Emotional BBC Breakfast host Ben Boulos stunned viewers as he announced he is quitting the show live on air this weekend.
The TV star was close to tears during Sunday’s episode which he presented with his co-star Luxmy Gopal.
Just minutes before the end of the show he said: ‘Just before we finish, just to share a bit of news about me.
‘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. 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.
Emotional BBCBreakfast host Ben Boulos stunned viewers as he announced he is quitting the show live on air this weekend
The TV star was close to tears during Sunday’s episode which he presented with his co-star Luxmy Gopal
‘It has been a real pleasure and a privilege.’
He wrapped his speech up by saying: ‘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.’
He began working on BBC Breakfast in 2022 and also fronts various other shows and segments with the channel.
Last summer livid BBC Breakfast viewers blasted Ben and his co-host for laughing at a ‘nightmare’ incident that was covered during one Sunday’s episode of the show.
Rachel Burden, 50, and Ben returned to the iconic red sofa to talk about all the latest newsworthy headlines.
The pair – who usually present the show on a Sunday – were left giggling as they spoke about viral footage of a couple who caused damage to some art work in a Palazzo Maffei museum in Verona, Italy.
Ben asked those watching at home: ‘Now have you ever visited a museum and been tempted, even though you’re not supposed to, to touch a piece of art and thought better of it?’
He began working on BBC Breakfast in 2022 and also fronts various other shows and segments with the channel (seen with co-host Rachel Burden)
While the clip played out, Rachel added: ‘Well just watch this because this is CCTV footage of a couple who decided to try out a chair.
‘This was a Van Gogh style chair covered in hundreds of crystals inside a museum in Verona.’
It then showed the piece of furniture that was swaying to one side.
Rachel added: ‘It wasn’t supposed to look like that. It wasn’t supposed to be wonky. But as you can see…’
Ben couldn’t contain his laughter and let out a huge chuckle as they showed the man nearly falling off the chair.
Rachel continued: ‘The man decided ‘I might as well try it out’ and it immediately collapses.
‘At which point, him and his wife say ‘quick! get out of here!’
‘It’s left there looking, I think, not necessarily the worst for that interaction with the tourists.’
‘It now tells a story,’ Ben added. ‘It tells a new story. Art evolves doesn’t it?’
‘They’ve added, you can say, to the art work.’
Rachel said: ‘You can see where the legs have just collapsed at the front.
‘The couple apparently fled the museum before staff noticed what had happened.
‘I mean quite how sort of vigorously this couple is now being pursued by the authorities I do not know, they certainly left their mark.’
Again, Ben started to laugh to himself and told viewers: ‘They did, indeed. Imagine that moment of horror when it happened and you thought ‘Oh dear, we’re in trouble’.’
‘Then realised that it has been beamed around the world on news programmes,’ Rachel chimed in.
‘Exactly. Like this,’ Ben said.
Those watching at home were not impressed with their reactions.
Many rushed to X, formerly known as Twitter to share their thoughts.
‘I hope they catch the couple from the museum.
Just minutes before the end of the show he said: ‘Just before we finish, just to share a bit of news about me. It’s my last appearance on Breakfast for the time being, I am off to take a new job elsewhere’
‘Also don’t understand why #BBCBreakfast are treating it as a laugh and a joke.’
‘Seem to have totally skipped over the fact the guy destroyed a piece of art…
‘He had no right to try it out! #BBCBreakfast.’
Breakfast airs from 6am on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.
