Carol Kirkwood, the beloved weather presenter, recently announced her departure from BBC Breakfast, marking the end of a remarkable 25-year tenure. At 63, Kirkwood shared her emotional journey, recounting a poignant moment when she had to step away from the camera to shed tears, highlighting a deeply personal side of her life.

Carol began her career with the BBC in 1998 and was married to Scottish businessman Jimmy Kirkwood for 25 years. Their marriage ended amicably, not due to any dramatic events but simply because they had grown apart over time.

In a candid interview with the Daily Express last year, Carol reflected on the challenges she faced during that period, saying, “I still had to be the smiling Carol on screen. The whole experience was shocking and extremely challenging for me.”

She revealed, “After broadcasting from the Blue Peter garden, I would take a moment in the Ladies’ room to have a good cry, then reapply my makeup before returning to the cameras.”

Carol added, “Oddly enough, this routine aided my healing. I compartmentalized my grief, keeping it separate from my work. Otherwise, I would have been overwhelmed by emotion. My job really helped me through that difficult time.”

It was simple – I had a public face and a private face.”

The weather forecaster has since remarried having tied the knot with her husband Steve Randall two years ago.

Carol will leave Breakfast in April and said it had been an “absolute privilege” to bring viewers the weather.

After her regular morning forecast, she broke the news of her departure sitting on the Breakfast sofa, saying she was looking forward to spending more time with her husband Steve and going travelling.

Carol told presenters Jon Kay and Sally Nugent: “I didn’t want to get emotional, but you two are my friends, and I love you dearly.”

“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 added: “I’ve loved my job, I’ve loved working at the BBC, but I love my husband more than my job.”