Louise Minchin explains why she is leaving BBC Breakfast after 20 years

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Louise Minchin has opened up about the reasons behind her forthcoming departure from BBC Breakfast. “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…” she told The Daily Mirror. “I think it was coming out of winter into this period that the decision was made.” Minchin also said that lockdown had made her realise that she “really struggled” with the early hours, adding: “I have found them really hard.” She said that she looks forward to getting to spend the mornings with her family. Ahead of her last show, co-host Dan Walker shared a tweet celebrating Minchin’s time on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday evening.