Louise Minchin admits she no longer watches BBC Breakfast after co-hosting for 20 years

Former BBC Breakfast star Louise Minchin has revealed that she no longer tunes in to the BBC news programme as she opened up on her time on the red sofa.

18:34, 25 Apr 2025Updated 19:07, 25 Apr 2025

Former BBC Breakfast star Louise Minchin has opened up about her departure from the morning programme she co-presented for two decades.

After leaving behind the iconic red couch in 2021, the 56-year-old presenter admitted that she no longer keeps tabs on the show.

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BBC viewers currently watch familiar faces such as Naga Munchetty, Charlie Stayt, Sally Nugent and Jon Kay fronting the beloved show.

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During a heartfelt chat with the i newspaper, Louise fondly recalled her stint at BBC Breakfast and confirmed she maintains friendships with her former colleagues.

Louise commented: "It's a compartmentalisation thing, I think. I remember it as a really important, happy time, and that's how I want to remember it. They're doing their own thing, which is great, and I'm still friends with them all, but no, I don't watch it."

Louise Minchin admits she no longer watches BBC Breakfast after co-hosting for 20 years(Image: (Image: BBC))

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The early bird schedule was a key factor prompting Louise to resign despite the attractive aspects of her position.

With BBC Breakfast starting at 6am, Minchin would wake up well before dawn to be presentable and punctual for the day's broadcast, reports the Express.

Despite a generous paycheque and the high profile attached to her role, Louise reached a point where she felt it was necessary to bow out.

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She explained: "I was being paid really well and it was a prestigious role – a lot of people don't understand why you'd walk away from that."

Louise co-hosted the BBC show for 20 years(Image: (Image: BBC))

A turning point came when consulting with a sleep specialist, reinforcing her decision to step back. She reflected: "That was one of those moments where I realised, maybe I call time on this, before it calls time on me."

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Louise Minchin has openly talked about feeling "permanently jet-lagged" after her departure from the show and is enjoying catching up on her sleep.

Since stepping down from BBC Breakfast, Louise has been quite busy, penning her debut novel entitled Isolation Island.

She is also the author of two other books Dare to Tri, which delves into her relationship with sport, and Fearless, which is a collection of stories about inspirational women.

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Louise now co-presents Rip Off Britain(Image: (Image: BBC))

More recently, she has become part of the team on BBC's Rip Off Britain with Gloria Hunniford and Julia Somerville.

Before her first appearance, Louise expressed her enthusiasm, saying: "I'm delighted to be joining the incredible team at Rip Off Britain. I've always admired the show for really making a difference, for shining a spotlight on the issues that matter most to people and empowering viewers with the knowledge to tackle everyday challenges and stand up for their rights."

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"From uncovering scams to giving audiences the advice they need to safeguard their money, we'll do our best to promote the stories that expose the latest consumer issues and help to make a real difference. It's going to be an exciting series!"

Rip Off Britain is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.