BBC Breakfast

Louise Minchin wowed in a swimsuit snap (Image: BBC)

Former BBC Breakfast host Louise Minchin – who quit the show in 2021 after almost two decades on the famous red sofa – left fans speechless as she wowed in a one-piece swimsuit to plunge into the river. The TV presenter, 56, was spotted climbing out of the water in a black halter-neck swimming costume lined with neon red straps.

Louise tucked her blonde hair into a bright yellow swim cap and added a pair of goggles to protect her eyes from the water – opting to forego a wetsuit despite others around her being wrapped up warm. The effect left her thighs and shoulders bare, but Louise was grinning from exhilaration despite the cooling temperatures.

She confessed the feat was a “challenge”, telling fans on Instagram: “Thanks to my two swimming friends who persuaded me to do the Chester Triathlon Club Dee Mile Swim in skins (no wetsuit).

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“The 1.25 miles in the Dee was properly challenging but great fun and I even won a box of chocolates for my efforts! The race has been going since 1922 which is incredible.

“Thanks to all organisers and volunteers and I will start training for next year so I don’t get the shivers quite so badly when I get out.” She added a row of freezing emojis as fans rushed to congratulate her in the comments section.

One told Louise: “A great swim and a box of chocolates… perfect!” While someone else agreed: “Nice one Louise!”

A third fan said: “Wow you! And skins! Respect. Well done.” And a fourth echoed: “One of my favourite swims.”

Louise isn’t one for taking the easy way out, after she confessed her BBC Breakfast role was “horrific” and “relentless” after years of “utterly gruelling” early starts.

She told The Times: “You have to be 100% nice Louise. That job comes with an enormous amount of pressure. It’s relentless. The hours are horrific, utterly, utterly gruelling, and it has an impact on every different part of your life – when you eat, when you sleep, how you feel. It was my dream job and I absolutely loved it but I’d done it enough.”