rare schedule shake up
BBC Breakfast will not be broadcast on Friday 5 July in a rare schedule shake up. The morning chat and news show, hosted by Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty, is being taken off the air to make way for the BBC’s extended election coverage, following the general election the day before.
BBC One is broadcasting eighteen continuous hours of election coverage, beginning on Election Day, Thursday 4 July, and running through the night as votes are counted. Coverage begins on BBC One at 9.55pm on Thursday, and continues until 3.45pm on Friday when the channel returns to broadcasting from the tennis championships at Wimbledon.
BBC Breakfast has a roster of presenters, including Naga, Charlie, Carol Kirkwood, Sally Nugent and John Kay. Monday to Wednesday host John wasn’t on air on Tuesday 2 July, which could be so he could take a well earned rest, as he will be co-hosting the lengthy election coverage with Sophie Raworth.
Earlier this year, John and his regular BBC Breakfast co-host Sally Nugent were forced to apologise to viewers after the show was inundated with complaints following a segment about punctuation.
Hosts Jon and Sally revealed the BBC inbox had been flooded with people complaining after Tuesday 7 May's episode of the morning show.
People had been left furious after a segment included how a Yorkshire council had opted not to use apostrophes on street signs. Sally had explained how they had "done away with them altogether" as punctuation "confuses computer systems".
News presenter Nina Warhurst later wrapped up a story telling viewers to get in contact with BBC Breakfast to air their views but Jon revealed their email box was overflowing.
"Sorry - there's no room in the inbox Nina. We're filled with punctuation problems," he jokingly told Nina. He went on: "Oh, my goodness. Hundreds and hundreds of messages about apostrophes coming in. We will read some later."
Sally added: “I’m slightly scared.” The news segment sparked discussion on social media, with viewers sharing their outrage at the council's decision.
“Not sure why we’re all worried about AI taking over, when according to @NorthYorkshireCountyCouncil computers can’t even cope with apostrophes!" one person joked on X. Another viewer shared: “@BBCBreakfast Why oh why is putting an apostrophe in its correct place to indicate possession or plural so difficult? Don't dumb down grammar!!"
A third person wrote: “This is shocking! Language is important, and I worry that this may be the thin end of the wedge! People will be going round the streets with marker pens and adding them, though hopefully in the right places.”
