It’s been just over a month since Carol hung up her weather maps, bidding an emotional farewell to BBC Breakfast on April 1st. While the decision to step away wasn’t easy, the 64-year-old broadcasting icon has opened up about the real reason she packed her bags—and it turns out, it was a mix of chronic exhaustion and a beautiful second chance at love.
“A Low-Grade Version of Jet Lag” 
Speaking candidly with The Telegraph, Carol revealed the brutal toll of the show’s early-morning schedule. For 28 years, her alarm went off at a painful 2:45 AM every single day.
“It’s not too bad in the summer, but the winter months are torture,” Carol admitted. “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 the physical exhaustion, Carol remained incredibly grounded, refusing to complain about a career she cherished. “I’m not a nurse on a cancer ward. I’m not a first responder who has to run into a fire,” she noted. “I’ve loved my job—but I love my husband more.”
Love is Lovelier the Second Time Around 
That husband is Steve Randall, who famously surprised Carol live on air during her final broadcast. After her first marriage unravelled after 25 years, Carol confessed she never thought she’d find true happiness again. Meeting Steve changed everything.
The couple tied the knot in 2023, and Carol is ready to stop being “ships that pass in the night.” Instead, she’s trading the BBC studio for “undiluted time” with Steve and a massive travel bucket list. On their radar? The romantic Italian Lakes, a road trip down America’s iconic Route 66, visits to Graceland and Dollywood, and a return trip to Australia to see her nephews.
A Final, Tearful Goodbye 
Carol’s final broadcast on April 1st was a masterclass in grace. Surrounded by tearing-up colleagues like Naga Munchetty and Nina Warhurst, Carol delivered one last heartfelt message to the millions of viewers who woke up with her every morning.
“After 28 years as a BBC weather presenter, tracking storms, chasing sunshine and occasionally, getting it completely wrong, I’m saying goodbye,” she said, fighting back tears. “When I first walked into the studio, I could never have imagined the journey ahead… But one thing has never changed, and that is the privilege and honour of being welcomed into your homes.”
Carol Kirkwood walked away with no regrets, a binned alarm clock, and a exciting new chapter ahead. Mornings on the BBC will never quite be the same.
