BBC Breakfast’s Carol Kirkwood has been a staple of the show for over 25 years, but her life off-screen has been far from easy – she’s now opened up about why she never had kids
BBC Breakfast’s beloved weather presenter Carol Kirkwood has opened up about her personal life, revealing the poignant reason behind never having children. At 63, Carol has been a familiar face on the programme for more than two decades.
Her journey in media started at BBC Scotland and transitioned into radio. Following her marriage to property developer Jimmy Kirkwood, she briefly stepped away from broadcasting to pursue a career in recruitment.
The pair tied the knot in 1990 but decided to part ways after 18 years. During their time together, they tried to start a family, with BBC Breakfast star Carol confessing her lifelong dream of motherhood.
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In a heartfelt interview with Yours magazine last year, Carol expressed her deep-seated desire to have children, saying: “Oh very much. I’d wanted to be a mum since I was a child. We tried everything we could, but it just never happened and no one could tell us why.”
Carol acknowledges that her life’s trajectory would have been markedly different had she become a mother. She reflected: “Just look at the life I’ve had. None of that would have been possible if I had kids to look after at home,” reports the Express.
In 1993, Carol returned to the BBC as a freelancer and has since become a staple on The One Show and Breakfast. Her charm even led her to the dance floor on Strictly Come Dancing 10 years ago.
With a reputation that extends beyond weather forecasting, Carol has made guest appearances on shows like Hollyoaks and has graced panel programmes such as Would I Lie to You?
Despite the perks of fame, Carol admits it comes with its own set of challenges.
Carol, who tied the knot with her second husband, police officer Steve Randall, in 2021, has opened up about the struggle to keep her “sunny” on-screen persona amidst personal life chaos.
Despite the turmoil behind the scenes, Carol found herself having to maintain a cheerful facade for the cameras. She admitted that the pressure was so intense at times that she needed to sneak away for a “good cry” when off-air, but somehow, this challenging period “helped” her in the end.
Through it all, Carol credits her career with giving her the strength to carry on during those tough times.
She shared her coping mechanism: “I still had to be sunny Carol on screen. It was all so shocking to me. I’d come off air, go to the ladies, have a good cry and then reapply my eye make-up before stepping in front of the cameras again.”
Carol has not been shy about expressing her admiration for Steve in the past, telling PA that she feels like she’s “punching” above her weight with him. She described him as “very romantic and very generous,” and simply a “lovely man.”
Their relationship blossomed from a friendship, and Carol fondly recalled how “nice” it was getting to know Steve, whom she affectionately called “kind.”
In a conversation with The Times, Carol revealed that they decided Steve would move into her home. She said: “I offered to sell my home so we could buy a place together, but he’s happy living here. He’s a keeper. He’s a very good cook and tidy as well, tidier than I am.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
