BBC weather legend Carol Kirkwood fought back tears as she revealed today that she will leave BBC in April – after more than 25 years with the broadcaster.

The 63-year-old struggled to get her words out as she announced the news on BBC Breakfast this morning immediately after delivering the latest on Storm Chandra.

Met Office-trained Carol choked up as she joined presenters Sally Nugent and Jon Kay on the programme’s sofa and said: ‘So, I’m going to be leaving – and it’s really hard, really hard for me to say this because I love my job.

‘But it’s great – I don’t want to be coming in in my Zimmer frame and saying, “I can’t reach the Northern Isles anymore!”.’

Carol, who hails from Morar in the Scottish Highlands, says she plans to spend more time with her husband Steve Randall, whom she wed at the end of 2023.

‘We only got married a couple of years ago and we’re ships that pass in the night so I’m so looking forward to doing that,’ she said, adding that the pair hope to travel, and she hopes to continue writing novels.

Carol had kept the news of her departure secret from everyone – including her friends and her colleagues at BBC Breakfast.

She added with a smile: ‘I love my job, I’ve loved working at the BBC, but I love my husband more than my job.’

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Carol Kirkwood was on the verge of tears as she announced she would leave the BBC after more than 25 years (seen announcing the news on BBC Breakfast today)

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She was comforted as she delivered the news to presenters Jon Kay and Sally Nugent – Jon going so far as to offer her a tissue

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Carol poses with Rufus the falcon on centre court at Wimbledon, who is famed for scaring away birds during the summer tennis championship

Turning to Sally and Jon, she added: ‘I didn’t want to get emotional but you two are my friends and I love you dearly.’

As Carol finished delivering the news, Sally held her hand and Jon reached for a box of tissues, before both giving her a tight hug.

Sally joked: ‘There’s one important thing that we haven’t mentioned, which is that you are going to get a lie in.’

In a written statement, weather legend Carol added that leaving the broadcaster after more than two and a half decades ‘hasn’t been an easy decision to make’, but added it ‘feels like the right moment to step away’.

She said: ‘It’s been an absolute privilege to bring you the weather every day. My job is something I’ve never taken for granted and I’ve loved every minute!

‘From early starts and all manner of forecasts, I’ve shared it with incredible colleagues at BBC Breakfast, BBC Weather and programmes across the BBC. I’d like to thank them for their support and friendship which has meant the world.

‘And to those watching and listening at home – thank you for all the kindness you have shown me over the years, being part of your mornings has been a joy.

‘This hasn’t been an easy decision to make, but it feels like the right moment to step away. I’ll carry with me the most wonderful memories.’

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Carol competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015 with Pasha Kovalev, ultimately finishing 10th in week eight

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Carol with Naga Munchetty, Jon Kay and Sally Nugent cutting a cake to celebrate 40 years of BBC Breakfast in 2023

Carol began her BBC career as a production secretary and production assistant – and had no designs on becoming a meteorologist.

She underwent training at The Weather Channel in the US and became a presenter on its short-lived UK edition, before she trained with the BBC and the Met Office to join the corporation full-time.

She joined the BBC Weather Centre in 1998, and quickly became a familiar face to millions on the Six O’clock News and BBC Breakfast, where she has been the main presenter since 2010.

Her career has regularly seen her go above and beyond the use of a clicker, memorably reporting on sunshine and showers at Wimbledon, the Chelsea Flower Show and Royal Ascot.

Her sunny personality and on-screen charm has won her fans across the country – and a collection of industry awards.

Born Carol MacKellaig, she wed cricketer Jimmy Kirkwood in 1990 before announcing that they were separating in 2008.

The split, she later revealed to the Radio Times, encouraged her to come out of her shell.

She told the magazine: ‘I found myself when I got divorced. I started to do things and to think, “I’m not going to say no, I’m going to say yes!”

‘I’m braver now. I’ve flown with the Red Arrows, jumped out of planes with the Red Devils. When I was younger I would never have done that because I’d have thought, “Too dangerous!” Now I think, “Oh, you’ve got to live your life!”‘