CAROL Kirkwood has been on our screens as the BBC’s weather anchor since 1998.
In late January 2026, she revealed was leaving the BBC after more than a quarter of a century, in part to spend more time with her husband Steve Randall.
Carol Kirkwood has presented the weather to millions of viewers every morning for decades, but announced she was leaving the BBC in January.
Clearly emotional as she sat on the sofa with colleagues Jon Kay and Sally Nugent, Carol said: “So, I’m going to be leaving – and it’s really hard, really hard for me to say this because I love my job.
“I love all of you guys and my weather colleagues 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 in my Zimmer frame and saying, “I can’t reach the Northern Isles anymore!”.’
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She went on to explain how she plans to spend more time with her husband Steve Randall.
Carol said: “We only got married a couple of years ago and we’re ships that pass in the night, so I’m so looking forward to doing that.”
Who is Carol Kirkwood?
Carol Kirkwood is the BBC Breakfast weather reporter, a role she has held since 1998.
She was born in Inverness-shire, Scotland, on May 29, 1962, making her 63 years old at the time of writing.
Met Office trained, she has reported on the weather for the national broadcast across both radio and television, including the weather updates for the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage.
Carol has also written three novels, with the last published in 2023.
The Scottish TV presenter comes from a big family, being one of eight siblings, although she doesn’t have children of her own.
Carol married her first husband, cricketer Jimmy Kirkwood, in 1990, but they divorced in 2008.
In 2022, Carol revealed on television that she was engaged, but initially kept the identity of her fiancé a secret.
Carol reached the seventh round of Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, together with partner Pasha Kovalev.
She previously told Prima magazine in June 2021: “I don’t want to say too much about my boyfriend, but I will say that he is very kind and very funny – he’s always making me laugh.
“And extremely handsome, as well.
“He always makes me a cup of tea before I go to work in the morning, which is very romantic – it’s 2.45am and he often leaves me a little love note for when I come home from work.
“That, to me, is worth a million red roses.”
She presented her last show on BBC on April 1, 2026.
Who is Carol Kirkwood’s husband Steve Randall?
The identity of Carol’s mystery then-fiancé was revealed to be police officer Steven Randall in March 2023.
Her husband is 50 years old – 13 years Carol’s junior.
Steve and his wife of 12 years, Nichola Randall, divorced in 2017 – the former couple share a teenage son.
The police officer is an enthusiastic runner, competing in half marathons as well as the Marathon Des Sables race which takes place across the Moroccan desert.
They live together in Carol’s £2 million home in Berkshire.
When did Carol Kirkwood and Steve Randall get married?
Carol and Steve tied the knot on December 27, 2023, in Buckinghamshire.
In a huge surprise to fans, Carol revealed the news that she and Steve had got married on the BBC Breakfast show.
Pictures from their special day were soon released – Carol wore a traditional, off-the-shoulder wedding dress featuring a full skirt and train.
Steve was in a traditional morning suit including a tail jacket and grey waistcoat.
Speaking with Naga Munchetty on the Breakfast Show, Carol said: “It was the most perfect and romantic and intimate wedding.
“We are both so incredibly happy.”
BBC Weather also shared some photos from the big day saying: “A huge congratulations to our friend and colleague Carol Kirkwood on her wedding to Steve.
“Best wishes from us all!”
On December 29, 2023, Carol posted about the wedding on X, with the caption: “We had the most perfect day. It was a tiny wedding but so romantic and intimate.
“A day we will never forget. We are bursting with happiness.
“It wasn’t a ‘secret’ wedding, just a private one.”
She also thanked fans for their lovely messages.
Carol also shared a few photos of their big day with her Instagram followers, with the simple caption: “27.12.23”.
