10 February 2024 , 12:13
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One of BBC Breakfast's most popular presenters is set to return to screens after having a whole month off air after changing their name.
The BBC news show has been undergoing a presenter shake-up in recent weeks in which Naga Munchetty had spent some time away from the red sofa before her return last week. Also missing has been Ben Boulos, who used to go by the name Ben Bland and has become a firm favourite since joining the show in 2022.
According to a report by the BBC, Ben changed his name to reflect his maternal family's name to reflect his Sudanese-Egyptian heritage. The surname Bland had been adopted by his great-grandparents after they faced rising antisemitism across Europe and wanted to change their Jewish sounding surname to a 'plain' English one.
Ben has recently taken annual leave to have a trip across the United States. Ben is set to return to BBC Breakfast this month after his holiday in New York, New Orleans and Washington DC.
Ben Boulos is expected to return to BBC Breakfast after changing his name (@BenMBoulos/Twitter)Meanwhile, Naga recently delighted viewers by making her return to the show after several weeks off air without explanation to viewers as to where she was, with a number of guest presenters including BBC legend Sally Nugent sitting in for her. Naga was soon involved in a verbal exchange with weather presenter Carol Kirkwood over a man who had spent eight years building a sculpture of the French Eiffel Tower out of matchsticks.
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Naga asked Carol: "The real information you wanted was about matchsticks, the number of matchsticks in boxes? Didn't you?" And it was at this point that Carol embarrassingly responded: "I'm constipated with anticipation." Visibly left shocked by Carol's response, Naga said: "Oh that sounds painful! I hope you can sort that out!"
Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty on BBC Breakfast (BBC)Charlie Stayt interrupted the exchange and said: "I wasn't expecting that!" Carol was then seen trying to secretly leave the set her every move was caught on camera with Naga quipping: "Oh look she's left! The constipation of excitement is getting to her."
Naga quickly got the segment back on track by announcing that it would have taken an estimated 8,300 match boxes to complete the structure. And this means that it would have cost £11,700 to purchase. Carol emerged and responded saying: "Wow I’m impressed, that’s good information. Good for the next pub quiz I must say, I’ll remember that."
Carol Kirkwood gave an awkward response to Naga Munchetty's question (BBC)Naga had previously missed three weeks from the show with viewers worried about her amid the BBC's presenter shake-up, hoping that she wasn't one that had been culled as some presenters left their roles for other places in the BBC.