Carol Kirkwood: Why the time is right for me to retire – and what’s next

Carol Kirkwood has spent nearly three decades rising before dawn, beginning her day at 2:45am. Now, after departing from the BBC this week, she’s finally ready to say goodbye to the early wake-up call—describing it as “well and truly going in the bin.” This marks the end of a significant chapter for the long-time presenter, as well as for countless viewers who’ve followed her weather forecasts over the years.

Kirkwood has been the primary weather anchor on BBC Breakfast since 2010, following a career that began on the news channel. Reflecting on her 28 years at the corporation, she emphasizes the joy of reporting from locations across the UK, where she often encounters “members of the public who are always so lovely and kind to me.” Though she admits it’s “impossible to pinpoint one standout moment,” events like Wimbledon and the Chelsea Flower Show have stood out as memorable highlights.

Surreal Farewells

As her final days at the BBC approached, Kirkwood experienced a mix of emotions. While covering the weather at the Tower of London, she received a rare gold poppy, a gesture that “is incredibly rare and hardly anyone has one.” The act left her “so surprised by the kindness they showed me.” Earlier in the week, the RHS Garden Wisley renamed its weather station in her honor, an event that “left her in tears” and underscored the deep appreciation from her audience.

Personal Reasons for Retirement

Kirkwood revealed her decision to retire in February, but the moment has now arrived with “a really surreal and emotional” weight. A key factor in her choice was the desire to spend more time with her husband, Steve Randall, whom she married in 2023. “I’m not getting any younger,” she notes, adding that recent personal losses helped her realize “I should get on with my retirement and that’s what I’m going to do.” She and Steve have already planned trips to France and Italy, looking forward to the freedom of traveling without the constraints of an early alarm.

Her new life will also include writing, as her sixth romance novel is set for release in October. She’s committed to authoring at least two more books after that. Additionally, she hopes to take up the guitar and welcome a couple of cats into their home. “The freedom of being able to get in the car, drive and go anywhere we want for as long as we want is really appealing,” she adds.

Evolution of Weather Reporting

Kirkwood recalls how the weather industry has transformed over the past 30 years. “We had little symbols of a sun and a cloud that would cover a whole area and that would be it,” she explains. Today, 3D graphics provide more clarity and ease in conveying forecasts. She also notes the changing nature of seasons, describing them as “such a muddle because of climate change.”

Though she’s excelled in her role, Kirkwood admits that presenting the weather wasn’t her childhood dream. “Not in a million years did I think I’d be doing this,” she says. As a child, she wrote to Blue Peter producer Biddy Baxter, hoping to become a presenter on the show, captivated by the “good fun” they seemed to have. Now, as she prepares for a well-earned break, she’s eager to embrace the next phase of her life with her loved ones and new passions.