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BBC Breakfast host announces show departure live on air and admits ‘it’s been a pleasure and a privilege’

Published

7 hours ago

11 January 2026

BBC Breakfast host announces show departure live on air and admits 'it's been a pleasure and a privilege'

A MUCH-LOVED BBC Breakfast anchor has announced his departure from the programme live on-air.

The popular host, who was presenting Sunday’s episode with Luxmy Gopal, told how it would be his last time fronting the daily news show.

Ben Boulos became emotional and told how it had been a “pleasure and a privilege” to front BBC Breakfast as he let slip his departure to viewers.

He told how he was heading off to another job before signing off for the final time.

Ben left it until the final minutes of Sunday’s episode, which wrapped on BBC Two, before disclosing his news.

He said: “Just before we finish, just to share a bit of news about me.

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“It’s my last appearance on Breakfast for the time being, I am off to take a new job elsewhere.

“But I will miss this place, I will miss this programme a lot”.

Luxmy smiled in support as he became emotional, and reached out to stroke his shoulder.

Ben continued: “I have had the most wonderful time on Breakfast.

“I just want to say thank you to the brilliant teams that we work with and above all thank you to everyone watching at home for letting me be a part of your mornings.

“It has been a real pleasure and a privilege.”

He wrapped with the words: ‘Breakfast will be back tomorrow morning, Jon and Sally here from 6am.”

Luxmy then added: “But for now, from Ben for the final time, and from me – enjoy the rest of your day and have a lovely Sunday afternoon, whatever you are up to.

“And goodbye Ben!

“Take care, goodbye.”

Charlie Stayt’s life and career

Amid being hit by fresh bankruptcy woes, Charlie has had a lengthy career as a BBC broadcaster and journalist. Here are just a few of the star’s highlights.

Charlie began his broadcasting career on a commercial radio station in his home town of Gloucester. It was this tole that led him to joining Capital FM in London to be the host of their news programme The Way It Is. Around this time, he also made news reporting appearances across LBC and BBC Radio Five Live.

He decided to switch to TV broadcasting in 1995 where he worked for ITN before moving to Channel 5 News where he first worked as a reporter before being quickly promoted to hosting the channel’s daily bulletins and live debate programmes.

Charlie had a surprise break into reality television in the early 2000s when he fronted entertainment formats including Jailbreak and Are You Telepathic.

His BBC Breakfast career began in 2006 where he appeared as a stand-in host before being hired to present on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in December 2007. Beginning in 2012, his days shifted to Thursday-Saturday alongside Naga Munchetty.

Charlie was facing heartache after he was delivered the news that he could be facing potential bankruptcy this year. The Sun were the first to break the news about his financial woes. The popular telly presenter, 61, and his wife, fellow broadcaster Anne, 58, were both served petitions by HMRC. Their TV and broadcasting firm Stayt Limited was £6,409 in the red in accounts filed in December and covering to the end of March 2023. The couple, who have two children, bought their four-bedroom home in Twickenham, South West London, for £800,000 in 2002, and it is now worth up to £2.3million.