Carol Kirkwood’s husband Steve joined her on the sofa in an unexpected appearance just moments before she signed off for the final time from BBC Breakfast
08:07, 01 Apr 2026Updated 10:51, 01 Apr 2026
Carol Kirkwood in tears as she leaves BBC Breakfast
Carol Kirkwood became emotional as her husband Steve made a surprise appearance during her final ever BBC Breakfast show. The weather presenter, 63, is leaving her role today (April 1) after almost 30 years at the broadcaster.
In a complete shock to Carol, her husband Steve made an appearance with a huge bouquet of flowers in her final moments. The sweet move had been secretly arranged by Breakfast bosses and Steve joked he was “in trouble” for keeping it a secret from her.
As she signed off for the final time, Carol burst into tears and said: “Thank you for letting me be part of your lives.” Steve said he was the “proudest and luckiest man in the world,” leading Carol to say she agreed with her husband. The teary star then told viewers that she didn’t have a “detailed forecast” for her life after the daytime show.
Carol’s husband Steve made a surprise appearance leaving her completely stunned
READ MORE: Carol Kirkwood’s real reason for quitting BBC Breakfast after 28 yearsREAD MORE: BBC Breakfast’s Carol Kirkwood shares ‘first thing’ she’ll do after exit
A five-minute montage of messages and throwback clips was aired(Image: BBC)
And she jokingly told colleagues with Sally Nugent and Jon Kay to expect her back in the studio on Monday. After a star-packed tribute montage that included the likes of Judy Murray, Bryan Adams and Clare Balding, Carol gushed over her three decades with the BBC.
When she was asked if she was ready to turn off the pre-3am alarm clock, Carol said: “No, I think I’m in denial. I expect I’ll rock up on Monday.
She went on: “For 28 years, I’ve been getting up at quarter to three. But you know, I’m privileged. I do a fabulous job. I’m not running into burning buildings and saving lives.
“But it’s going to be weird. It’s going to be weird not speaking to our lovely audience all our viewers. Not seeing everyone. Not seeing the crew, both in front and behind the camera, not just in breakfast, but also in BBC Weather as well. It’s it’s going to be different, and I’m going to miss everyone horribly.”
Earlier in the show, the programme also paid a special tribute to the weather presenter on her final show. Ahead of her last appearance, Carol Kirkwood has been inundated with messages from friends and colleagues with Sally Nugent and Jon Kay confessing they had received thousands of touching thoughts from the public. The veteran presenter was seen laughing and smiling as the throwback clip showed a number of her best moments from her time on the show.
The footage also showed sweet messages from staff and fans alike as they shared their favourite moments with the star.She was labelled the nation’s “comfort blanket” as fans thanked her for “brightening our days”.
Carol Kirkwood appeared to enjoy the throwbacks(Image: BBC)
Following the almost five-minute montage, Sally continued to thank the star, saying: “I think we forget sometimes, because we’re so lucky to have you here with us, we forget all the people at home who are your friends too.” Sally asked if she could have a copy of the messages, but Jon joked: “I don’t think there are enough trees on the planet.”
“Everybody I have met at home has been so special,” gushed Carol as she reminisced on her time on the show. “They are the best audience,” she added. Carol also joked she had been told her voice had been helping put babies to sleep over the years. “The lovely warmth feel and family feel about it, it’s special,” Carol said about the atmosphere on Breakfast.
Making an appearance, former anchor Susanna Reid said: “You have such a way about you and that infectious smile that we will all miss. Remember that time I was sitting alongside Bill [Turnbull] on the BBC Breakfast sofa, and you told us we were going to experience temperatures of 99 degrees across the UK.”
Susanna Reid also made an appearance(Image: BBC)
Speaking about her late colleague, Bill Turnbull, Carol said: “He was such a sweetheart, wasn’t he, Billy, he was so kind, he would say ‘Kirky, behave yourself, you’re a naughty girl.” Meanwhile, Sally told Carol: “We were so lucky to hold onto you for so long but the thing I’m most excited about, this is happy ever after, no-one deserves it more than you.”
“I’m the lucky one,” Carol said. During the show, Carol shared her excitement over meeting the one celebrity she’d dreamed of meeting – Larry the Cat. During a pre-recorded segment, Carol was whisked to 10 Downing Street, where she got to cuddle the Chief Mouser. “He’s a wee dreamboat,” she gushed, adding: “He’s gorgeous, he’s so well behaved, he’s so dainty, I’m in love.” She added: “Oh Larry – he was a delight, he’s so soft, he’s a perfect gentleman.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer also made an appearance, wishing Carol well, saying she had been a “staple” for people every morning. As the entire Breakfast team arrived, Naga Munchetty joked that she was only in attendance for the “countdown” for Carol “to go.” She later joked she was showing a “rare glimpse” of a nicer side to her, with Carol replying: “I think I need smelling salts,” as she laughed.
Carol announced earlier this year that she had made the hard decision to step down from her weather-presenting role. She revealed she plans to spend more quality time with her husband, Steve.
At the time, she was visibly emotional while discussing her decision with Jon and Sally. She told them: “I am going to be leaving. It’s really, really hard for me to say this. I love my job.
“I love all of you guys, my weather colleagues, every department I work with, and, of course, all the viewers I’ve been so engaged with for many years. But it’s great. I don’t want to be coming in with my Zimmer frame when I can’t reach the northern Isles anymore.”
She added: “I’m going to be spending more time with Steve, my gorgeous husband, we have been married a couple of years ago but we are like ships passing in the night, so I’m so looking forward to doing that. I’ve still got my books, you know, I’ve got a few other bits and pieces. I want to travel. We want to travel as well.”
Her voice began to break during her announcement and she confessed: “I didn’t want to get emotional, but you two are my friends, and I love you dearly so I am sorry I did.”
After starting her BBC career as a production secretary, Carol later became a production assistant. She then became a main weather presenter on BBC Breakfast 2010.
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