It might be April Fools’ Day, but Carol Kirkwood has left the BBC after almost 30 years – and it’s no prank.
Kirkwood, 63, hosted her final weather update on BBC Breakfast on Wednesday morning (1 April), much to the sadness of viewers and hosts Jon Kay and Sally Nugent – and she broke down in tears while thanking viewers for “letting me be a part of your lives”.
The special celebratory episode saw Kirkwood receive messages from a flurry of recognisable faces, including singer Bryan Adams, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and former BBC Breakfast host Susanna Reid. She was also reunited with the dog that famously pulled off screen while she hosted the weather from the Chelsea Flower Show in 2021.
She was also presented with several gifts, including a special painting from Mr Men illustrator Adam Hargreaves depicting her as “Little Miss Sunshine” and a bunch of flowers from her husband Steve Randall. “You told me you weren’t coming in! You’re in trouble,” Kirkwood joked as Randall joined her on the sofa.
Kirkwood joined the BBC Weather Centre in April 1998 and began broadcasting on the BBC News channel, before making regular appearances on BBC One. She has been BBC Breakfast’s main weather presenter since 2010.
Find updates from Kirkwood’s final weather broadcast below.
Carol Kirkwood retires from BBC
- Carol Kirkwood presented with touching highlights reel
- 'Alarm clocks will be a thing of the past!'
- Outgoing weather host on how she remained so smiley for 28 years
- Bryan Adams sends surprise farewell message
- Why did Carol Kirkwood decide to retire?
'What happens on tour, stays on tour!'
09:50 , Jacob StolworthyIn 2013, Carol Kirkwood featured in The Independent’s My Life in Travel column. She told us her first holiday was in Jersey – but her favourite place in the British Isles is Morar, on the west coast of Scotland.
“It’s known for its silver sands, because the sand is so fine it seeps through your hands like in an egg timer and glistens when it's sunny. There are these big dunes too, which we used to roll down as kids.”
Her favourite city? “I just love everything about Bath. The shops, the Roman elements, the baths themselves, the countryside around. I like being a tourist there.”
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Carol’s best holiday ever was the Maldives: “You can justify being lazy because there's not a lot to do but wander out of your accommodation, eat loads of fresh fruit salad for breakfast and then head to your sun lounger to take in some rays, read your book, and listen to music. It's just so relaxing and you don't feel as if you've got to suddenly scoot off and look at the culture.”
Carol also talked about travelling with some of her on-screen colleagues from BBC Breakfast to Las Vegas, saying: “What happens on tour, stays on tour!”
'Thank you for letting me a part of your lives'
09:32 , Jacob StolworthyCarol Kirkwood fought back tears while addressing the nation before retiring from the BBC.
“This is a forecast I’ve known for quite a while was coming, but that doesn’t make it easier to present because after 28 years as s a BBC weather presenter, tracking storms, chasing sunshine and occasionally getting it completely wrong, I'm saying goodbye. When I first walked into this studio, I could never have imagined the journey ahead.
“Back then, the graphics were simpler, the maps were clunkier and I had a lot less grey hair than I do, but one thing has never changed, and that is the privilege and honour of being welcomed into your homes. Thank you for trusting me – you’ve been the constant in all of this and I’ve never taken that for granted. I’m really going to miss you.
“As for what comes next, for once I don't have a detailed forecast – but I do know this: it's time for a new chapter and perhaps the luxury of watching the weather instead of presenting it. Thank you for letting me be a part of your lives.”
Carol surprised by husband Steve
09:26 , Jacob Stolworthy“You told me you weren’t coming in! You’re in trouble,” Carol jokes while being presented with a huge bunch of flowers from her husband, police officer Steve Randall.
Steve says it’s going to be “the best thing ever” to have Carol at home more – and not just because he also wakes up at 2.45am to make his wife a cuppa while she gets ready to go into the studio.
Naga Munchetty keeps things 'grounded'
09:22 , Jacob StolworthyNaga Munchetty swings by to say goodbye to Carol – and deploys her usual wry tone when celebrating the weather host.
“I’m just waiting for the countdown for you to go!” she quips before presenting her with a painting by Mr Men’s illustrator Adam Hargreaves, depicting Carol as – you guessed it – Little Miss Sunshine.
“I will treasure this!” she says, holding back tears.
Brian Cox reads poem written by BBC colleague
09:18 , Jacob StolworthyIn what could be the most random celebration yet, Scottish actor Brian Cox is reading a poem written by Carol’s BBC colleague Patrick Gearey.
I’d personally give the poem a solid three out of five.
