Carol Kirkwood seemed cheerful as she left the BBC Breakfast studio after hosting her last show, even though Naga Munchetty playfully teased her as she said goodbye.
In January, 63-year-old Carol announced with emotion that she would be leaving the BBC in April, ending a career of over 25 years with the organization.
The beloved BBC weather presenter, a familiar face on the show since 1997, said farewell to her colleagues on Wednesday’s broadcast.
I spotted her leaving her Manchester hotel on Thursday after her final performance. She was gathering all the beautiful flowers and gifts fans had given her, and loading them into a car – a sweet end to a fantastic tour, honestly!
She looked casual in a navy tracksuit and black leggings and was beaming from ear to ear.
On her final day at the studio, Carol spoke with hosts Jon Kay and Sally Nugent, and was also joined by her colleagues Naga, Nina Warhurst, Peter Ruddick, and John Watson.
Before leaving, Naga couldn’t resist a playful jab at Carol, continuing their tradition of lighthearted banter on television.
After sharing some of Carol’s funniest moments, Naga playfully told her she was ‘just waiting for the signal for her to leave!’
Everyone burst into laughter in the studio, but those watching at home weren’t so impressed.
Some viewers commented on social media, questioning whether Naga Munchetty and Carol Kirkwood had a strained relationship. They also wondered why Munchetty didn’t publicly acknowledge Kirkwood’s final weather presentation, like other colleagues did.
One person pointed out that Naga Munchetty didn’t offer a pre-recorded tribute like other colleagues who had worked with Carol for a long time. They said she instead seemed to try and catch Carol out with difficult questions, potentially to embarrass her.
But one pointed out: ‘Naga was there and gave her the Little Miss Sunshine picture.’
Naga went on, offering a rare moment of kindness. ‘Let’s get your on-air name sorted. How about Little Miss Sunshine?’
She went on to explain that they’d been getting a lot of video tapes throughout the day, and everyone thought the contestants were fantastic, even though they didn’t always say so. She joked that if anyone heard someone mention Carol was taking time off, they’d be shocked and worried.
Aren’t the Mr. Men books adorable? If we were all characters from those stories, what would we be? Maybe sleepy? I think we’d probably be like Little Miss Sunshine, just like Adam Hargreaves imagined.
The broadcaster then handed her a beautiful painting of the character.
After thirty years of presenting weather forecasts on BBC Breakfast, Carol gave her final report, leaving many viewers touched as she fought back tears.
It was difficult for her to share the news with her colleagues, Sally Nugent and Jon Kay, but she explained that while she enjoys her work, she wants to dedicate more time to her husband, Steve Randall, who is a police officer.
Despite the difficult circumstances, the presenter managed to finish her forecast with composure, and received heartfelt messages from her BBC colleagues in a pre-recorded video.
Carol said goodbye to Sally and Jon in the studio, cheerfully sharing the week’s weather forecast with viewers.
After her show, she joined the team on the couch, and they expressed their gratitude for her providing forecasts a few days in advance. This would allow them to continue offering a ‘Carol forecast’ even after she left.
As a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen firsthand how much television weather reporting has evolved, and I was just talking to Sally about this! She was telling me how someone – Carol, as it happens – has really revolutionized the way we get our forecasts. It’s not just about seeing the map anymore; it’s about how presenters connect with viewers, whether they’re live on location or right there in the studio. It’s a total shift in how things are done!
‘You’ve been broadcasting from massive events over the years.’
Carol mentioned a number of iconic London events and sights, including the Chelsea Flower Show, Wimbledon, the Tower of London poppies, and Royal Ascot, saying there have been many others.
The BBC followed this with a heartfelt video message featuring well-wishes for Carol from other BBC personalities, such as Sue Barker, Vicky McClure, Paul Merton, Zoe Ball, Clare Balding, Chris Evans, and Sir Chris Hoy.
As a lifestyle expert, I have to say, it was genuinely heartwarming to see Charlie Stayt, Louise Minchin, Sian Williams, Susanna Reid, and Dan Walker all showering Carol with praise during a recent tribute. They were all so effusive, describing her as ‘lovely, kind, and caring’ – it really highlighted what a special person she is!
The messages praised Carol, calling her cheerful and a wonderful friend, and said she had brightened the lives of many people across the country. Viewers were predicted to be very sad to see her go.
Sally and Jon gave Carol a special surprise: a video message from Bryan Adams, the Canadian rockstar. He thanked her for providing wonderful weather forecasts over the years, which completely shocked her.
As the videos finished, Carol enthusiastically said she really enjoyed them. She also expressed how happy she was to have met such wonderful and kind people, calling them brilliant friends.
Jon shared some heartfelt messages from viewers for Carol, and she confessed it was tough saying goodbye to the weather presenter.
We’re really going to miss Carol! She’s incredibly reliable with the Shetland forecast and we always valued that. We wish her the very best in the future.
Someone else wished Carol well as she finished her time at the BBC, saying she’d been a reliable and comforting figure during turbulent times.
Messages poured in for Carol Kirkwood, thanking her for bringing sunshine to mornings and brightening up BBC Breakfast. Many called her a ‘national treasure’ and wished her well in retirement, saying she’ll be greatly missed. One message simply called her an ‘icon’ and expressed how much she’d be missed.
Carol confessed she still hadn’t fully processed the fact that she was leaving the show, saying, ‘I’m pretending it’s not happening, and I probably will just show up to work on Monday like normal…’
It’s going to feel strange not being able to connect with our wonderful viewers and the entire team – not just on BBC Breakfast, but also at BBC Weather. We’ll miss seeing and talking to everyone.
‘It’s going to be different and I’m going to miss everyone horribly.’
The group reminisced about Carol’s professional journey, starting as a production assistant at BBC Breakfast and culminating in her thirty-year career as a beloved weather presenter.
Right before Carol signed off, her husband Steve surprised her with a cake and flowers.
She finished by saying she would do her best to deliver the news, even though she’d been expecting it for some time. She admitted it was still difficult to share.
After nearly three decades of forecasting the weather for the BBC – following storms, highlighting sunny days, and even making a few mistakes along the way – I’m retiring.
Walking into this studio for the first time, I had no idea what the future held. Things were much different then – the graphics weren’t as polished, the maps were a little rough around the edges, and I definitely hadn’t started going grey yet!
What’s always remained special is the chance to share information with you in your homes. Thank you for your trust, whether it’s about the weather – from heatwaves to snow – or important national events, and even the simple question of whether to grab an umbrella.
I’ve always appreciated you being there for me, and I truly never stopped. I’m going to miss you a lot, and I’m incredibly grateful for everything you’ve done.
This job has meant more to me than just work; it’s given me lasting memories and friendships I truly value.
I’m starting a new phase of life where I’ll have more time with my family and finally be able to enjoy watching the weather instead of being on TV. I’m so grateful for all the years you’ve welcomed me into your homes.
I was so surprised when Carol announced back in March that April 1st would be her last day on air! She made sure to joke that it wasn’t an April Fool’s prank, but honestly, it felt like time was flying by and the date was coming up way too fast. I’m really going to miss her!
Carol joked that she had eight very early mornings left before finishing the show, and said the first thing she’d do is get rid of her alarm clock.
She added that while it’s a joyful occasion, she’s going to be sad to leave and will miss everyone – both the people she works with and the viewers.
Carol became emotional when she announced her departure, sharing that her commitment to her husband was stronger than her dedication to her work.
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2026-04-03 00:05