Carol Kirkwood, former BBC Breakfast weather presenter, has recently retired after a 25-year career delivering morning forecasts. Reflecting on her transition, Kirkwood said she now appreciates the simple pleasure of unwinding with a glass of wine in her garden alongside her husband without feeling the demands of an early start.

Kirkwood grew up in Morar, a village on Scotland’s west coast, where she enjoyed a childhood marked by freedom and closeness with nature. Raised in a family of eight children, she is the sixth of seven siblings, and remains close with her extended family, which includes numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

Her broadcasting career required an early morning routine, often rising before 3 a.m. to prepare for the 4 a.m. studio start. This demanding schedule shaped much of her daily life, at times making it difficult to maintain a conventional sleep pattern. After retiring earlier this year, she worried about adjusting to a new routine but found success in resetting her internal clock following a trip to Las Vegas in April. She now enjoys waking naturally later in the morning.

In addition to her broadcasting career, Kirkwood has pursued writing, recently publishing a Christmas-themed novel inspired by her love of the holiday’s festive atmosphere. She described the story as centered on the romance of seasonal elements such as snow, decorations, and carols, while acknowledging that the period can be challenging for some.

Kirkwood’s first home was a three-bedroom dormer bungalow in Corstorphine, Edinburgh, bought in 1986 early in her career. She now lives with her husband Steve in a modernized 1970s detached house in Berkshire, near the River Thames, where they have resided for two decades. The home features a bright living room with adjustable chairs and a renovated kitchen. She praised her husband’s culinary skills, though she also shared pride in her own Thai green chicken curry and a chocolate-dipped strawberry dessert.

The couple appreciates their countryside surroundings, which offer access to local wildlife such as cormorants, ducklings, and muntjac deer, while remaining close enough to London for cultural outings and social engagements.

Asked about the idea of owning a second home, Kirkwood said it remains a dream rather than a reality.