{"id":51917,"date":"2025-04-26T10:51:12","date_gmt":"2025-04-26T10:51:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/51917\/"},"modified":"2025-04-26T10:51:12","modified_gmt":"2025-04-26T10:51:12","slug":"i-combat-stress-with-running-but-theres-something-about-it-that-nobody-tells-youwh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/51917\/","title":{"rendered":"‘I combat stress with running – but there’s something about it that nobody tells you’wh"},"content":{"rendered":"

Louise Minchin, who presented BBC Breakfast for over 20 years, has opened up about her time on the red sofa, her favourite interview and how running has helped her mental health<\/p>\n

06:00, 26 Apr 2025Updated 08:26, 26 Apr 2025<\/p>\n

\"LouiseLouise presented BBC Breakfast for over 20 years and is now on another adventure<\/p>\n

Louise Minchin <\/a>might have swapped the famous red sofa on BBC Breakfast for her running shoes, but she\u2019s back on the small screen and loving it.<\/a><\/p>\n

The 56-year-old journalist, who ran the London Landmarks Half Marathon with daughter Mia recently<\/a> (she shares Mia, 23, and Scarlett, 19, with husband of 25 years David), woke up the nation for over 20 years on BBC<\/a> Breakfast, until she stepped down in 2021. But the broadcaster is as busy as ever \u2013 smashing fitness goals and appearing on Morning Live, as well as co-presenting iconic consumer show Rip-Off Britain, taking over from show stalwart Angela Rippon<\/a>. Here, talking exclusively to new, Louise opens up about mental health, marathon life \u2013 and the next adventure on her bucket list\u2026<\/p>\n

\"LouiseLouise and her daughter are into running<\/p>\n

Relax with up to 68% off luxury spa day with 3 mini treatments and free eye mask<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hi Louise, how are you? You were on BBC Breakfast for two decades. Are you missing those early morning starts?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m great, thanks. And no, I do not miss those early starts! I do miss the team, though. But I\u2019m now on Morning Live and another show, so it\u2019s nice being part of a new team, too.<\/a><\/p>\n

What was your most memorable moment on BBC Breakfast?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Definitely the week we did called Wake Up To Menopause. It was before menopause became a bigger conversation \u2013 before Davina McCall<\/a> really brought it into the spotlight. The response was incredible, and I\u2019m really proud of that.<\/p>\n

Was there a time in your career where you felt totally out of your comfort zone?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oh yes, doing a celebrity episode of Gladiators! I\u2019ve worked in TV for years and usually, sets look smaller in real life. But Gladiators? I walked in and thought, \u201cOh my gosh, what have I done?\u201d It was massive and utterly terrifying. But also a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It\u2019s some of the most fun I\u2019ve ever had at work.<\/p>\n

\"LouiseLouise was a presenter on BBC Breakfast<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve interviewed a lot of high-profile people. Who\u2019s been your favourite?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oh, George Clooney, hands down. But the funny thing is, I was late! I never would\u2019ve been late for George, but it was the Tube\u2019s fault. I was running to catch the lift, even though I hate crowded lifts, and it was closing. But George saved the day by holding that lift \u2013 we were both late in the end. The chat itself? Of course, it was great. It\u2019s George flipping Clooney.<\/p>\n

Away from TV, what does a typical family weekend look like?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019ll honestly just do something simple together, like a swim or a pub lunch. I\u2019ve got two dogs<\/a>, and they\u2019re great at the pub now, because they\u2019ve been there so often! We do enjoy a nice lunch together. It\u2019s just about relaxing and having fun as a family.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re an avid runner. Does that help you mentally as well as physically?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hugely. Especially when I was on BBC Breakfast \u2013 there was a lot of pressure.<\/a> Running gave me that time out. At first, my mind was racing, but over the years, running became my switch-off. Now, I don\u2019t worry when I run. It\u2019s helped so much with stress, I\u2019d recommend it to everyone.<\/p>\n

\"LouiseLouise Minchin attends the London landmarks half marathon at Trafalgar Square on April 06, 2025 in London, England<\/p>\n

How did you get into running, then?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I actually gave up sport around age 15 \u2013 I used to be a good swimmer. Then I didn\u2019t do much for many years. I got back into fitness during a challenge for BBC Breakfast in 2012. It was a velodrome race on bikes, and I hadn\u2019t done competitive sport in probably 30 years. And, I just realised that it was amazing just how much it brought to me, you know, that excitement and that adrenaline, and so I went back into sport then and started doing triathlon and obviously you have to run as part of triathlon as well.<\/p>\n

How do you motivate your daughter Mia when running?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We always run together when we race. She\u2019s 23 and I\u2019m 56 \u2013 she\u2019s definitely the better runner. But where she has ability, I bring resilience. We\u2019re good at pushing each other \u2013 \u201cCome on, just 1K more,\u201d or \u201cLet\u2019s get to that point.\u201d It\u2019s brilliant doing it as a team. I don\u2019t think I could run without her now. We try to start and finish together.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s been your biggest fitness challenge to date?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

I did a triathlon called Patagonman \u2013 which is supposedly, and probably is, the toughest triathlon in the world<\/a>. You swim 3.8 kilometres, jumping off a ferry in the dark. Then cycle 180 kilometres, which is 112 miles, and finish by running a marathon. It took me about 16 hours to complete.<\/p>\n

\"LouiseLouise has been married to her husband Dan since 1998<\/p>\n

Any funny or embarrassing stories about running?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oh gosh, I\u2019ve got a million! One of the most embarrassing was during a triathlon \u2013 I ran onto the run course with my bike helmet still on! That was mortifying. Another time, I fell off my bike in Liverpool in the middle of a triathlon. Honestly, it was dramatic.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s one fitness myth you wish more people would stop believing?<\/strong><\/p>\n

That you need to be chasing \u201cpersonal bests\u201d all the time. I just run for fun. That\u2019s what I want people to know \u2013 fitness is for everyone, and it doesn\u2019t need to be competitive or performative.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the perfect chill-out day for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oh, I think my favourite kind of rest is being at home, hopping in a nice bubble bath, and watching something on Netflix<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And the next big adventure on your bucket list?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m planning to get into more long-distance running, particularly in the Lake District. I\u2019m really looking forward to that challenge!<\/p>\n

For more on the London Landmarks Half Marathon visit llhm.co.uk\/pre-register-half<\/strong><\/p>\n

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on <\/strong>TikTok <\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Snapchat <\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Instagram <\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Twitter <\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Facebook <\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>YouTube <\/strong><\/a>and <\/strong>Threads <\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n