The Alarm Clock Can Go - Carol Kirkwood Signs Off After 30 Years at BBC Breakfast
Carol Kirkwood has officially said goodbye to BBC Breakfast, bringing an end to a remarkable 30-year run as one of the broadcaster’s most familiar and beloved faces.
The 63-year-old weather presenter delivered her final forecast on Wednesday, closing a chapter that has made her a constant presence in viewers’ mornings for three decades.
Her farewell was emotional but filled with warmth, as she looked ahead to a slower, more personal season of life, one that she plans to spend with her husband, Steve Randall.
Speaking during her final appearance, Carol shared that travel is high on the list for what comes next.
“Lots of travels, we’ve got lots of things planned,” she said with a smile. “We’re really looking forward to watching Matt in the morning saying the weather is going to be rubbish, and we’ll say, ‘Let’s head off in the car somewhere.’”
For Carol, one of the sweetest parts of retirement is leaving behind the brutal early starts that came with breakfast television.
Her 2:45 a.m. alarm, she admitted, is something she will not miss.
Steve, 49, who joined her for the special send-off, joked that getting rid of the alarm clock would be the first order of business.
“It’s going to be the best ever,” he said. “And the first thing to go is the alarm clock. That can go!”
The moment was made even more touching as Steve appeared in the studio with a large bouquet of flowers, a gesture from both himself and the BBC team to mark the milestone.
Carol first announced in January that she would be stepping away from the show. During that earlier on-air announcement, she became visibly emotional as she explained that while she still loved the job, she wanted to spend more time with her husband and enjoy life beyond the studio.
She and Steve married in December 2023 at Cliveden House in Buckinghamshire, and now live together in Windsor.
Her affection for him has never been a secret.
In an earlier interview, Carol described Steve in glowing terms, saying, “If he’s at home, I’m happy. I don’t need anything else.”
She went on to call him tall, handsome, kind, gentle, strong, funny, and charming, adding that she could “wax lyrical about Steve forever.”
During her final broadcast, fellow presenters Sally Nugent and Jon Kay made sure the moment felt special.
After finishing her last forecast, Carol joined them on the sofa, where they reflected on the impact she has had on television weather reporting.
Sally paid tribute to her long career, telling her that she had changed the way weather is presented on TV, both in the studio and out on location.
For viewers who have started countless mornings with Carol’s familiar smile and steady voice, it was clearly the end of an era.
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