BBC Breakfast star hosts alone as presenter replaced just a week after signing on

Ben Boulos was left to take over the BBC Breakfast helm and go it alone - following the news that Luxmy Gopal had landed herself a new permanent role.

The TV anchor unusually appeared on the programme as a solo presenter on Sunday (July 28).

Even on the weekend, viewers would ordinarily be treated to two hosts on the red sofa, but that didn't appear to be the case.

Luxmy confirmed she will be saying goodbye to her on-screen role at BBC Look North after getting a permanent role at BBC London earlier this month, but did not appear on the truncated Sunday show.

Updating her fans on X, formerly known as Twitter, Luxmy said: "I'm happy to say my @BBCLondonNews contract has been made permanent!" She added: "I'll miss my lovely @BBCLookNorth team and the wonderful viewers who were so kind to me from my first bulletin there!"

"I couldn't have asked for a better welcome to Yorkshire. I'll pop back to god's own soon!" reflected the host who was now moving on to pastures new.

This week's Sunday programme was cut short at 8am to move over to coverage of the Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Meanwhile, viewers didn't seem to have much to say about Ben holding the fort alone which is also unusual for the normally buzzing hashtag. However, they did criticise the presenter over an interview with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burham.

Some fans who took to X (formerly Twitter) described the discussion as a "car crash interview". One person moaned: "Burnham can't even backpedal with any sort of competency. Car crash interview."

A second online user shared the same sentiment, adding: "#bbcbreakfast he's waiting for the investigation... having watched the video you don't need any further evidence Burnham! But 'as a politician' he 'shouldn't rush to judgement'."

"Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester explained that we live in a world where 'people see only a fragment, they rush to judgement' completely forgetting that he was one of the people he speaks of. #BBCBreakfast," commented another.

The interview emerged on the BBC Breakfast after fresh evidence had been flung into the public domain about a serious incident that broke out at Manchester Airport - previously an armed police officer was shown to stamp on a man's head.

However, new footage at Terminal 2 now depicts the alleged assault of the three police officers in question as further violent and chaotic scenes are showcased in a new video.

Addressing the further evidence, Andy said: "Well it is an extremely difficult situation, at least this morning it has moved forward a degree because people now have a fuller picture."

He went on to tell host Ben: "It confirms what I said last week that this is a situation that escalated very quickly. It was a very violent situation with issues on both sides."

BBC Breakfast airs daily on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 6am.