Celebrities
Louise Minchin Shares Heartbreak Over Death of Beloved Labrador Waffle
Former BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin has received an outpouring of sympathy after announcing the death of her golden Labrador, Waffle.
The 56-year-old took to Instagram to tell her 143,000 followers that her family is “bereft” following the loss of their much-loved pet, who had been with them for 12 years. She shared a photograph of Waffle with the caption: “Our lovely, affectionate, loyal Labrador Waffle has died after 12 long happy years. We are bereft.”
Celebrity friends were quick to post heartfelt messages. Susanna Reid responded with a heart emoji, while Dragon’s Den star Deborah Meaden wrote: “Oh Louise… I’m so sad for you… they break your heart when they go but the 12 years together will never leave you x.” TV presenter Steph McGovern added: “Oh no. Gutted for you all xxxx.”
Fans also left emotional tributes. One user wrote: “My heart breaks for you. So sad but I’m sure Waffle had the most wonderful life with you and was treasured.” Another said to Liverpool Echo: “You’ll carry her in your heart. It’s the absolute worst part of the wonderful gift of love they bring to us.”
Minchin later thanked everyone for their kind words, saying: “Thank you for all your lovely messages, I am reading every one of them and they are very much appreciated by all of us.”
In a Platinum magazine column last year, Minchin revealed that she had stopped running with Waffle as the dog was no longer “moving as fluidly” and was “a little stiff around the hips” in the mornings. Instead, they switched to daily walks, which suited Ruby, their other Labrador, who was less keen on braving bad weather.
“Ruby has never shared our enthusiasm for moving quickly, and she is much less hardy when it comes to nasty weather,” Minchin wrote. “If it is so much as drizzling, she refuses to leave the house and will do anything to avoid a puddle. Waffle and I, on the other hand, have the same attitude to mud and puddles: we see them only as a minor inconvenience and splash straight through them, arriving home in need of a bath.”
Reflecting on their years together, she added: “I can’t count exactly how many miles I have run with Waffle, but what I can count is the happy memories. The time we have spent together outdoors has been golden, and if we have to go at a slower pace, so be it. I am happy as long as she is beside me.”