Keir Starmer calls Carol Kirkwood 'staple' of TV
09:15 , Jacob StolworthyPrime Minister Keir Starmer sent Carol Kirkwood “best wishes for the next chapter” and praised her “sunny disposition” in a video message (that she definitely didn’t enjoy as much as the one she got from Bryan Adams earlier in the episode).
The 'celebrity' that's eluded Carol Kirkwood over the years
09:14 , Jacob StolworthyShe’s met high-profile stars over the years, but one star that she’s failed to meet is, um... Larry the Cat, the tabby cat residing at 10 Downing Street. But this was rectified earlier this week.
“I’m in love!” she declared. “What a lovely wee man. He was a delight. He’s so soft. He’s the perfect gentleman.”
Carol presents final BBC weather segment
09:08 , Jacob Stolworthy...and it played out like any other segment she’s presented for the last 28 years. After telling the UK to prepare for cold and windy weather, hosts Sally Nugent and Jon Kay applauded her, telling her it was “perfect”.
“Shame about the weather, though,” Kay added.
Carol is reunited with dog that pulled her off screen
08:57 , Jacob StolworthyIt’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Flash, the dog that famously yanked Carol out of shot at Chelsea Flower Show in 2021, was brought into the studio for the outgoing weather presenter’s final show – and proceeded to whip her with her wagging tail.
“I’m gonna have a bruise,” Carol quipped. “Again!” host Sally Nugent replied.
'You've set the tone'
08:56 , Jacob StolworthyMoving words from host Jon Kay:
“There are dozens and dozens of people in the gallery on the studio floor, in the newsroom, and you mean just as much to all of them. You’ve set the tone, you really have, for all of us on this programme over the years. Your legacy will continue. We will be more Carol.”
Rival breakfast shows merge with Susanna Reid tribute
08:53 , Jacob StolworthyIt’s a very special occasion when ITV and BBC coalesce – and that happened for Carol’s final episode. Former BBC Breakfast host Susanna Reid sent a tribute from the studio where she films rival breakfast show Good Morning Britain.
“Remember the time I was sitting alongside Bill Turnbull and you told us we were going to experience temperatures of 99 degrees celsius across the UK, causing a slightly bemused nation to wonder how to dress for the day ahead!”
Technology changed Carol's job over the years
08:49 , Jacob StolworthyThings have changed a lot since Carol, who started as a production assistant on BBC Breakfast, became the show’s fixed weather host.
“It’s changed hugely,” she said shortly before her final segment.
“If you look at the weather, for starters, in the olden days, the graphics were clunkier and not as jazzy as they are now. Now they’re 3D and you can see the rain and the cloud moving through.”
The one thing that’s stayed the same? “The lovely, warm, family feel” in the studio.
Who'll be stepping into Carol's shoes?
08:41 , Jacob StolworthyThere’s currently no official word on who’ll be replacing Carol Kirkwood full-time on BBC Breakfast, but there are a few contenders.
Recognisable BBC Weather stars Tomasz Schafernaker Helen Willetts, Simon King and Sarah Keith-Lucas are in the running. However, the odds are predicting meteorologist Matt Taylor is the one for the job.
He’s been part of the BBC’s Weather Centre since 2004, thanks to his long-standing background within the BBC and familiarity with viewers.
All hail, Queen Carol
08:34 , Jacob Stolworthy“When you go to an event with Carol, it is a little bit like being with the Queen,” BBC Breakfast host Sally Nugent says. “She just does get mobbed and I’d trail behind her like a lady-in-waiting carrying her bags.”
Weather station named after Carol Kirkwood
08:25 , Jacob StolworthyIn what could be the highest honour for a weather enthusiast like Carol, RHS Garden Wisley announced this week it would rename its weather station after the host.
'We are going to rename it the Carol Kirkwood weather site'
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) March 30, 2026
RHS Garden Wisley has renamed its weather station in honour of Carol Kirkwood as she prepares to leave #BBCBreakfast after more than a quarter of a centuryhttps://t.co/fe4yDdBpeN pic.twitter.com/OFdORz1ECV
Carol Kirkwood's funniest moment?
08:21 , Jacob StolworthyIt’s been mentioned a few times this morning, but it could be from 2021 when Carol was presenting from the Chelsea Flower Show. While presenting a segment alongside guide dog Flash, the pooch got overexcited and ran away, pulling Carol offscreen. It’s a brilliant moment highlighting Carol’s willingness to roll with whatever live TV threw her way - and always with a smile.
Bryan Adams sends surprise farewell message
08:09 , Jacob StolworthyCarol’s jaw dropped when she saw she’d received a message from “Summer of ‘69” singer Bryan Adams.
