Tearful Carol Kirkwood announces she is to leave BBC

Weather presenter Carol Kirkwood fought back tears as she announced on BBC Breakfast that she would be leaving the corporation after more than 25 years.

She hugged her co-presenters saying it was "really hard for me to say this because I love my job".

Kirkwood, who joined the BBC in 1998, will leave in April and said it had been an "absolute privilege" to bring viewers the weather.

After her regular morning forecast, the 63-year-old broke the news of her departure sitting on the Breakfast sofa, saying she was looking forward to spending more time with her husband Steve and going travelling.

Kirkwood told presenters Jon Kay and Sally Nugent: "I didn't want to get emotional, but you two are my friends, and I love you dearly."

"I want to spend more time with my gorgeous husband Steve. We're ships that pass in the night, so I'm really looking forward to doing that. We want to travel as well."

She added: "I've loved my job, I've loved working at the BBC, but I love my husband more than my job."

Kirkwood, who is from Morar on the west coast of Scotland, married police officer Steve Randall in 2023.

She is known as one of the most familiar and friendly faces on the BBC, and her weather updates are watched and trusted by an audience of millions every day.

After starting her BBC presenting career on the News channel, Kirkwood went on to appear regularly on BBC One. She has been the main weather presenter on BBC Breakfast since 2010.

As well as fronting the daily bulletins, Kirkwood often presented the weather on location, including from Wimbledon, the Chelsea Flower Show and royal events.

She has also reported for The One Show and competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, reaching week eight with her partner Pasha Kovalev.

She has repeatedly been named best TV weather presenter at the TV and Radio Industries Club Awards.

But every now and then she has gone viral for on-air mishaps, including the time she was upstaged by a dog.

Becoming emotional, Kirkwood told Jon Kay and Sally Nugent she "loved them dearly"

Kirkwood (second left) pictured with past and present BBC Breakfast presenters on the show's 40th anniversary in 2023

Kirkwood began her BBC career as a production secretary and production assistant on BBC Breakfast.

She presented segments on BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4, but she would not appear on screen until later in her career.

She left the BBC to work in recruitment and then consultancy, but later auditioned and had training at The Weather Channel in the US, to become a presenter on its short-lived UK edition.

She later returned to the BBC and trained with the Met Office, joining the BBC Weather Centre in 1998.

Kirkwood competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015 with pro dancer Pasha Kovalev

She has often presented the weather from sports events, including Wimbledon

"My job is something I've never taken for granted and I've loved every minute," Kirkwood said.

"To those watching and listening at home - thank you for all the kindness you have shown me over the years, being part of your mornings has been a joy."

She said it had not been an easy decision but it felt like the right moment, saying "I'll carry with me the most wonderful memories".

Asked about an end to early-morning starts, she joked: "What is a lie in? I have no idea. Alarm clocks will be a thing of the past."

Nugent joked that the outlook for Kirkwood was "sunshine all the way", while Kay said: "We love you so much, and everybody at home loves you so much too."

Kirkwood, pictured in 2008, has been named best weather presenter at the industry's TRIC Awards

Kirkwood has also previously presented the Bafta Scotland Awards

Jonathan Munro, the interim CEO of BBC News, said Kirkwood had made an "exceptional" contribution to the corporation.

"From major national moments to the everyday forecasts that are such an important part of our audiences' lives, she has set the gold standard for our accurate, valued journalism - always delivered with an appropriately sunny outlook," he said.

"She will be greatly missed by teams across the BBC. We wish her all the best for the future."