BBC Breakfast legend Louise Minchin was rushed to hospital after taking part in an extreme challenge to raise money for the Duke of Edinburgh Award. The 57-year-old, who quit BBC Breakfast in 2021 after 20 years on the show, was cycling in the Inuvik Weekend Warrior Fat Bike Challenge.

The challenge is an attempt to cycle 300 miles in just three days in the Arctic Circle. She was joined by athlete Mimi Anderson, but both were forced to pull out of the event after being diagnosed with frostbite – and both were rushed to hospital to recover. Louise immediately had bandages applied to her fingertips and was seen lying on an air mattress on the hospital floor, wrapped in a sleeping bag, to warm up.

She explained: “We did around 140k in temperatures as low as -40 degrees.

“When we got to this point both of us knew we were very dangerously cold. The combination of the temperature and wind meant despite having prepared as much as we could have it was a huge risk to go on.

“Turns out we were right to stop. We both have frostbite and are being looked after incredibly well looked after. At the moment we remain in good spirits.”

She added: “We are out of the race but we are safe, warm and being well looked after.

“Thank you everyone for your incredible support – we will give you some more details later on. Suffice to say -40 for 14 hours was brutal.”

Another echoed: “Bravo for all that you did, what an epic adventure. Rest up and enjoy some warmth.”

While a third posted: “Well done to you for even tackling it. The temperatures are mind boggling. Glad you are being well looked after.”