At 6:01 a.m. on 24 August 2025 the familiar smile of Carol Kirkwood cracked mid-forecast. Tears welled as the veteran weather presenter announced her immediate retirement from BBC Breakfast.
“It’s been the greatest privilege of my life,” she told the stunned studio, voice trembling, “but I need to prioritise my health, family, and finally sleep past dawn.”
“It’s been the greatest privilege of my life,” she told the stunned studio, voice trembling, “but I need to prioritise my health, family, and finally sleep past dawn.”
Behind the polished on-screen warmth, colleagues say years of 2:30 a.m. call-times and live-pressure perfection had taken a quiet toll. Carol revealed that balancing forecasts with caring for husband Steve Randall (48) and ageing parents had become unsustainable. Social media erupted—heartbreak and gratitude flooding timelines with memories of sun symbols and snow warnings.
Insiders stress the decision wasn’t sudden; it was the culmination of late-night talks with family and doctors. Carol hinted at “new chapters” closer to home—garden projects, grandchildren, and perhaps writing the memoir fans have begged for.
One viewer summed the mood: “She taught us the forecast and the feeling. Mornings will never feel the same, but her legacy is forever.”
One viewer summed the mood: “She taught us the forecast and the feeling. Mornings will never feel the same, but her legacy is forever.”