Carol Kirkwood reveals why her BBC Breakfast role became ‘torture’ after 28 years

It’s been more than a month since Carol Kirkwood hung up her weather map and bid farewell to the BBC after 28 years as a presenter on the broadcaster’s long-running Breakfast show.

In January, Carol announced that she would be stepping away from the role – a decision she admitted hadn’t been easy, but one she felt was the “right moment”.

Marking her bittersweet departure with a final weather broadcast on 1 April, Carol received an emotional send-off from her fellow BBC presenters, including Nina Warhurst and Naga Munchetty. 

She was also surprised live on air by her husband, Steve Randall, with whom she now plans to enjoy a slower pace of life.

Carol reveals the worst part of the BBC job

In an interview with The Telegraph, Carol revealed that the hardest part of the job she spent almost three decades doing was the gruelling hours, with her alarm set for 2.45am every day.

“It’s not too bad in the summer but the winter months are torture,” she admitted. 

© WireImage

“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.”

Despite her relief at no longer having to wake up in the early hours, Carol insisted she had no real complaints about her career.

“I’m not a nurse on a cancer ward. I’m not a first responder who has to run into a fire rather than away from it,” she said. “I’ve loved my job but I love my husband more, and now I want us to be more than ships that pass in the night.”

© BBC

Carol’s marriage to husband Steve 

Carol previously revealed that one of the main reasons for stepping away from BBC Breakfast was to spend more quality time with Steve, whom she married in 2023.

Reflecting on her first marriage to Jimmy Kirkwood, whom she was married to from 1990 until 2008, Carol told The Telegraph: “Sadly, my first marriage unravelled after 25 years. I never thought it would happen and I never thought I’d find happiness again. Then I met Steve… Whoever said that love is lovelier the second time around got it dead right.”

© Getty

As for what she’s most looking forward to in this new chapter, Carol said she wants to spend “undiluted time” with Steve, while also ticking destinations off her travel wish list.

“I want to go to the Italian Lakes and I’m keen to do Route 66 across America. I love music so I’d really like to visit Graceland and Nashville, and maybe throw in Dollywood at the same time. I’ve been to Australia once and I’d love to go back: I’ve got a couple of nephews there,” she said. 

© Alamy Stock Photo

Carol’s final BBC Breakfast broadcast 

Carol marked her final weather broadcast with an emotional message to her loyal viewers. “This is a forecast I’ve known for quite a while was coming, but that doesn’t make it any easier to present because after 28 years as a BBC weather presenter, tracking storms, chasing sunshine and occasionally, getting it completely wrong, I’m saying goodbye,” she said back in April.

© BBC

“When I first walked into the studio, I could never have imagined the journey ahead. Back then, the graphics were simpler, the maps were clunkier and I had a lot less grey hair than this,” she continued. “But one thing has never changed and that is the privilege and honour of being welcomed into your homes.”

Addressing the viewers who tuned in each morning, Carol added: “You’ve been the constant in all of this and I’ve never taken you for granted.”