BBC Breakfast bosses hunt for new host ahead of Louise Minchin’s departure – will an unknown talent win the role?

BBC Breakfast bosses are on the hunt for a new host after Louise Minchin (second left) announced her upcoming departure (Picture: BBC / PA)

BBC Breakfast bosses are on the hunt for a new host and an unknown talent could win the job.

A spot for a new chief presenter to join the flagship breakfast show, which gets six million viewers every morning, has been advertised.

The news comes after Louise Minchin announced she would be leaving the programme after 20 years in front of its cameras.

A description of the role on the BBC’s careers website states the person must be knowledgable and confident enough to deal with the big news stories of the day, and they must also have the ability to entertain.

It is expected the individual who joins the show, filmed in Media City, Salford, will have ‘significant broadcasting experience’, but they may not necessarily be well known.

The person must have experience interviewing a range of guests on live and pre-recorded television, must be able to face the challenge of presenting to a mass audience, must have a broad range of knowledge from hard news to entertainment and sports, and must be able to travel around the UK.

Announcing her resignation last month, Louise said she would not leave ‘for a while’, and thanked the viewers for their loyalty. It is expected she will depart at the end of the summer.

She said: ‘I have decided it is time I stopped setting my alarm for 3.40 in the morning.

‘This year, it will be 20 years since I first presented this programme. Since then I felt part of a huge 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. You know about the but. I have decided that is time that I stopped setting my alarm for 3.40 – sometimes when I’m feeling really rebellious, 3.46 – in the morning, and I’m going to be leaving the programme.’

BBC Breakfast editor Richard Frediani was among the first to pay tribute to the departing presenter, tweeting: ‘Millions of viewers have woken up with
@louiseminchin for 20 years and welcomed her and #BBCBreakfast into their homes.

‘We will miss her brilliant journalism, good humour and boundless energy. She will always be a friend to the entire team after she leaves later this year.’

Dan Walker said Louise would be missed after she announced her departure (Picture: BBC)

Her co-host Dan Walker added: ‘As with everything she does… Louise announces her departure from the show with dignity and class.

‘We will all miss her enormously at #BBCBreakfast. She is not only wonderful at her job… she is a great friend. Enjoy your lie-ins @louiseminchin.’

Louise, 52, began working for the BBC in the 90s, presenting programmes on Radio 5 Live before joining the BBC News Channel as a regular presenter.

She first presented BBC Breakfast in 2001, and in late 2011, it was announced that she would replace Sian Williams as one of BBC Breakfast’s main presenters alongside Bill Turnbull and Charlie Stayt when the programme moved to Salford, with the first edition airing in April 2012.

The mother-of-two has also covered presenting duties on The One Show and BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours.

More: BBC Breakfast

Louise said: ‘I will take so many memories with me, including reporting on the shock and anguish of the Manchester Arena bombing; starting a national conversation about Menopause; and the life-changing moment I took part in the Breakfast Christmas Cycling Challenge which inspired my ongoing passion for endurance sport, which I will continue when I leave.

‘A big thank you to everyone who has watched and supported me, I have loved it and I will miss you all.’

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