Carol had a memorable back-and-forth with the star when he appeared on BBC Breakfast in 2015, telling her she “looked wonderful” and couldn’t wait to “see her dancing” on Strictly.
“Thank you, Bryan – how on earth can I do the weather now? I have no idea,” the flustered hosty responded.
Ahead of her departure, Adams said: “Hi Carol. Just wanted to say thanks for all the great weather reports over the years and good luck wherever you land. Take care, lots of love.”
'You have changed the way weather has been reported on television'
07:58 , Jacob StolworthyThe Chelesa Flower Show, Wimbledon, Royal Ascot, The poppies at the Tower of London: these are just a few of the places Carol Kirkwood has presented the weather from.
The weather host is presented with a sweet tribute from stars Sue Barker, Zoe Ball, Paul Merton, Chris Evans, Judy Murray, Sir Chris Hoy and Vicky McClure – the star of her favourite TV show Line of Duty.
Clare Balding says it’ll be nice to have Carol at Wimbledon next year, but sitting in the royal box.
Celebrations ahead for Carol's final episode
07:50 , Jacob Stolworthy“We’ve got some special treats for the last couple of hours,” Sally Nugent teased before Jon Kay read a touching message from one of the weather host’s fans – in Holland!
“What a beautiful message,” Kirkwood beamed, before turning her attention to the matter at hand.
“The weather’s not quite so beautiful for the next few days, sadly. Bringing the tone down once again.”
'Alarm clocks will be a thing of the past!'
07:45 , Jacob StolworthyCarol Kirkwood woke up at the terribly early time of 2.45am to make it into the BBC Breakfast studios in time. But now she’s retiring, she can look forward to getting more sleep – and she’ll have one less thing to do every night.
“Alarm clocks will be a thing of the past!” she told the BBC. “What is a lie in? I have no idea.”
She added that she’s “in denial” about not having to wake up early. “It’s going to be so weird – for 28 years, I’ve been waking up at quarter to three!
Why did Carol Kirkwood decide to retire?
07:43 , Jacob StolworthyWhen Carol Kirkwood announced she was leaving the BBC back in January, the weather host shed some light on the reason behind her decision – and it came down to family commitments.
"I want to spend more time with my gorgeous husband Steve. We're ships that pass in the night, so I'm really looking forward to doing that. We want to travel as well," she said of police officer Steve Randall, whom she married in 2023.
"I've loved my job, I've loved working at the BBC – but I love my husband more than my job."
Carol Kirkwood made BBC debut 28 years ago
07:39 , Jacob StolworthyNobody could have quite predicted the enduring face Carol Kirkwood would become for the BBC when she made her modest debut on 28 April 1998.
She joined BBC News as weather host after being trained under the guidance of the corporation at the Met Office.
Before becoming a weather presenter, she had presented short slots on BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4 in the 1980s – but paused her broadcasting career following her marriage to cricketer Jimmy Kirkwood.
How Carol Kirkwood remained such a ray of sunshine despite early starts
07:23 , Jacob StolworthyYou might wonder how Carol Kirkwood always remained so smiley despite waking up at 2.30am to make it into the BBC Breakfast studios on time.
Well, according to the presenter herself, “it helps that I absolutely LOVE the weather and talking about it on the TV”.
She told the BBC ahead of her departure: “Over the last 25 years, I’ve seen huge changes in the technology behind the forecast and on camera, but the one thing that stays the same is our fascination with the wonder of weather.
“I’ll miss doing the forecast hugely and the connection it has brought me with audiences right across the UK. But I am looking forward to some lie-ins and exploring the weather elsewhere around the world.”
'It's going to be a cloudier day than it was yesterday'
07:18 , Jacob StolworthyCarol Kirkwood, there, hosting one of her final weather segments, but she could easily be hinting at the fact she’s leaving the BBC. We’ll miss her friendly demeanour!
Sally Nugent has teased some more celebrations for the outgoing weather presenter in approximately 25 minutes...
Carol Kirkwood shown career highlights video
07:14 , Jacob StolworthyCarol Kirkwood teased a change of heart while being welcomed to her final episode by BBC Breakfast hosts Sally Nugent and Jon Kay.
"I might just stay now that I'm on the sofa," she quipped, before being shown a highlights compilation of her most memorable moments from the last 28 years.
Kirkwood smiled as she watched the video, calling it “amazing”. It’s certainly going to be one emotional day for the TV star.
Carol Kirkwood's farewell episode is currently airing
07:06 , Jacob StolworthyCarol Kirkwood will present her final weather segment for the BBC today, bringing her 28 years with the corporation to an end. BBC Breakfast is on now and will end at 9.30am.
