Emotional Louise Minchin holds hands with Dan Walker as she bids farewell to BBC Breakfast

Louise Minchin was visibly emotional when she signed off Wednesday’s BBC Breakfast for the final time, with the broadcaster, 53, leaving the morning news programme after 20 years.

Louise’s co-anchor Dan Walker sweetly took her hand as the cameras panned away from her for the final time, with Louise – who opted for a beautiful peach-hued dress for her last day on air – telling viewers: ‘Have a great day and I’ll see you somewhere on the other side.’

She also quipped that she ‘can no longer face’ the winter mornings, with Dan, 44, kick-starting his colleague’s farewell segment by leading her outside the London studio with a blindfold on.

Goodbye: Louise Minchin, 53, was visibly emotional when she signed off Wednesday’s BBC Breakfast for the final time, with Dan Walker sweetly taking her hand 

Looking gorgeous: Louise opted for a beautiful peach-hued dress for her last day on air

There, Louise – who made her BBC Breakfast debut in 2001 – was met by family members and celebrities alike, with some wearing masks stamped with her face.

Louise’s husband David and their two daughters, Scarlett and Mia, were also present.

Naga Munchetty hailed Louise as ‘brilliant’ while Charlie Stayt added that it had ‘been an absolute joy doing BBC Breakfast’ with Louise.

BBC veteran Bill Turnbull branded Louise as ‘a warm, sunny person who will always be my friend’.

Supportive: Dan sweetly took Louise’s hand as the cameras panned away from her for the final time

Poignant: Louise poignantly told viewers: ‘Have a great day and I’ll see you somewhere on the other side’

Family: Louise’s husband David and their two daughters, Scarlett and Mia, were also in the audience

Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell added: ‘I have loved watching you over the last 20 years on the BBC early in the morning and I’ve been lucky enough to sit with you a few times, you are going to be so missed.’

After hearing viewers’ tribute messages, Louise told them: ‘Thank you so much for your huge support.

‘I think particularly over the last two years as well. It’s been really tough, hasn’t it, and I’ve felt we’re all part of a story together, a shared history and it’s been amazing to be here.’

Loved ones: Outside, Louise was met by family members and celebrities alike, with some wearing masks stamped with her face

Initial announcement: Louise first announced in June this year that she would be leaving BBC Breakfast

Louise hilariously revealed on Wednesday’s show that her BBC building pass had already been deactivated resulting in her being locked out of the office.

She first announced in June this year that she would be leaving BBC Breakfast.

Speaking of her decision to The Mirror this month, she said: ‘In December I’d taken three, four weeks off work because of an ankle operation and I had that period to realise that when I’m not getting up at 3:40am in the morning, I’m doing all sorts of things in the evening that I want to be doing – like just watching telly with my family, doing that kind of family stuff.

Thank you: After hearing viewers’ tribute messages, Louise told them: ‘Thank you so much for your huge support’

‘I think it was coming out of winter into this period that the decision was made.’

She also revealed the lockdown period had made her acknowledge her natural body clock, as she mused: ‘It made me realise that actually I particularly really struggle with the hours… I have found them really hard.’

Louise added she was looking forward to having breakfast with her family and having a morning routine with them after missing out on taking her daughters Mia, 20, and Scarlett, 17, to school.

Family first: Louise said she is looking forward to having breakfast with her family and having a morning routine with them