Emotional Louise Minchin breaks down in tears as she bids farewell to BBC Breakfast after 20 years – as viewers say presenter will be ‘sorely missed’
- The presenter, 53, has left BBC Breakfast after 20 years
- Louise wiped away tears as she sat opposite her co-host Dan Walker on the iconic red sofa for the final time
- She first appeared on the morning news programme in 2001
- During the show, the journalist was blindfolded and taken outside BBC’s London studios where she was surprised by family and fellow celebrities
- Louise quipped that she ‘can no longer face’ the winter mornings
Louise Minchin became emotional when she signed off Wednesday’s BBC Breakfast – marking the end of her tenure as co-anchor of the morning show.
The 53-year-old broadcaster – who is leaving the morning news programme after 20 years – wiped away tears while sitting on the iconic red sofa next to co-host Dan Walker.
Dan sweetly took her hand as the cameras panned away from her for the final time, with viewers taking to social media to express how ‘sorely missed’ she will be.
Goodbye: Louise Minchin became emotional when she signed off Wednesday’s BBC Breakfast – marking the end of her tenure as co-anchor of the morning show
Goodbye: Wearing a blindfold, Louise’s co-anchor Dan Walker sweetly took her hand as he led her outside where she was met by friends and celebrities alike
Louise – who opted for a beautiful peach-hued dress for her last day on air – quipped that she ‘can no longer face the winter mornings’ that comes with hosting an early-morning news show.
Dan, 44, kick-started his colleague’s farewell segment by leading her outside the London studio with a blindfold on.
There, Louise – who made her BBC Breakfast debut in 2001 – was met by family members and celebrities alike, with some wearing masks with her face printed on them.
Louise’s husband David and their two daughters, Mia, 19, and Scarlett, 16, were also present.
Naga Munchetty hailed Louise as ‘brilliant’ while Charlie Stayt added that it had ‘been an absolute joy doing BBC Breakfast’ with Louise.
BBC veteran Bill Turnbull branded Louise as ‘a warm, sunny person who will always be my friend’.
Supportive: Dan sweetly took Louise’s hand as the cameras panned away from her for the final time
Louise poignantly told viewers: ‘Have a great day and I’ll see you somewhere on the other side’
Family: Louise’s husband David and their two daughters, Scarlett and Mia, were also in the audience
Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell added: ‘I have loved watching you over the last 20 years on the BBC early in the morning and I’ve been lucky enough to sit with you a few times, you are going to be so missed.’
After hearing viewers’ tribute messages, Louise told them: ‘Thank you so much for your huge support.
‘I think particularly over the last two years as well. It’s been really tough, hasn’t it, and I’ve felt we’re all part of a story together, a shared history and it’s been amazing to be here. Have a great day and I’ll see you somewhere on the other side.’
Loved ones: Outside, Louise was met by family members and celebrities alike, with some wearing masks stamped with her face
Initial announcement: Louise first announced in June this year that she would be leaving BBC Breakfast
Fans took to Twitter after Louise wrapped her final Breakfast show to let them know just how much she’d be missed.
One social media user noted that they had been moved to tears during Louise’s final BBC Breakfast broadcast.
Others wished Louise good luck in the future.
It is unclear who will replace the veteran presenter on the show. MailOnline has reached out to BBC representatives for comment.
Fans: Fans took to Twitter after Louise wrapped her final Breakfast show to let them know just how much she’d be missed
Louise’s final day was also documented by her colleagues on social media, offering viewers a peek into her behind-the-scenes antics.
Louise herself took to Instagram to post a fun snap of herself and Dan, writing: ‘Good morning and thank you for your love and support and messages. This is the last and final 6am sofa selfie.’
She added: ‘Working on BBC Breakfast has been [an] absolute privilege and I will miss it enormously.’
Thank you: Louise herself took to Instagram to post a fun snap of herself and Dan, writing: ‘Good morning and thank you for your love and support and messages’
Dan also took to Instagram with a snap of himself and Louise, writing: ‘Thank you for all the kind messages today. Louise loved it.’
Journalist Josh Parry hailed Louise as ‘the queen of breakfast tv’ on his social media page, adding: ‘We’ll miss you.’
Resident doctor Nighat Arif penned: ‘I am going to miss this beautiful face on my TV,’ and also shared a selfie of herself, Louise and Dan.
Co-host: Dan also took to Instagram with a snap of himself and Louise, writing: ‘Thank you for all the kind messages today. Louise loved it’
Farewell: Journalist Josh Parry hailed Louise as ‘the queen of breakfast tv’ on his social media page, adding: ‘We’ll miss you’
Selfie: Resident doctor Nighat Arif penned: ‘I am going to miss this beautiful face on my TV,’ and also shared a selfie of herself, Louise and Dan
Louise hilariously revealed on Wednesday’s show that her BBC building pass had already been deactivated resulting in her being locked out of the office.
She first announced in June this year that she would be leaving BBC Breakfast.
Speaking of her decision to The Mirror this month, she said: ‘In December I’d taken three, four weeks off work because of an ankle operation and I had that period to realise that when I’m not getting up at 3:40am in the morning, I’m doing all sorts of things in the evening that I want to be doing – like just watching telly with my family, doing that kind of family stuff.
Thank you: After hearing viewers’ tribute messages, Louise told them: ‘Thank you so much for your huge support’
‘I think it was coming out of winter into this period that the decision was made.’
She also revealed the lockdown period had made her acknowledge her natural body clock, as she mused: ‘It made me realise that actually I particularly really struggle with the hours… I have found them really hard.’
Louise added she was looking forward to having breakfast with her family and having a morning routine with them after missing out on taking her daughters Mia, 20, and Scarlett, 17, to school.
Family first: Louise said she is looking forward to having breakfast with her family and having a morning routine with them
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