Louise Minchin has revealed that she is stepping down as host of BBC Breakfast after 20 years.
The 52-year-old first presented the show in 2001, becoming a regular host in 2006, and is currently the main female co-host alongside Dan Walker.
Speaking live on this morning's edition of the programme, Minchin announced that she has decided to leave the show at some point after the summer to give herself a break from the early starts.
"Let me take a deep breath, everybody there is something I want to tell you about," she said. "It will be this year 20 years since I first presented this programme.
"Since then I've felt part of a huge, enormous BBC Breakfast family which includes everyone who works here, everyone on the team and every one of you who watches the programme.
"I've loved being part of it but - there is a but - I've decided that is time that I stop setting my alarm for 3.40 - sometimes if I'm feeling really rebellious 3.46 - in the morning and I'm going to be leaving the programme.
"It's not going to be for a while. But before anything else I wanted to thank everyone that is watching for your loyalty and your support over all those years.
"I have absolutely loved being part of it and I will really miss it, but it's time now to stop that alarm early in the morning. And thank you for watching for all these years."
BBC Breakfast is the UK's most-watched TV breakfast programme, with a reach of around 10 million viewers a week.
"I have decided it is time I stopped setting my alarm for 0340 in the morning''
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) June 8, 2021
Presenter Louise Minchin has revealed she is stepping down after more than 20 years on #BBCBreakfast
Louise told millions of viewers this morning that she is leaving later this year ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/tArxre4Jy4
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