Interview Respected broadcaster Louise Minchin
A lover of adventure, Minchin was inspired to take up triathlon after a BBC Breakfast challenge and went on to represent her age-group in the World and European Championships. In Fearless she sets out to push herself even further.
Over 17 chapters, she embarks on a number of exhilarating adventures across the world to not only test herself but tell extraordinary women’s stories. Throughout her career, she has also used her voice to raise awareness of the menopause, mental health and women’s safety.
Louise Minchin is also the chair of judges for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2023 and the host of the top-rated podcasts, Push Your Peak and Her Spirit.
THE WICK: Tell us about your typical Monday.
Louise Minchin: My typical Monday used to begin with a fright at 03:40am when my alarm went off to wake me for work presenting BBC Breakfast but since I left the programme, I don’t set the alarm and there is no more typical. Ideally, I wake up before 9am, as despite the job I did for 20 years, I am NOT a morning person. I have a cup of coffee and take the dogs out for a quick walk, so they will settle while I get my head down to sort through my emails and then hide away upstairs and lose myself for a couple of hours writing.
TW: Your book Fearless brings attention to female stories of courage and endeavour. What do you think being ‘fearless’ is?
LM: I think being fearless means pushing at your own personal boundaries and being willing to take on big challenges despite the fact they scare you. In my book, I met 18 brave, intrepid women who are doing extraordinary things in the world of sport, adventure and exploration. To hear their stories, I did what they loved alongside them; freediving under ice in the dark, exploring caves beneath the earth and cycling across a country. I learnt so much from them about determination, inner strength, and resilience, and how to keep going when the going gets very tough.
TW: As an endurance athlete, how do you choose resilience in your day-to-day life?
LM: Being an endurance athlete is incredibly helpful every day of my life both physically and psychologically. I am physically much stronger than I used to be, which sounds silly, but it does mean I can drag a heavy suitcase of books around and run for a train. Psychologically, it means I am not worried about digging in and going the distance when I am faced with difficult times.
TW: What is your go-to designer brand when presenting?
LM: The BBC has no budget for presenters’ wardrobe, so when I was on BBC Breakfast, I didn’t wear many designer clothes. If I was splashing out, I would buy a dress from The Fold or Libby London.
“Being an endurance athlete is incredibly helpful every day of my life both physically and psychologically.”
