Carol Kirkwood's Farewell to BBC Breakfast
Weather presenter Carol Kirkwood expressed that it had been a "privilege and honour" to have been welcomed into viewers' homes for 28 years as she delivered an emotional farewell on BBC Breakfast.
In January, Kirkwood announced her departure from the show, citing a desire to travel and spend more time with her husband, Steve.
Throughout her final programme on Wednesday, she received numerous well wishes from viewers, colleagues, and celebrities. Presenter Sally Nugent praised Kirkwood, stating she had "changed the way that weather is reported in television."
Discussing her plans, Kirkwood said:
"For once I don't have a detailed forecast, but I do know this – it's time for a new chapter.
A bit more time with Steve, and perhaps the luxury of watching the weather instead of presenting it."
Becoming emotional, she added:
"Thank you for letting me be part of your lives."
In a video tribute, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer congratulated Kirkwood on a "truly remarkable career."
"You've been a staple every morning for us in relation to the weather, with your professionalism, your warmth, and that sunny disposition you have," he said.
Final Goodbye and Reflections
In her heartfelt goodbye speech closing the programme, Kirkwood addressed viewers:
"Thank you for trusting me, be it telling you about heatwaves or snow, to the everyday question of 'do I need to take a brolly?'
To my colleagues past and present, both in front and behind the camera, I owe you all so much. You've been my team, my safety net, and, very often, my family.
We've shared breaking news, long shifts, plenty of laughter, bad hair days, and the occasional moment of pure chaos. And do you know what? I wouldn't change a second of it."
Before delivering her final forecast, Kirkwood was greeted on set by guide dog Flash, who was brought into the Breakfast studio. Flash had previously memorably pulled her over while she was reporting from the Chelsea Flower Show.
She was also seen on video meeting Larry the Cat, the resident feline at 10 Downing Street.
Her Breakfast colleagues, both past and present, gathered on set to present her with a Little Miss Sunshine framed picture.
She was then joined on the red sofa by her husband Steve, who joked that the "first thing to go" in their new lives would be "the alarm clock." Kirkwood told Nugent and co-presenter Jon Kay:
"I've been on this programme for 28 years, and it's been amazing, absolutely amazing. And I've had so many privileged moments.
I've been honoured to be on this programme for so long, meet our viewers, all these things. And it is a new chapter, so Steve and I are going to set off into the sunset."
Career Highlights and Colleague Reflections
The broadcaster and author, who also competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, cited reporting from Wimbledon, the Chelsea Flower Show, and Royal Ascot as career highlights, along with covering the poppies at the Tower of London.
Sally Nugent reflected on Kirkwood's presence at events:
"When you go to an event with Carol, it is a little bit like going to an event with The Queen."
Tributes and Viewer Messages
Kirkwood's final day began with a misty start as her Breakfast presenting colleagues read out messages and shared memories from viewers expressing their appreciation.
Video messages were played from viewers and notable figures including the prime minister, broadcasters Zoe Ball, Chris Evans, Paul Merton, Sue Barker, and Clare Balding, as well as Olympian Sir Chris Hoy and musician Bryan Adams.
Early in the show, Kirkwood smiled as she left her weather station to join Nugent and Kay on the sofa wearing a white dress. She joked, "I might just stay now that I'm on the sofa."
She was then shown a surprise video compiling farewell messages from fans and standout moments from her 28-year career.
"Thank you everyone for all these beautiful messages," she said. "I hope I can get a copy of them."
Nugent remarked:
"I don't think we've ever had more messages about anything else."
Kay confirmed there had been "thousands" of messages, which Nugent said reflected "about you and everything you have meant to them over the last years."
The Breakfast presenter noted that while she and her colleagues had been "so lucky to have you here with us, we forget all the people at home who are your friends too." Kirkwood responded that meeting viewers over the years during outside broadcasts had been "so special."
"When I go on outside broadcasts, our viewers come up and chat and I love that.
I love finding out how they're getting on, how their day's going, and we just chit-chat about anything."
She added:
"And sometimes I think, 'I'm on in two minutes!' and leg it over to the camera.
But it's so lovely to meet our audience."
She described it as "so lovely that anybody would bother to come up and chew the cud with you for a while."
Kirkwood, originally from Morar in Scotland, confirmed she had been told many times that her "Highland lilt" had "sent babies to sleep."
"As long as I'm not sending the audience to sleep."
Looking Back and Looking Forward
Writing on the live page ahead of her last show, Kirkwood reflected:
"I can't believe this day has come.
The last 02:30 alarm call, my last briefing with the duty forecaster, the last time I hear 'time gone Carol' in my earpiece."
She explained how she maintained her cheerful demeanour:
"People often ask me how I always seem so cheerful in the mornings. Well, it helps that I absolutely love the weather and talking about it on the TV."
Kirkwood noted the technological advances she had witnessed:
"Over the last 25 years I've seen huge changes in the technology behind the forecast and on camera, but the one thing that stays the same is our fascination with the wonder of weather."
She expressed how much she would miss the role:
"I will miss doing the forecast hugely and the connection it has brought me with audiences right across the UK."
Looking ahead, she said:
"But I am looking forward to some lie-ins and exploring the weather elsewhere around the world. Thank you for watching!"
