Whatever Louise does next.. she’ll be brilliant
Dan’s emotional farewell to co-host & pal
DAN Walker paid a moving tribute to his “brilliant” BBC Breakfast co-host Louise Minchin as she left the show after almost 20 years.
He said: “I don’t know what she is going to do next but I’m sure she will be brilliant because that is what she does.”
Louise, 53, touchingly told viewers she will see them “somewhere on the other side”.
Speaking after a fun show with a brass band and her family, Dan, 44, described his colleague of more than five years as “amazing”.
He said: “From the first day I met her, she made me feel comfortable just like she makes everyone feel comfortable.
“We have formed a really lovely friendship and partnership. I know I trust her and she trusts me.
“She loves the programme but she also wants to enjoy life away from it.
On the show he also described her as “a fierce campaigner, a brilliant journalist and a really good friend”.
He said: “We’ve turned to each other when we needed each other and I don’t think that will ever change.”
Louise thanked him, saying it was due to him she had stayed on the programme “much longer than I actually meant to”.
She added: “We’ve been through tough stories. We’ve been through tough programmes. The one thing has been absolutely clear... you always have my back. You’ve made me laugh, roll my eyes, passed me tissues when I cried...” And Louise told viewers: “You are absolutely at the heart of everything we do. You have made me feel welcome in your homes, welcome in your hearts.”
Michael Ball, Adam Peaty and Bill Turnbull led the many tributes.
She was given a cake from royal cakemaker David Duncan and a wetsuit as she plans to return to triathlons. Reflecting afterwards, Louise said: “I have loved this job so much and I go with joy in my heart.
“I’m super-nervous and have moments of absolute terror but it is like jumping off the end of a ferry, I’m ready for life’s next challenge.”
Louise, whose replacement is yet to be named, has said she found winters hard and wants to have more family time.