BBC Breakfast weather presenter Carol Kirkwood has opened up about a deep heartache she has experienced

Carol has enjoyed an impressive run at the BBC(Image: 2023 Mike Marsland)

BBC Breakfast’s beloved Carol Kirkwood is a staple on our screens. The award-winning weather presenter, who has a wealth of experience behind her, is known for her cheery forecasts and sunshine smile, no matter the outlook.

However, away from the camera, the 63-year-old, who hails from Morar, Invernessshire, has faced personal challenges, including the sorrow of an unfulfilled aspiration.

In a heartfelt chat with OK!, Carol shared the emotional toll of not becoming a mother, a dream she once held dear. She confided to the outlet: “I always wanted to have children. That was my dream.”

Carol considered fertility treatments until the expense proved too much.

“It was a source of heartbreak, but we tried and failed,” reports the Mirror.

Behind the sunshine exterior, the 63-year-old weather presenter has quietly weathered storms of her own(Image: GETTY)

Carol, who hails from a large family herself, being one of eight children, pours her affection into her role as an aunt.

“I love them all incredibly,” she says, speaking of her 15 nieces and nephews along with numerous godchildren.

While she may not have experienced motherhood, Carol has discovered joy in other facets of her life, both in her personal journey and her career. Following her 2008 split from former field hockey player Jimmy Kirkwood, Carol channelled her energy into her career and gracefully reconstructed her personal life.

She maintained discretion about her romantic affairs for years, before thrilling supporters in 2022 with news of her engagement to long-standing partner Steve Randall, an ex-police officer turned entrepreneur.

The couple have settled in rural Buckinghamshire and recently exchanged vows in an intimate ceremony, with Carol offering fans glimpses of their happiness through social media posts.

Carol announced her engagement to long-term partner Steve Randall in 2022(Image: Getty)

Career-wise, Carol has enjoyed a stellar tenure with the BBC since joining the corporation in the late 1990s. She became a fixture on BBC Breakfast and swiftly positioned herself as Britain’s premier meteorological authority.

Her approachable manner, professional knowledge, and authentic rapport with audiences transformed her into a cherished national figure.

Beyond her broadcasting duties, Carol captivated viewers during her 2015 stint on Strictly Come Dancing, where she partnered with professional dancer Pasha Kovalev and enchanted fans with her elegance and wit.

Recently, she has ventured into authorship, penning multiple romantic fiction titles that have garnered rave reviews and proved bestsellers.

Overcoming romantic disappointment, she reflects, has enhanced both her writing abilities and personal growth.

“You know how it feels when somebody doesn’t love you any more and moves on, in the same way that you’ve probably done to somebody else, when you’ve been honest and said, ‘I think you’re great, but romantically, it’s not going anywhere,’” she explained.

“When you’re heartbroken, you cry a lot, you feel sorry for yourself and you think, perhaps, you’re going to spend the rest of your life on your own, and then you don’t. You come out of that. You grow.”

Now, she’s an inspiration to other women facing midlife changes alone, sharing her journey towards happiness post-divorce.

“When I got divorced, I did date other people, then somebody said to me, ‘You need to find yourself’ and I was thinking, ‘What? I know myself. I know who I am,’ she revealed.

“But I went for a period without dating people, because I was just happy going out with my friends.”