Louise Minchin on Piers and not hogging limelight
BBC presenter Louise Minchin opens up about early starts, TV sofa battles, that walkout and the ‘embarrassment’ if she attempted to do Strictly…
As BBC Breakfast sofa queen and a proud mum-oftwo, Louise Minchin, 52, who lives in Cheshire, approaches her 20th anniversary on the show which she co-hosts with Dan Walker. Here she talks early mornings, that Piers Morgan walkout and why her husband, David, is her rock…
Louise, you’re approaching your 20th anniversary on BBC Breakfast...
Breakfast is such a unique programme. You’re in everyone’s kitchen, and telling people what is going on is what still gets me up by 3.40am every weekday morning! But this year has been a year like no other and the difference with the pandemic is I am involved in the story just as much as everyone else – that has been challenging.
Have you found yourself welling up at times on-air?
Yes, definitely – because you are dealing with human stories. People’s relatives have died and, genuinely, there have been a few moments where I have shed tears off-screen and nearly on-screen.
Piers Morgan quit Good Morning Britain recently, having made it his mission to beat you in the ratings. What did you make of it all?
What I would say is that competition is healthy. If you are having competition, it is not a bad thing. I certainly didn’t get involved in the way Dan did (with Piers), as it is not my thing. I’ve only met Piers once and I told him we have a loyal audience. We have six million tuning in every day.
How would you describe Dan Walker?
Dan is like my slightly naughty younger brother. I tease him, he teases me and we’ve got each other’s back. We are friends on and off-screen and will always try to help each other out. It’s fun, friendly and nobody is trying to hog the limelight. We do the job together. That’s really important when you are working strange hours. You need to know the person is your friend and colleague.
Has it been tougher in the TV studio with Covid regulations?
What has been funny is Dan and I used to sit directly next to each other and we didn’t need to communicate because we would know what the other person was going to say. Now we are two metres apart, if I want to ask something, I have a much more visual way of communicating, like putting my hand up!
How have you found doing your own make-up and hair during the pandemic?
Before the pandemic, I had a recurring anxiety dream that the make-up artists weren’t there in the morning! And now, I have had to do it myself
for real!). It has been really steep learning curve. You can definitely see I have got better, but I am not as good as them!
You are mum to Scarlett, 19, and Mia, 16. How was all the homeschooling, as well as juggling your job?
I feel lucky I don’t have a seven and five-year-old and mine have been very selfsufficient, but it has been a tough time for everyone. I am 52 and I have had a fun time in my life but it’s been really tough for all the children. Mind you, now they are back, I do really miss my youngest. I miss her company!
Who is the biggest influence in your life?
My husband, David. He is my absolute rock. I have been doing Breakfast now for years and he has done the morning school run, which means he has a wonderful relationship with the girls. He is an incredible support and he has such a calming influence. He is brilliant. I go at everything at 100mph and I can be thinking about 10 things at once. He is like ‘OK, calm’. He is also a great judge of situations.
You are a very close family. What has being a mum to two girls taught you?
It’s a lifelong commitment. There are different stages and each is challenging in every way but I’m loving every single one. You are their best mum.
As we ease out of it, how’s lockdown been for you all?
We have made sure we go on a short walk together every day, whether it is raining or snowing. Lockdown has also taught me to calm down! I genuinely am starting to make different choices because of it and I have learnt to plan ahead. I’ve learnt to give myself space.
You’ve taken part in Celebrity MasterChef in the past. Does Strictly beckon this year?!
I am on a lifetime ban from the family! It’s the embarrassment factor. Can you imagine being a teenage girl and your mum being on Strictly?! I might be able to run or cycle a very long way but I am seriously rubbish at dancing. They know I would be really embarrassing!
BBC Breakfast runs daily on BBC One from 6am.