Louise Minchin quits BBC Breakfast after 20 years

Louise Minchin is leaving BBC Breakfast after over 20 years on the news programme.

The presenter confirmed that she is stepping down on this morning’s edition of the show, saying: ‘I have decided it is time I stopped setting my alarm for 3.40 in the morning.’

After ‘taking a deep breath’, Louise told viewers: ‘This year, it will be 20 years since I first presented this programme. Since then I felt part of a huge BBC Breakfast family which includes everyone who works here, everyone on the team and every one of you who watches the programme. I’ve loved being part of it.

‘But. There is a but. You know about the but. I have decided that is time that I stopped setting my alarm for 3.40 – sometimes when I’m feeling really rebellious, 3.46 – in the morning, and I’m going to be leaving the programme.’

Louise said her departure would ‘not be for a while’, and thanked the viewers for their loyalty.

After her announcement, Louise and Dan Walker were joined by actor Stephen Graham, who said he was ‘devastated’ to hear of her departure.

‘We will all miss her enormously at #BBCBreakfast. She is not only wonderful at her job… she is a great friend. Enjoy your lie-ins @louiseminchin.’

Louise, 52, began working for the BBC in the 90s, presenting programmes on Radio 5 Live before joining the BBC News Channel as a regular presenter.

In late 2011, it was announced that she would replace Sian Williams as one of BBC Breakfast’s main presenters alongside Bill Turnbull and Charlie Stayt when the programme moved to Salford, with the first edition airing in April 2012.

The mother-of-two has also covered presenting duties on The One Show and BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours. 

It is expected that the journalist will leave BBC Breakfast after the summer.

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