BBC Breakfast viewers were delighted to see former news anchor Louise Minchin return to the red sofa on Wednesday morning. The presenter made a guest appearance to discuss the current concern over HRT shortages and opened up about her own experience of the menopause and how it had a 'physical impact'.
Louise left the BBC One new programme back in September 2021 and has since been on I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! and also fronted an ITV documentary on stalking after her own experiences. She announced her return to BBC Breakfast to her followers on social media on April 27 posting: "Good morning, I am on my way to @BBCBreakfast to talk about the #HRTshortages, have you had issues getting supplies and how does that make you feel?? On the telly at about 0810."
During her appearance, where she was interviewed by her former co-host Dan Walker and Sally Nugent, Louise explained how the menopause affected her role on BBC Breakfast before she went on HRT and how she'd kept it hidden from her colleagues.
"For me it had physical impact; I had heart palpitations, I had tinnitus.. all sorts of things. And I'm just going to give you one example of the real impact at work and I kind of feel nervous again, because I never told this to anyone at the time.
"I remember the brain fog is very real. It was very real for me and I remember sitting where you are Sally and it makes me really nervous to tell you, interviewing the then Chancellor, George Osbourne, and he was outside a JCB factory, so a very important interview on this lovely programme, lots of you watching and you may remember this, and I couldn't say the letters JCB."
She continued: "My brain just went into this extraordinary...and I just came off that day thinking 'my gosh! What is going on?' So these are very real problems and that was my problem at work but other people in different kind of work will have similar issues."
BBC Breakfast viewers were delighted to see Louise back on their screens alongside her former co-host Dan Walker, who recently announced he too would be leaving his role in a move to Channel 5 where he will present the 5 News. Taking to Twitter viewers thanked Louise for speaking out about her own experience with the menopause.
Elaine Dunkley wrote: "Absolutely beaming to see you on @BBCBreakfast the work you do around the menopause and the conversation is so important". Rob Andrew added: "Lovely to see you back on the sofa, even if only as a special guest".
Tracy tweeted: "It was lovely to see you back Louise & a really important subject matter". David Hughes added: "You were brilliant Louise, please come back!!!!".
BBC Breakfast airs on BBC One from 6am.
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea
