After nearly three decades gracing the nation’s television screens with warm smiles and reliable weather forecasts, Carol Kirkwood is preparing to say goodbye to BBC Breakfast. The beloved presenter, who has become one of the most recognisable faces in British broadcasting, announced in January 2026 that she will be leaving the corporation in April — and the reason she cited was wonderfully simple: she wants to spend more time with her husband, Steve Randall.
Carol Kirkwood’s Career at the BBC
Carol Kirkwood joined the BBC Weather team in 1998 and quickly became a household name. Her warm, approachable presenting style — combined with a genuine enthusiasm for meteorology — earned her a devoted following among BBC Breakfast viewers. Rain or shine, she delivered her forecasts with the kind of reassuring cheerfulness that made mornings a little easier for millions of people across the UK.
Over her 27 years at the BBC, Kirkwood became far more than just a weather presenter. She has participated in Strictly Come Dancing, appeared in countless charity events, and become something of a national treasure. Her departure has prompted an outpouring of appreciation from viewers, colleagues, and even Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who weighed in to say mornings would not be the same without her.
Who Is Steve Randall?
Steve Randall is the man who captured Carol Kirkwood’s heart after years of being friends first. He is a police officer by profession — a detail that caused some surprise among fans when news of their relationship first emerged. The couple began their romance in 2021, after their friendship developed into something deeper.
In May 2022, Kirkwood announced their engagement live on BBC Breakfast from the Chelsea Flower Show — a suitably joyful moment for a presenter who has always worn her heart on her sleeve. The scene quickly went viral and was watched by millions online.
They married on 27 December 2023 at the stunning Cliveden House in Taplow, Buckinghamshire — a Grade I listed National Trust country house that has been the setting for some of the most celebrated events in modern British history. The couple now live in Bray, Berkshire, and by all accounts are blissfully happy.
Carol’s Previous Marriage
Before meeting Steve, Carol was married to cricketer Jimmy Kirkwood for 25 years. The couple divorced, and Carol — who had no children from her first marriage — later spoke openly about the heartbreak of that period of her life. Finding love again in her fifties with Steve has clearly brought her enormous happiness, and her enthusiasm for their life together has been evident to anyone who has seen her speak about him in interviews.
Leaving the BBC: Carol’s Words
When Carol announced she would be leaving the BBC, she was characteristically warm and direct about her reasons. She told her BBC Breakfast colleagues that she wanted more time with “Steve, my gorgeous husband” — a comment that immediately went down a treat with viewers who had watched their love story unfold on national television.
She has also spoken about wanting to have the freedom to travel, to enjoy leisurely mornings rather than predawn starts, and simply to have more control over her own time. After three decades of early alarms and weather maps, that seems entirely understandable.
Tributes From Colleagues and Viewers
The response to Kirkwood’s departure announcement has been overwhelmingly positive. BBC Breakfast presenters past and present have paid tribute to her warmth, professionalism, and ability to brighten even the bleakest weather report. Naga Munchetty described her as “irreplaceable,” while former co-presenter Bill Turnbull, who passed away in 2022, was remembered by Carol herself as one of the people who had made her time at the BBC so special.
Viewers on social media have been equally effusive. Many have described tuning in specifically to see Carol’s forecast, and there is a palpable sense that an era is ending. The BBC will face the challenge of finding someone who can fill her very considerable shoes.
What’s Next for Carol Kirkwood?
While Carol has been coy about specific post-BBC plans, she has hinted at a desire to remain in the public eye — just on her own terms. She has spoken about the possibility of writing, of travelling with Steve, and of taking on projects that genuinely interest her rather than being governed by the demands of a daily broadcast schedule.
Whatever she does next, her legacy at the BBC is secure. Carol Kirkwood spent nearly 30 years as a fixture of the British morning, and for a generation of viewers, she will always be the face of the weather.