Carol Kirkwood living the dream after BBC Breakfast
Former BBC Breakfast weather presenter Carol Kirkwood says she is “living the dream” after retiring in April to spend more time with husband Steve Randall. The 64-year-old left after 28 years as a weather presenter, choosing freedom, travel and life in Bray over 2:45am starts—news that will resonate with fans of bbc breakfast presenters.
Key Takeaways
- Kirkwood retired from BBC Breakfast weather in April after 28 years on air.
- She left by choice to prioritise husband Steve Randall and shared plans.
- The couple live in Bray, a riverside village where detached homes average about £1 million.
- Early retirement trips include Las Vegas and Italy, with a long travel bucket list ahead.
- She still misses BBC colleagues but values living to her own timetable.
Why did Carol Kirkwood leave BBC Breakfast?
Kirkwood did not quit because she had fallen out of love with the job. “I loved being a weather presenter. I loved my job, and it was my choice to leave, because I love my husband more, and we want to do things together,” she told The Independent.
She married Randall, a former policeman now also retired, in 2023. Free weekday evenings and no more 2:45am alarms mean cinema, theatre, dinners out and staying up late for the first time in years.
“I’m living the dream, I’m loving it,” she said, adding that retirement has left her busier than when she was working—and she is fine with that.
Where do the couple live after her TV exit?
The pair remain based in Bray, the exclusive Berkshire village near Windsor often linked to luxury real estate and dream homes. Average detached prices there have hovered around £1 million over the past year, according to Rightmove figures cited by the Express.
Kirkwood has described her home as a small, contemporary detached house with a manageable garden where she and Steve enjoy pottering—an unexpected joy after growing up with a huge Highlands garden she once hated.
Bray’s draw goes beyond property: the riverside spot is known for fine dining, including three three-Michelin-star restaurants. Kirkwood has named The Waterside Inn as her favourite local restaurant.
How is she spending life after the early wake-ups?
Travel was central to their retirement plan. They finally caught The Eagles at Las Vegas’s Sphere once annual leave no longer blocked dates, then visited Matera and Venice. Nashville, Graceland, New Orleans, India’s Golden Triangle and a longer return to Australia are on the list.
“It’s a case of, what are we waiting for?” she said. At home, postponed chores—painting a room, filling planters—now bring quiet satisfaction, wine in the garden included.
She misses BBC Weather and BBC Breakfast friends but stays in touch. Weather, she admits, remains “part of my DNA.” For viewers who followed bbc breakfast presenters for years, her update is simple: the forecast at home is bright.