BBC Breakfast star Carol Kirkwood has shared details about the ‘hardest year of her life’ after divorcing her first husband, Jimmy Kirkwood.
The 61 year old recently opened up about the ‘devastating’ period on Kaye Adams’ How to Be 60 podcast.
The BBC Breakfast weather correspondent married her former husband, Jimmy, a cricket player from Northern Ireland, at the age of 28 when she had just started working at the BBC in 1990.
After many years of marriage, the couple parted ways in 2008.
During the podcast, Kaye asked Carol about the most challenging year of her life, and she responded: “Probably the year I got divorced. I didn’t expect that to happen, and it was shocking.
“It was pretty devastating at the time, but it led to better things after that.
“I think that was probably the hardest year, that or when my dad died.
“I was very close to my dad, and he died when I was quite young, and he was the apple of my eye, so either of these two. For different reasons.”
The reason behind Carol and Jimmy’s split is unknown, as the weather reporter keeps her private life under wraps.
Carol shared more information on her split from Jimmy as she revealed how she learned to spread her wings later in life.
Carol admitted that she got married relatively young and also disclosed: “It was a transition between being married and being divorced and suddenly being on your own.”
The BBC presenter told Kaye that she and Jimmy had a fair division of labour at home and they each had specific roles around the house.
The flagship BBC show has had dozens of presenters during its impressive 40 years on air but the current stars are:
Jon Kay – Since 2022
Sally Nugent – Since 2021
Charlie Stayt – Since 2006
Naga Munchetty – Since 2014
Carol Kirkwood – Since 1997
She also explained that her ex-husband used to do the banking as she added: “All of that was new to me at the ripe old age in my 40s. You were a wee bit lost, but you get on with it.”
Carol shared that after some time, she started enjoying her own company and being in control of her life.
As the years passed, Carol eventually met her now-husband, Steve Randall, after attending an event with Steph McGovern.
The couple got engaged in 2022 and tied the knot at the end of last year in an intimate ceremony in Buckinghamshire.
When the newlywed returned to the BBC Breakfast show in the new year, Jon Kay asked her how the celebration went, to which she responded: “Jon, I cannot tell you how fabulous it’s been!
“You shouldn’t really be talking like this about your own wedding, but it was blissful! It was romantic, it was absolutely perfect.
“I would not change a thing about the day. It was very small as well and intimate, so you didn’t have to worry that Auntie Nelly didn’t have a glass of sherry in her hand! It was brilliant.”
Jon jokingly quizzed: “Does that mean you had all the sherry?”
Carol laughed and replied: “Jon, you know me far too well.”
BBC Breakfast is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
