BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty has hit back at “idiots” who send her racist and sexist messages on Twitter.

The 41-year-old said she took on board valid criticism of her work but refused to be upset by Twitter users who launched personal attacks saying she had only been hired for “political correctness” reasons.

Journalist and presenter Naga Munchetty has been trolled on Twitter (Joe Giddens/PA)
Journalist and presenter Naga Munchetty has been trolled on Twitter (Joe Giddens/PA)

Naga, who presents the breakfast show three days a week, told The Mirror: “I’m on telly, I’m in your home, so if you want to criticise me, fine. I’ve put myself there and can’t complain that someone has an opinion about me.

“But I’m not there to be abused. Nobody is there to be abused.”

She said she would review her performance if she was criticised for an interview, but dismissed those who called her a “BBC race card” or said she had been “employed for PC reasons rather than capability”, as a recent tweet did.

Naga said she was not at work to be abused, but said she would take on board constructive criticism (Scott Kershaw/BBC)
Naga said she was not at work to be abused, but would take on board constructive criticism (Scott Kershaw/BBC)

Not taking the abuse lying down, she replied to that troll: “Thanks for that – what a valuable contributor to Twitter you are. x”

She explained: “Racist and sexist stuff, I just think, ‘You’re an idiot’.

“I’m not going to go home going, ‘I’m so upset someone’s called me a racist word’, or said I’m a woman, I can’t do a job.

“They’re idiots. You can’t waste your energy on idiots.”

Naga said the presenters don't care which side they're on, despite backlash over placing Dan Walker to the left of Louise Minchin (Roscoe & Rutter/BBC)
Naga said the presenters don’t care which side they’re on, despite backlash over producers placing Dan Walker to the left of Louise Minchin (Roscoe & Rutter/BBC)

Naga, who co-anchors BBC Breakfast alongside Louise Minchin, Dan Walker and Charlie Stayt, also addressed the controversy over who takes the most senior position on the sofa.

Producers came under fire for seating the less-experienced Dan rather than Louise on the viewer’s left when he joined the show in February, which is considered the prime spot.

But she said that ”none of the presenters care” which side they are on, and Dan was given the spot to help camera angles.