**BBC Breakfast’s Carol Kirkwood Opens Up About an Unfulfilled Dream**
Carol Kirkwood, a beloved fixture on BBC Breakfast, has become known to millions for her bright on-screen presence and spot-on weather forecasts. Yet, behind her ever-cheerful persona, the Scottish broadcaster has privately contended with a poignant personal disappointment – coming to terms with a dream she could not fulfil: the desire to be a mother.
Speaking candidly in a recent interview, Kirkwood, now aged 62, reflected on a profound longing she had carried for many years. “I always wanted to have children,” she revealed, admitting that this hope for a family was a deeply cherished aspiration. The presenter, admired for her warmth and professionalism, shared that she had considered fertility treatments, but ultimately had to confront the emotional and financial barriers that arose. “It was a source of heartbreak, but we tried and failed,” she explained.
Raised as one of eight children in a bustling Scottish household, Kirkwood has channelled her care and affection into her extended family. Proudly, she speaks of being a devoted aunt to 15 nieces and nephews, as well as a loving godparent to many more. “I love them all incredibly,” she says, suggesting that family ties and the nurturing of young relatives have brought some solace, even if her hopes of motherhood were unrealised.
Despite this personal challenge, Kirkwood has found fulfilment and happiness in other spheres – both through her flourishing career and significant personal relationships. Following her separation from ex-husband Jimmy Kirkwood in 2008, Carol chose to focus on her work and gradually rebuild her life. For several years, she remained discreet about her romantic affairs, only delighting viewers in 2022 by announcing her engagement to Steve Randall, a former police officer turned entrepreneur. The couple have since celebrated their marriage in an intimate setting in Buckinghamshire, and Carol frequently shares glimpses of their rural happiness with fans on social media.
On the professional front, Kirkwood’s journey has been nothing short of impressive. Joining the BBC in the late 1990s, she soon became an essential part of BBC Breakfast’s presenting team, where her approachable manner and meteorological expertise have made her a national favourite. Her connection with viewers has only expanded, with highlights including her appearance on *Strictly Come Dancing* in 2015, where she partnered with Pasha Kovalev. Her elegance, sense of humour, and enthusiasm throughout the competition endeared her to a wider audience.
In addition to her broadcasting achievements, Kirkwood’s creativity has found a new outlet. She has authored several romantic fiction novels, each drawing on her life experience and keen understanding of human emotion. These books have been met with commercial and critical praise, marking yet another chapter in a varied and successful career.
Addressing how she has overcome setbacks in her personal life, Kirkwood maintains that adversity has strengthened both her character and her creative voice. She acknowledges the familiar pains of heartbreak, solitude, and self-doubt, but notes that such experiences have fostered personal growth. “When you’re heartbroken, you cry, you feel sorry for yourself, you think perhaps you’ll always be alone, and then you don’t. You come out stronger,” she shared.
Now happily married, Kirkwood hopes that her story might offer comfort to women in midlife who are struggling to reconcile personal dreams with their realities. She has spoken about the importance of self-acceptance and the value of cherished friendships, noting that a period of contentment on her own allowed her to rediscover happiness outside of romantic relationships.
While Carol Kirkwood’s life remains full and rewarding, she has been frank about the pain of not having children. Nonetheless, she continues to approach this unfulfilled dream with dignity, grace, and a heart open to life’s many other joys.
As Britain’s favourite weather presenter continues to chart her own course, her journey serves as a reminder that happiness can be found in many forms – sometimes in places we least expect.