Carol Kirkwood’s On-Air Tears: The Untold Story

Carol Kirkwood: From Weather Reports to Romantic Novels

Carol Kirkwood, the familiar face delivering weather forecasts on breakfast television, has cultivated a successful second career as a bestselling author of romantic fiction. With four previous novels already under her belt, her fifth, “Meet Me At Sunset,” has recently been released. Kirkwood’s passion for setting the scene is a hallmark of her writing, and this time, the story unfolds against the backdrop of Majorca. “I love everything about it,” she enthuses, “The scenery, the beaches, the mountains, the food, the people…”

The Inspiration Behind the Story

The inspiration for “Meet Me At Sunset” struck Kirkwood during a holiday in Majorca with her husband, Steve. While dining at a restaurant, she observed a sophisticated woman in her fifties, elegantly dressed and dining alone. Intrigued, Kirkwood’s imagination began to weave a narrative around this mysterious figure. “I’m a real nosey parker, I love people-watching, and my mind went into over-drive,” she admits. “I started fantasising about this woman’s life and why she was on her own. I decided there and then that she was going to be the main character in my next book.”

A Tale of Escapism

Kirkwood describes her novels as “beach reads, pure escapism,” promising readers a familiar blend of broken hearts, blackmail, betrayal, Hollywood glamour, closely guarded secrets, and the hope for happiness against a picturesque sunset. She doesn’t shy away from the fantastical nature of her stories, declaring them “a fairy story” aimed at providing lighthearted entertainment.

A Loyal Following

While Kirkwood notes that her readership is primarily female, she humorously mentions that her dentist is also a devoted fan. This broad appeal highlights the accessible and engaging nature of her storytelling.

Love and Life

Before Christmas 2023, Carol, 63, married Steve Randall, a serving police officer. Prior to this, she was married to Jimmy Kirkwood, a Scottish businessman, for 25 years. She clarifies that Jimmy Kirkwood was not the Northern Irish hockey player, as is often incorrectly reported. While the end of her first marriage was not marked by drama, Kirkwood acknowledges the challenges of navigating a separation while maintaining a public profile.

Coping with Grief

“I still had to be smiling Carol on screen,” she recalls. “It was all so shocking to me and I found it a real challenge. I’d come off-air… go to the Ladies, have a good cry and then have to reapply my eye make-up before stepping in front of the cameras again.” Kirkwood found that compartmentalising her grief and focusing on her work helped her through the healing process. “I put my grief into a compartment which I kept separate from my work, otherwise, I’d have ended up in a puddle of tears. Work kept me going. It was simple – I had a public face and a private face.”

On Family and Fulfillment

As one of eight children, Kirkwood reveals that she had always longed for a family of her own, but it was not to be. However, she maintains a positive outlook, stating, “Well, just look at the life I’ve had. I couldn’t have achieved half of it if I’d had children at home.”

Second Time Lucky

Kirkwood avoids comparing her marriages, saying, “I was very happy with Jimmy for many years and now I’m very happy with Steve.” However, she playfully adds, “This one’s a keeper, though.”

Age is Just a Number

With Steve approaching his 50th birthday, Kirkwood dismisses any concerns about their age difference. “I promise you, I never think about it. And nobody would pay it any attention if he was the one who was older than me.” She also rejects the terms “toyboy” and “cougar” as “so old-fashioned and rather sexist.” Steve even contributes to her writing process, offering suggestions when she encounters writer’s block.

Looking Ahead

Once a novel is complete, Kirkwood mentally releases the characters to make room for new ones. She is already working on her sixth book, set in the Cotswolds and New York during Christmas, scheduled for release next year. Reflecting on her unexpected literary success, she says, “I still sometimes pinch myself. We think we’re in charge of our own destiny but it’s just not true. All of this came from nowhere.”

The Accidental Author

In reality, Kirkwood’s writing career began with a publishing agent who recognised her potential to connect with her loyal fanbase through fiction. This intuition proved correct, leading to her thriving career as an author.

Balancing Two Careers

Kirkwood enjoys the synergy between her two professions, stating, “One keeps me fresh for the other.” She manages her demanding schedule, which includes waking up at 2:45 am from Monday to Thursday for BBC Breakfast, with remarkable energy.

Health and Wellbeing

Kirkwood has recently lost half a stone, attributing it to a bout of food poisoning earlier in the year. This experience prompted her to adopt a more mindful approach to eating, only consuming food when she is truly hungry. Her typical main meal consists of protein, such as boiled eggs or chicken, with pitta bread, rocket, and tomatoes. She also enjoys chocolate in moderation and maintains an active lifestyle, walking at least 10,000 steps daily.

Wimbledon and the Weather

Kirkwood recently completed her annual stint at Wimbledon, delivering weather updates. While she enjoys the event, she rarely gets to watch any tennis. She acknowledges the responsibility of providing accurate and nuanced weather forecasts, particularly during periods of extreme heat, which can pose health risks.

Predicting the Unpredictable

Regarding the summer weather outlook, Kirkwood cautions that predicting beyond five days is challenging due to the UK’s island climate. Despite this, people frequently ask her for long-range forecasts, even for events like weddings.

A Varied Schedule

In addition to her weather forecasts and writing, Kirkwood’s schedule includes appearances at events such as the Chelsea Flower Show and James Martin’s cookery show. She will also be filming a segment for The One Show in the Scottish Highlands, focusing on the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which her grandfather helped build and which has featured in the Harry Potter films. Furthermore, she is scheduled to give talks on a cruise of the Outer Hebrides and on a steam train journey from Fort William to Mallaig.

Future Aspirations

When asked about unfulfilled ambitions, Kirkwood expresses her desire to participate in “Race Across the World,” envisioning herself managing the budget while her husband, Steve, handles logistics. She dreams of exploring more of China, India, or America and, upon retirement, embarking on a road trip to “head off into the wide blue yonder.”

Memorable Moments

Over her long broadcasting career, Kirkwood has experienced several memorable moments. She recalls a dog relieving itself behind her during a live broadcast from a beach and a humorous slip-up when discussing dog walkers in Greenwich Park. Another memorable incident involved holding jugs of water to demonstrate rainfall amounts, leading to an unintentionally suggestive comment that left her colleague, Bill Turnbull, speechless.