Carol Kirkwood Bids Farewell To BBC Breakfast After 25 Years

Carol Kirkwood, the beloved face of BBC Breakfast’s weather reports for over a quarter of a century, has announced she will be leaving the broadcaster in April 2026. The news, delivered live on air on January 27, 2026, left viewers and colleagues alike emotional, as Kirkwood, 63, struggled to hold back tears while revealing her decision to step away from the role she has cherished for more than 25 years.

“It’s really hard for me to say this because I love my job,” Kirkwood confessed to presenters Jon Kay and Sally Nugent, her voice wavering with emotion. “But I love my husband more than my job.” The heartfelt admission captured the affection and authenticity that has made Kirkwood a staple of British morning television since she first joined the BBC in 1998.

As reported by BBC News, Kirkwood explained that her decision to leave was driven by a desire to spend more time with her husband, police officer Steve Randall, whom she married in December 2023. The couple’s relationship, which began as a friendship in 2017, blossomed into romance and culminated in a private wedding at Cliveden House in Buckinghamshire. Reflecting on their busy schedules, Kirkwood noted, “We’re ships that pass in the night, so I’m really looking forward to doing that. We want to travel as well.”

Kirkwood’s departure marks the end of an era for BBC Breakfast. Since 2010, she has been the main weather presenter, her forecasts watched and trusted by millions each morning. Her journey with the BBC began behind the scenes as a production secretary and assistant on BBC Breakfast, before she ventured into consultancy and later trained at The Weather Channel in the US. Returning to the UK, she joined the BBC Weather Centre in 1998 after training with the Met Office, steadily building her on-screen presence and reputation.

Throughout her career, Kirkwood has become known for more than just her meteorological expertise. She has brought viewers weather updates from iconic events such as Wimbledon, the Chelsea Flower Show, and royal occasions, often presenting on location and adding a personal touch to each broadcast. Her sunny disposition and warmth have made her a favorite not just with viewers but with her colleagues as well.

In addition to her work on BBC Breakfast, Kirkwood has appeared on other BBC programs, including The One Show, and even competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, reaching week eight alongside her dance partner, Pasha Kovalev. Her willingness to embrace new challenges and her infectious enthusiasm have helped her win numerous accolades, including multiple TV Weather Presenter awards from the TV and Radio Industries Club.

But Kirkwood’s career has not been without its lighter moments. Her on-air mishaps, such as being upstaged by a dog or accidentally referring to dog-walkers in Greenwich Park as “doggers,” have gone viral and endeared her even more to the public. She has often laughed off these moments, demonstrating an ability to not take herself too seriously, even under the pressures of live television.

Her decision to leave the BBC was kept tightly under wraps, with even her closest friends and colleagues unaware until the live announcement. According to the Daily Mail, Kirkwood had hinted in previous interviews that she was considering retirement, citing the toll of early starts and the limited time she was able to spend with Steve. “We only got married a couple of years ago and we’re ships that pass in the night so I’m so looking forward to [spending more time together],” she shared on air. “The future is rosy and the time is right, absolutely right for me to go.”

Kirkwood’s plans for the future are as bright as her on-screen persona. She intends to travel with her husband—perhaps in a camper van across France—and devote more time to writing novels, having already published five. “If he’s at home, I’m happy. I don’t need anything else. He’s tall, handsome, kind, gentle, strong, funny, charming,” she told House Beautiful magazine in July 2024, clearly smitten with her partner and looking forward to a new chapter together.

Her journey to this point was not always straightforward. Born Carol MacKellaig in Morar, Scotland, she was previously married to property developer Jimmy Kirkwood for nearly two decades before their separation in 2008. The split, as she later revealed to the Radio Times, was difficult but ultimately empowering. “I found myself when I got divorced. I started to do things and to think, ‘I’m not going to say no, I’m going to say yes!’ I’m braver now.” That newfound courage led her to take on adventures like flying with the Red Arrows and skydiving with the Red Devils—experiences she might never have attempted earlier in life.

Colleagues’ tributes poured in following her announcement. Sally Nugent, her BBC Breakfast co-host, joked that Kirkwood would finally get a “lie in,” while Jon Kay offered tissues and a heartfelt hug live on air. Jonathan Munro, interim CEO of BBC News, praised Kirkwood’s “exceptional” contribution, stating, “From major national moments to the everyday forecasts that are such an important part of our audiences’ lives, she has set the gold standard for our accurate, valued journalism—always delivered with an appropriately sunny outlook. She will be greatly missed by teams across the BBC. We wish her all the best for the future.”

For her part, Kirkwood expressed deep gratitude to viewers and her BBC family. “It’s been an absolute privilege to bring you the weather every day. My job is something I’ve never taken for granted and I’ve loved every minute!” she wrote in a statement. “To those watching and listening at home—thank you for all the kindness you have shown me over the years, being part of your mornings has been a joy. This hasn’t been an easy decision to make, but it feels like the right moment to step away. I’ll carry with me the most wonderful memories.”

As she prepares to bid farewell to early morning alarms and the BBC’s red sofa, Carol Kirkwood leaves behind a legacy of professionalism, warmth, and resilience. Her story—marked by reinvention, courage, and a steadfast commitment to both her craft and her happiness—reminds us that even the brightest careers can find new horizons.