LOUISE Minchin has opened up about her decision to leave BBC Breakfast.
The presenter, 55, made her final appearance on the famous red sofa in September 2021.
In an episode of James Martin‘s Saturday Morning, Louise revealed: “I talked about how much I loved being on the show and loved being part of this huge BBC Breakfast family but at the end of the day, you have to get up extremely early, you know it’s relentless.
“I was permanently jet-lagged and eventually I thought, I’ve loved this, it’s been fantastic but I need to get some sleep.”
Having made her first Breakfast appearance as a guest host, Louise was made a regular anchor beginning in 2012.
Initially, she appeared alongside the likes of Charlie Stayt and the late Bill Turnbull.
From 2016 until her departure, she shared presenting duties with Dan Walker.
During her ITV Saturday Morning appearance, Louise also discussed her shift in focus to writing.
She was promoting her new book, Isolation Island – her third overall release but first foray into fiction.
Its premise follows ten celebrities participating in a reality show that goes awry, with Louise’s experience on I’m A Celebrity playing a part in the writing process.
She shared: “When I was on I’m A Celebrity, it was in a castle in Wales and you may remember that, that year we got evacuated because of a once in a lifetime-storm.
“So that planted the seed that reality TV can and does go wrong.”
It comes as Louise recently revealed the “horrific” battle to be paid the same as her male co-stars.
Speaking to Emily Dean on the Walking the Dog podcast, the presenter said she had been given numerous excuses about the matter.
However, it wasn’t until the broadcaster published its pay report in 2017 that Louise realised the full extent of the situation.
The flagship BBC show has had dozens of presenters during its impressive 40 years on air but the current stars are:
Jon Kay – Since 2022
Sally Nugent – Since 2021
Charlie Stayt – Since 2006
Naga Munchetty – Since 2014
Carol Kirkwood – Since 1997
The report detailed the salaries of every BBC employee who earned over £150,000.
Sharing how she remembered seeing the information, Louise had noted “it was pretty much all men apart from a couple of women.”
It was reported that as well as Louise, fellow Breakfast star Sally Nugent was also earning less than some of their male counterparts.
She added: “And at that point I just thought ‘oh wow, this is actually way more serious than I thought it was.”
