BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty pays emotional tribute to Dame Jane Goodall

BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty delivered some devastating news live on air following the heartbreaking death of a British zoologist.

During Thursday's (October 2) episode of the BBC morning programme, the presenter was back on our screens with co-host Charlie Stayt as they covered the day's major stories.

The atmosphere turned emotional as the hosts interrupted the programme to pay tribute to animal rights activist Dame Jane Goodall, who died aged 91 on Wednesday (October 1).

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Beginning the tragic segment, Naga said: "Dame Jane spent six decades studying the social and family interactions of chimpanzees in the wild and was considered the world's foremost expert on them."

The programme then switched to a pre-recorded piece from BBC correspondent Graham Satchell, who reflected on her remarkable life.

The primatologist was in California when she died from "natural causes", The Jane Goodall Institute said in a statement on Wednesday.

A statement posted to Facebook revealed: "The Jane Goodall Institute learned this morning, Wednesday 1 October 2025, that Dr Jane Goodall DBE, UN Messenger of Peace and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, has passed away from natural causes. She was in California as part of her speaking tour in the United States.

"Dr Goodall's discoveries as an ethologist transformed science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of the natural world."

Tributes have been flooding in for the renowned ethologist, who began her groundbreaking research on free-living chimpanzees in Tanzania back in 1960.

Among those paying their respects are former US president Barack Obama, Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

The Royal couple, who had formed a close bond with the celebrated primatologist, released a joint statement expressing their deep sadness at her passing.

They fondly recalled how Dame Jane had held their son, Archie, as a newborn baby and "showered love and care to those who were privileged to know her".

In their heartfelt tribute, they said: "Dr Jane Goodall DBE was a visionary humanitarian, scientist, friend to the planet, and friend to us.

"Her commitment to changing lives extends beyond what the world saw, and also to what we personally felt. She held our son, Archie, when he was first born, and showered love and care to those who were privileged to know her. She will be deeply missed."

BBC Breakfast airs everyday from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer