BBC Breakfast presenter returns to screen as month-long absence is explained

BBC Breakfast presenter Ben Boulos returns to screens after a month’s absence.

The program has seen a shake-up among presenters in recent weeks, with Naga Munchetty also taking a break from the show.

Ben, 39, who changed his surname in 2021 to reflect his heritage, has been traveling to the United States.

The newsreader visited New York, New Orleans and Washington DC, but has now returned to the iconic red sofa.

His co-star Naga is also back on screen after an absence of several weeks, with Sally Nugent replacing her.

Last month, BBC Ben was interrupted live on television by a man who mistook him for an employee.

The presenter, who was wearing a hi-vis jacket, was presenting a clip from a market hall in Birmingham when the hilarious encounter took place.

A confused-looking man was seen wandering behind Ben, discussing food price inflation in the run-up to Christmas.

While in mid-stream, the man walks up to Ben and asks him something, to which he replies, “I don’t work here, I just report the news!”

From the BBC studio in Salford, presenter Jon Kay thanked Ben for fitting his reporting into his ‘service to the market’.

Ben later reshared the moment on X, formerly known as Twitter, much to the delight of his followers who laughed at the accident.

In the comments section, his fans posted a series of laughing emojis and jokes, including one who wrote: ‘Always good to have something to fall back on Ben!’

Another person labeled the moment as ‘more breakfast TV gold’, referencing similar blunders that have occurred over the years.

Last month, BBC Ben was interrupted live on television by a man who mistook him for an employee

Most memorable was when Robert Kelly, an associate professor of political science at Pusan ​​National University in Busan, was interrupted by his toddler.

At the time, he was addressing serious questions about the country’s president, Park Geun-hye, who was removed from power.

But suddenly the child burst into the room in a bright yellow top and performed a comical dance behind the Cleveland, Ohio, native.

Robert, 44, focused completely on the camera as he blindly tried to hand over his daughter, who was clearly curious about who he’s talking to.

And his parental problems soon doubled when a baby also excitedly entered the room on his own in a walker.

While in mid-stream, the man walks up to Ben and asks him something, to which he replies, “I don’t work here, I just report the news!”

In the comments section, his fans posted a series of laughing emojis and jokes, including one who wrote: ‘Always good to have something to fall back on Ben!’

To complete the farce, his wife Jung-a Kim then came sliding through the threshold.

She grabbed two children and tried to drag them out the door, but you hear one of them wailing and the baby’s walker suddenly can’t fit through the door.

Eventually she managed to get them both out, and the interview continued.

After the interview, broadcaster James Mernendez said: ‘There’s a first time for everything. I think you’ve got some kids who need you!’