Carol Kirkwood has opened up about her decision to leave BBC Breakfast after 25 years, revealing what life outside the corporation is like
Carol Kirkwood has revealed why she decided to walk away from BBC Breakfast after 25 years, admitting that life outside the corporation has given her a freedom she had been craving.
The former weather presenter, 64, also opened up about her marriage to her husband, Steve Randall, 51, and how their 13-year age gap has never bothered her.
The meteorologist stepped down from her long-running role as a weathergirl on the early morning breakfast programme in April after more than 25 years on air.
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Speaking exclusively to The Sun’s Fabulous magazine, Carol said leaving the BBC had allowed her to take charge of her own schedule and enjoy a new chapter with her retired police officer husband.
She explained that the pair can now be spontaneous, whether that means jumping in the car for a trip to Scotland or heading over to France without having to work around her broadcasting commitments.
Carol said: “Leaving the BBC has been liberating. I am finally dancing to my own tune and have so much more freedom.” She added that she has found her sixties an exciting time, with plenty of new opportunities opening up now she is no longer tied to the demands of her old job.
The couple married three years ago, and Carol was also keen to address the attention their age difference sometimes attracts. She said the 13-year gap is not something she spends time thinking about, adding that there was little point worrying about what life might look like in 15 or 20 years.
Earlier this year Carol admitted that she feels “a sense of clearing” after quitting BBC Breakfast. After a quarter of a century of enduring incredibly early starts, the TV star promptly got rid of her alarm clock as soon as she could so she could learn to adjust to new waking hours.
Speaking to The Telegraph: “I had to set my alarm at 2:45 am, and that’s not a natural time to get up, even if you’ve gone to bed at seven o’clock the previous evening. For years now, I’ve suffered from a low-grade version of jet lag. My last forecast was on April 1; on April 2, I threw my alarm clock into the bin.”
When asked to name the “best thing” about leaving work, she said: “The sense of clearing my head and realising that now I can do what I want when I want – like sitting in the garden in the evening sunshine and reading a book with a glass of wine.”
Carol announced her decision to step down earlier this year. At the time, she was visibly emotional while discussing her decision with Jon Kay and Sally Nugent. She said: “I am going to be leaving. It’s really, really hard for me to say this. I love my job.
At the time, she was visibly emotional as she discussed her decision with Jon Kay and Sally Nugent. She said: “I am going to be leaving. It’s really, really hard for me to say this. I love my job.
“I love all of you guys, my weather colleagues, every department I work with, and, of course, all the viewers I’ve been so engaged with for many years. But it’s great. I don’t want to be coming in with my Zimmer frame when I can’t reach the northern Isles anymore.”
She added: “I’m going to be spending more time with Steve, my gorgeous husband, we have been married a couple of years ago but we are like ships passing in the night, so I’m so looking forward to doing that.
“I’ve still got my books, you know, I’ve got a few other bits and pieces. I want to travel. We want to travel as well.” As her voice began to break as she sat alongside Jon and Sally, she added: “I didn’t want to get emotional, but you two are my friends, and I love you dearly so I am sorry I did.”
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