Louise Minchin has presented her final BBC Breakfast programme, ending a 20-year tenure on the BBC One morning show. The 52-year-old journalist was greeted by colleagues wearing masks of her face and received a surprise appearance from Judge Robert Rinder during her last shift at the Salford studios.
Co-host Dan Walker paid tribute, describing Minchin as 'a fierce campaigner, a brilliant journalist and a really good friend'. Fellow presenters Naga Munchetty, Charlie Stayt, and former co-host Bill Turnbull also offered warm words, with Turnbull calling her 'a warm, sunny person who will always be my friend'.
Minchin, who joined the programme in 2001 and became a lead presenter in 2012, covered major stories including three general elections, Brexit, and the Covid-19 pandemic. She told the Daily Mirror her decision to leave had been 'a long time in coming', citing the difficulty of early mornings and a desire for more family time.
In her farewell address from an open-air studio, Minchin thanked viewers for making her 'feel welcome in your home and hearts' and said she was ready to 'leap off this sofa into the great unknown'. She was applauded into the newsroom on her final day and received tributes from celebrities including Michael Ball, Dame Darcey Bussell, and sports stars such as Dame Sarah Storey and Adam Peaty.
