Inside BBC's Carol Kirkwood's private life – from job before fame to divorce

Carol Kirkwood is a BBC Breakfast weather presenter who appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015.

Trained by the Met Office, she has been giving weather updates on TV since 1998 – though it wasn’t the career she pictured in her youth.

But while Carol is now a regular face on our TV screens, little is known about her life behind the scenes.

This weekend, the weather dynamo celebrates her 59th birthday, likely spending the day with her nearest and dearest.

Marking the occasion, the Daily Star has taken a little delve into her personal life to find out all you need to know…

How did Carol become a weather expert?

While Carol, who was born in Inverness-shire, did always want to work for the BBC – she didn’t see herself as a weather presenter.

When she was 12, she contacted the network about becoming a Blue Peter presenter but was politely told that she needed to come back to them when she had a degree.

But after graduating from Napier University, Carol applied to be a BBC secretary instead.

However, a few years later, Carol was asked to audition for a new presenting role by an old friend and she got the job.

Carol has said of her career, “I’d never give up the weather on Breakfast. If they showed me the door I would hang on by my fingernails!

“So, as long as Breakfast want me, I’ll be there because I love it.”

Is Carol married?

Carol married cricket player Jimmy Kirkwood in 1990, but they divorced 18 years later in 2008.

Speaking to Radio Times, Carol said of the split, “I found myself when I got divorced.

“I started to do things and to think, ‘I’m not going to say no, I’m going to say yes!’

“I’m braver now. I’ve flown with the Red Arrows, jumped out of planes with the Red Devils.

“When I was younger I would never have done that because I’d have thought, ‘Too dangerous!’ Now I think, ‘Oh, you’ve got to live your life!'”

She added to The Sun, “I was married for a long time and I got married quite young so it’s nice doing things I have the freedom to do now.”

But Carol hasn’t ruled out remarrying one day, confessing, “I absolutely believe in marriage.

“If you’re married to the person who is your soulmate and the person who you want to spend the rest of your life with.”

She added, “I wouldn’t get married just for the sake of being married, because I’m happy as I am.”

Does Carol have children?

Carol comes from a big family and is one of eight children, but does not have any kids of her own.

Fellow presenter Steph McGovern referred to Carol as ‘Auntie’ a few months after giving birth in early 2020.

Steph tweeted: “My new favourite thing is watching Auntie Carol @carolkirkwood doing a personal weather forecast for my 3-month-old daughter whilst sitting on her knee (the baby not me). #weatherwords #babychat.”

Carol has not publicly spoken about not having children.

What has Carol said about her home life?

Clearly an animal lover, Carol recently gushed about beloved her cat, Donald, describing him as her ‘biggest weakness.’

“He’s 20 years old and he rules the roost. If I’m late back from work I get a right telling off,” she said.

“He can do no wrong. He’ll sit outside his treats cupboard, look at me with his big green eyes and I simply can’t say no.”

She also labelled her furry companion her “best friend” adding, “My happiness, my sadness, everything – and he never tells a soul.

“He’s the one ‘person’ who knows everything about me.”

When it comes to dating, Carol has been open about the fact she’s content on her own and it’s thought she is currently single.

“I’m happy as I am,” she said. “It’d be nice to be seeing somebody, but it’s not the be-all and end-all.”

How does Carol feel about being on TV?

With millions watching her every day, it’s no wonder Carol feels under pressure to look her best.

During an interview with Radio Times in 2018, Carol said, “I like it if my hair is neat and my make-up is ok and I’m not having a fat day.

“When you just feel bleurgh. I didn’t get this figure eating salad. But I go to the gym, and I run. I try to be healthy.”

She added, “When I put on weight, it’s annoying, but I try to get it off. Perhaps I’m under a little bit more pressure because I’m on the telly.”

Carol has also joked about how she has been described as a ‘sex symbol’ before.

The presenter said, “Sex symbol makes me laugh, I couldn’t be further from a sex symbol if I tried!

“I think I’m more just your girl-next-door rather than anything else. If anyone says that, bless them.”

Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk