After almost 15 years on the red sofas Bill said his tenure was “more than enough for me and the audience. So it is a good time to call it a day and do something else”.
“It was a long-term decision. I could see this coming up, and it was always the plan.”
Bill joined the BBC Breakfast team in 2001 as a weekend presenter, presenting with Sian Williams initially and then later Sarah Montague, Mishal Husain and Susanna Reid.
He also regularly appeared as a relief presenter on the weekday programme with Sophie Raworth, Natasha Kaplinsky, Kate Silverton and Louise Minchin.
In 2008, he became the main weekday presenter of Breakfast rejoining Williams and replacing Dermot Murnaghan.
I bet @BillTu is putting his head on a pillow now, thinking "I never have to go to bed this early again.." #GoodnightBill @BBCBreakfast
— Jon Kay ?? (@jonkay01) February 25, 2016
BBC Breakfast editor Adam Bullimore paid tribute to Turnbull saying he “is a huge part of the BBC Breakfast success story and will leave a big gap on the sofa when he leaves next year”.
“He is massively popular with our viewers who love the way he is able to deliver serious news but also bring them a smile as they get up and get ready in the mornings.”
Sports presenter Dan Walker will takeover from Bill from Monday 29th February.
.@billtu Just in case the inevitable happens, help is on the way for @sallynugent @louiseminchin @stephbreakfast pic.twitter.com/CXOCyz2wbS
— Kleenex_UK (@UK_Kleenex) February 25, 2016
On Monday 26th June 2023, BBC Breakfast begun broadcasting from a new studio with new on screen graphics. Weather and sports updates will also come from the new studio in Salford.
On Tuesday 17th January 2023, BBC Breakfast celebrated 40 years on air. Former presenters and guests appeared on the programme to look back at 40 years of Breakfast TV on the BBC.
Former BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull has died at the age of 66. He hosted the show for 15 years, in both London and later Salford, and also fronted Songs of Praise and game show Think Tank. In 2018, he...