For nearly three decades, Carol Kirkwood has been the radiant face of BBC weather, a symbol of morning sunshine regardless of the actual forecast. However, the 63-year-old broadcasting icon has recently pulled back the curtain on a grueling period of her life where her famous on-screen persona was nothing more than a carefully maintained mask.

The Agony of the “Professional Mask”

The most turbulent chapter of Kirkwood’s life began in 2008 with the collapse of her 18-year marriage to Scottish developer Jimmy Kirkwood. While her private world was splintering, the demands of live television required her to be “Smiling Carol” without fail.

Speaking to Candis magazine, she recalled the harrowing routine of broadcasting from the Blue Peter gardens: retreating to the dressing rooms between segments to weep, only to reapply her makeup and step back into the spotlight moments later. Yet, in a twist of irony, she credits this emotional compartmentalization as her survival mechanism. Forcing herself to maintain a “public face” prevented her from being entirely consumed by a “puddle of tears.”

A “Sliding Doors” Fate

Following the divorce, Kirkwood embraced a long period of solitude to rediscover her own identity, eventually becoming “happily single.” Her second chance at love arrived not through searching, but through a series of coincidences she describes as a “Sliding Doors” moment.

Meeting police officer Steve Randall at a function—an event neither of them originally intended to attend—changed everything. What began as a casual friendship slowly evolved into a profound romantic connection. Kirkwood often jokes that she is “punching” above her weight with Randall, describing the officer as a romantic, generous soul and a “keeper” who is even tidier than she is.

Redefining the “Perfect” Happy Ending

The culmination of this journey occurred in 2023 at Cliveden House in Buckinghamshire. In a move that prioritized intimacy over industry spectacle, the couple exchanged self-written vows in a private ceremony with no guests in attendance.

Randall’s devotion was further proven when he declined Carol’s offer to sell her home to fund a joint property, preferring that she remain in the space where she felt most comfortable. Today, Kirkwood’s story stands as a testament to resilience—proving that one can endure a public “storm” and find a much-deserved calm, even decades later.