Carol Kirkwood, the long-serving BBC Weather presenter, has announced she will be stepping down from the corporation after a career spanning more than a quarter of a century.
The 63-year-old meteorologist, who became the principal weather forecaster on BBC Breakfast in 2010, will depart in April.
Ms Kirkwood first joined the BBC back in 1998 and has since become one of the most recognisable faces of morning television, delivering forecasts to viewers.
Her departure marks the end of an era for the breakfast programme, where she has been a fixture for the past 15 years.
Carol Kirkwood regularly appears on BBC Breakfast
|BBC
Reflecting on her decision, Ms Kirkwood acknowledged the emotional weight of leaving.
"This hasn't been an easy decision to make, but it feels like the right moment to step away," she said. "I'll carry with me the most wonderful memories."
The presenter described her role as "an absolute privilege" and emphasised that she had never taken her position for granted.
She paid tribute to those she had worked alongside during her tenure, thanking colleagues at BBC Breakfast, BBC Weather, and across the wider corporation for their friendship and support, which she said "has meant the world."
Carol Kirkwood provides weather updates
| PAMs Kirkwood's path to becoming a household name began with meteorological training at The Weather Channel, the Met Office, and the BBC itself, before she took up her position at the BBC Weather Centre in April 1998.
She initially appeared on the BBC News channel before expanding her presence to BBC One and other outlets across the corporation.
Beyond the studio, Ms Kirkwood became known for her location broadcasts from events including Wimbledon, the Chelsea Flower Show, Royal Ascot, and various royal occasions.
Her work also extended to reporting duties for The One Show, where she took on challenges ranging from parachute jumps to hang-gliding.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Carol Kirkwood has won several awards for her work
|PA
In 2015, Ms Kirkwood took to the dance floor on Strictly Come Dancing, partnering with professional dancer Pasha Kovalev and reaching week eight of the competition.
Her work in broadcasting has been recognised repeatedly by the Television and Radio Industries Club, which has named her best TV weather presenter on multiple occasions.
'It's really hard for me to say this'
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) January 27, 2026
Carol Kirkwood told #BBCBreakfast why she has decided it's time to step down from forecasting the weather after more than 25 yearshttps://t.co/fe4yDdBpeN pic.twitter.com/QpeaytOukf
Jonathan Munro, the BBC's interim chief executive for news, praised Kirkwood's "exceptional" contribution to the corporation. "She has set the gold standard for our accurate, valued journalism - always delivered with an appropriately sunny outlook," he said.
Mr Munro added that Ms Kirkwood would be "greatly missed" by teams throughout the BBC.