Carol Kirkwood’s husband Steve joined her on the sofa with a huge bouquet of flowers in a sweet surprise, just moments before she signed off for the final time from BBC Breakfast
Carol Kirkwood in tears as she leaves BBC Breakfast
Carol Kirkwood became emotional as her husband Steve made a surprise appearance during her final ever BBC Breakfast show. The weather presenter, 63, is leaving her role today, 1 April, after almost 30 years at the broadcaster.
In a complete shock to Carol, her husband Steve made an appearance to present her with a huge bouquet of flowers in her final moments. The sweet move had been secretly arranged by Breakfast bosses and Steve joked he was “in trouble” for keeping it a secret from her.
As she signed off for the final time, Carol burst into tears and said: “Thank you for letting me be part of your lives.” Steve said he was the “proudest and luckiest man in the world,” leading Carol to say she agreed with her husband.
Steve gushed that he couldn’t be prouder of his wife(Image: BBC)
Carol previously revealed she plans to spend more quality time with her husband, Steve
The emotional star then told viewers that she didn’t have a “detailed forecast” for her life after the daytime show. Reflecting on her exit, Carol said: “I’m really going to miss you and to my colleagues, past and present, both in front and behind the camera in BBC weather, BBC Breakfast, News and Sport and all the other departments I’ve been privileged to work in.
“You’ve been my team, my safety net and very often my family. We’ve shared breaking news, long shifts, plenty of laughter, bad hair days and the occasional moment of pure chaos.
“And you know what? I wouldn’t change a second of it. This job has given me so much more than a career. It’s given me memories. I’ll carry them forever. Friendships I treasure deeply, and a front row seat to the incredible, unpredictable beauty of far weather, a subject I still love.”
BBC Breakfast’s beloved weather presenter Carol Kirkwood says goodbye after 28 years, signing off to spend more time with husband Steve
As she choked up with tears, she said: “As for what comes next, well, for once I don’t have a detailed forecast. But I do know this. It’s time for a new chapter, a bit more time with Steve, and perhaps the luxury of watching the weather instead of presenting it. Thank you for letting me be part of your lives.”
When anchor Jon Kay asked whether Steve knew he “broke millions of men’s hearts,” on the day he married Carol, Steve laughed: “Yes, I’m happy with that.” Jon added that Carol’s exit was “breaking” the hearts of everybody involved with Breakfast.
Carol laughed as she looked back on her time on the show(Image: BBC)
Carol had a big send off from everyone in the studio(Image: BBC)
Making an appearance, former anchor Susanna Reid said: “You have such a way about you and that infectious smile that we will all miss. Remember that time I was sitting alongside Bill [Turnbull] on the BBC Breakfast sofa, and you told us we were going to experience temperatures of 99 degrees across the UK.”
Speaking about her late colleague, Bill Turnbull, Carol said: “He was such a sweetheart, wasn’t he, Billy, he was so kind, he would say ‘Kirky, behave yourself, you’re a naughty girl.” Meanwhile, Sally told Carol: “We were so lucky to hold onto you for so long but the thing I’m most excited about, this is happy ever after, no-one deserves it more than you.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer also made an appearance, wishing Carol well, saying she had been a “staple” for people every morning. As the entire Breakfast team arrived, Naga Munchetty joked that she was only in attendance for the “countdown” for Carol “to go.” She later joked she was showing a “rare glimpse” of a nicer side to her, with Carol replying: “I think I need smelling salts,” as she laughed.
After a star-packed tribute montage that included the likes of Judy Murray, Bryan Adams and Clare Balding, Carol gushed over her three decades with the BBC.
When she was asked if she was ready to turn off the pre-3 a.m. alarm clock, Carol said, “No, I think I’m in denial. I expect I’ll rock up on Monday.
She went on: “For 28 years, I’ve been getting up at quarter to three. But you know, I’m privileged. I do a fabulous job. I’m not running into burning buildings and saving lives. But it’s going to be weird. It’s going to be weird not speaking to our lovely audience all our viewers. Not seeing everyone. Not seeing the crew, both in front and behind the camera, not just in breakfast, but also in BBC Weather as well. It’s it’s going to be different, and I’m going to miss everyone horribly.”
A five-minute montage of messages and throwback clips was aired(Image: BBC)
Susanna Reid also made an appearance to say goodbye to Carol (Image: BBC)
Carol announced earlier this year that she had made the hard decision to step down from her weather-presenting role. She revealed she plans to spend more quality time with her husband, Steve.
At the time, she was visibly emotional while discussing her decision with Jon and Sally. She told them: “I am going to be leaving. It’s really, really hard for me to say this. I love my job.
“I love all of you guys, my weather colleagues, every department I work with, and, of course, all the viewers I’ve been so engaged with for many years. But it’s great. I don’t want to be coming in with my Zimmer frame when I can’t reach the northern Isles anymore.”
She added: “I’m going to be spending more time with Steve, my gorgeous husband, we have been married a couple of years ago but we are like ships passing in the night, so I’m so looking forward to doing that. I’ve still got my books, you know, I’ve got a few other bits and pieces. I want to travel. We want to travel as well.”
After starting her BBC career as a production secretary, Carol later became a production assistant. She then became a main weather presenter on BBC Breakfast 2010.
