By Lucy Caulkett-
Britain’s most beloved weather presenter, Carol Kirkwood, has officially announced her departure from the BBC after a career spanning nearly 30 years.
Kirkwood, 63, will make her final appearance on the broadcaster’s flagship morning show, BBC Breakfast, in April 2026, marking the end of an era for millions of viewers.
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The announcement came during Tuesday’s live broadcast of BBC Breakfast. After delivering her regular morning forecast, Kirkwood joined presenters Jon Kay and Sally Nugent on the sofa to share the news.
Fought back tears, she told viewers: “I am going to be leaving—and it’s really hard, really hard for me to say this because I love my job. I love all of you guys and my weather colleagues and of course all the viewers”.
Known for her warm and professional style, Kirkwood admitted the decision was not an easy one. “It feels like the right moment to step away,” she said in a subsequent statement. “I’ll carry with me the most wonderful memories”.
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Emotional, Kirkwood told Jon Kay and Sally Nugent she “loved them dearly” image: BBC
Jonathan Munro, interim CEO of BBC News, praised Kirkwood’s “exceptional” contribution to the corporation, stating she has set the “gold standard” for accurate journalism always delivered with an “appropriately sunny outlook”.
A Legacy Rooted in Scotland and Professionalism
Born Carol MacKellaig in Morar, Inverness-shire, Scotland, Kirkwood’s journey to becoming a household name began far from the bright lights of the television studio. One of eight children whose parents ran hotels, she studied commerce at Napier College (now Edinburgh Napier University) before joining the BBC in a secretarial role in London.
Her path to meteorology was unconventional. After briefly leaving the BBC to work in recruitment and training, she rejoined in 1993 as a freelance presenter. Following a stint at The Weather Channel, she received specialized meteorological training under the guidance of the BBC at the Met Office.
In April 1998, she officially joined the BBC Weather Centre, quickly becoming a fixture on BBC News and BBC One.
In 2010, Kirkwood stepped into her most defining role as the main weather presenter for BBC Breakfast. Even when the show moved to Salford’s MediaCityUK in 2012, Kirkwood’s popularity was so great that she remained based in London, broadcasting via video link to maintain her connection with the morning audience.
Accolades And Public Adoration
Kirkwood’s career has been defined by more than just temperature maps. She is a nine-time winner of the TRIC Award for Best TV Weather Presenter, holding the title consecutively from 2012 to 2017. In 2015, she was honored with an Honorary Fellowship for her contributions to broadcasting by Princess Anne.
Beyond the weather, Kirkwood’s versatility shone through on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, where she reached week eight alongside professional partner Pasha Kovalev. She has also been a regular on The One Show and has successfully pivoted to a career as a bestselling author, with five romantic novels published since 2021, including Under a Greek Moon and Meet Me at Sunset.
The primary motivation for her departure appears to be personal. Kirkwood married Steve Randall, a police officer 14 years her junior, in a private ceremony in December 2023. She candidly admitted that her early-morning starts—often beginning as early as 2:45 AM—made her and her husband feel like “ships that pass in the night”.
“I’m going to be spending more time with Steve, my gorgeous husband,” she said. “We want to spend time travelling. What is a lie-in? I have no idea!”. The couple reportedly plans to travel across Europe in a campervan or car once she officially steps away this spring.
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