Carol Kirkwood’s plans to leave the BBC and start a new chapter with her husband, Steve Randall, mark a positive time in her life, but she has also experienced her fair share of heartbreak
Carol Kirkwood delivered her final BBC weather forecast today(Image: carolkirkwood/Twitter)
BBC Breakfast’s beloved weather presenter, Carol Kirkwood, delivered her emotional final forecast today (April 1) after an impressive 28-year stint with the broadcaster. The star has previously spoken candidly about maintaining her happy TV persona despite the pain of her divorce, describing how it’s “sad” when “relationships break down”.
The 63-year-old Scottish forecaster bid an emotional farewell to viewers earlier today before joining her colleagues on the sofa, where she reflected that it was “time for a new chapter”. She said: “As for what comes next, well for once I don’t have a detailed forecast but I do know this – it’s time for a new chapter. Thank you for letting me be a part of your lives.”
Back in January, Carol confirmed her departure in a heartfelt statement, acknowledging it had “not been an easy decision to make”. The Met Office-trained presenter revealed her plans to spend more time with her husband, Steve Randall, following her exit from the BBC.
Carol shared their retirement dreams, explaining that they “plan to escape and travel for some time when we retire”, whether by camper van or car, with intentions to “cross over to France and just drive”. She tied the knot with police officer Steve in 2023, having previously been married to property developer Jimmy Kirkwood for 18 years, before their divorce in 2008.
Nevertheless, Carol’s choice to embark on a new chapter with Steve marks a considerably happier period for her, particularly given how she has discussed the difficulties surrounding the end of her first marriage, describing such situations as “always sad.” She previously shared that during this time, she kept up her upbeat on-screen persona while presenting on television, although she needed to have a good cry away from the cameras.
Carol suggested that there “isn’t such a thing as a ‘perfect romance'” and provided insight into her past relationship, acknowledging it’s difficult when things come to an end. Speaking to Woman’s Way, she said: “I love hearing about how people meet. I feel sad when relationships break down. I was married before, and we got divorced, and it’s always sad when that happens.
“But of course, there isn’t such a thing – I don’t think – as a perfect romance, where you’re never going to fall out or have cross words. Of course you are, that’s life.” Carol, an accomplished author, has also featured on the popular Strictly Come Dancing and The One Show.
She previously described how her professional life provided a way for her to manage things during the divorce, enabling her to compartmentalise her ‘grief’. In a candid chat with Yours magazine, Carol revealed she deliberately kept this part of her life “separate” from her career, fearing she’d otherwise end up in a “puddle of tears”. Yet Carol has also lavished praise on her “lovely” partner Steve, describing him as “very romantic and very generous,” during a conversation with PA.
Carol previously left her BBC Breakfast co-hosts stunned when discussing her varied work history. When quizzed about her summer jobs in her youth, she disclosed: “I worked as a housemaid, as a waitress, as a receptionist, all these things!” Presenter Jon Kay responded: “You did everything!”
However, there was more to come. Carol, who also appeared in The A to Z of TV Gardening, proceeded to reveal she’d undertaken another position that contrasted sharply with her role as a television weather forecaster.
She admitted: “Plus, a post woman as well! In Edinburgh.” She then described how the role came with an unforeseen drawback – it left her hungry each morning.
Carol elaborated on how she would “smell toast, bacon, sausages” while making her rounds. Discussing her future plans with Steve, Carol revealed: “We fell in love with Majorca, which is where we went so I could research my fifth novel, Meet Me at Sunset, about a woman running away from a shattered love affair. Steve and I also plan to escape and travel for some time when we retire, perhaps in a year or two. We’ll either travel in a camper van, or get in the car, cross over to France and just drive.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
