BBC Breakfast’s Carol Kirkwood, who has been a familiar face on UK TV for years, opened up about a personal struggle

Carol Kirkwood said she wanted to be a mother since she was young(Image: GETTY)

BBC Breakfast’s Carol Kirkwood has spoken openly about her heartbreaking struggle to become a mother but maintains she feels thankful for the path her life has taken. The meteorologist, who has just published her fifth book, Meet Me at Sunset, discussed her personal circumstances in a candid recent interview.

Carol, who comes from a family of eight children, has no children despite having wanted to be a mother since she was young. She disclosed that she “tried everything” in her efforts to fall pregnant, but sadly, it “just never happened.”

Carol revealed that medical professionals never provided her with answers about her inability to conceive. Nevertheless, she opted to concentrate on the positive aspects of her life, reports the Mirror. For the latest TV and showbiz news sign up to our newsletter.

Speaking to Candis Magazine, Carol said she “would have loved” to begin a family. She explained: “Nor did the doctors ever tell us why.” However, the presenter refused to allow this to dampen her spirits and highlighted a silver lining.”

She reflected: “Well, just look at the life I’ve had. I couldn’t have achieved half of it if I’d had children at home.”

During a 2022 conversation with Yours Magazine, Carol expressed similar views, recognising that her remarkable professional accomplishments – “none of that would have been possible” had she been raising children at home.

Carol launched her media journey at BBC Scotland before moving into radio. She married property entrepreneur Jimmy Kirkwood and stepped away from the BBC temporarily to pursue recruitment work. She returned to the BBC over three decades ago when she joined as a freelance contributor in 1993.

She then became a recognisable presence on The One Show and BBC Breakfast working as a weather presenter. Sadly, Carol and Jimmy’s relationship came to an end in 2008 after 18 years of marriage.

Carol Kirkwood is best known for her role on BBC Breakfast(Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

She later married her second husband, police constable Steve Randall in 2021. She has openly spoken about the difficulty of keeping up her bright television persona whilst going through personal struggles.

Speaking to Yours Magazine, she admitted: “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.”

She explained how this method helped her recovery, saying she put her “grief into a compartment.” Carol said this was something she kept entirely separate from her work life, as otherwise she would have become a “puddle of tears.”

However, Carol has found happiness with her new spouse, Steve. She told PA that her partner was “very romantic and very generous” and a “lovely man.”

Speaking to The Times, 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.”