After nearly three decades on BBC Breakfast, weather legend Carol Kirkwood, 63, has finally opened up about why her once-loved role became “torture.” Joining the show in 1998, Carol left in April, and while many co-stars, including Susanna Reid and Louise Minchin, shared heartfelt tributes, fans noticed Naga Munchetty was absent – sparking wild speculation about a secret feud.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Carol revealed the grueling early-morning hours were the toughest part. “It’s not too bad in the summer but the winter months are torture,” she admitted. Every day, her alarm rang at 2:45am. “For years now, I’ve suffered from a low-grade version of jet lag. My last forecast was on April 1; on April 2, I threw my alarm clock into the bin.”
Carol was quick to stress she holds no grudges. “I’m not a nurse on a cancer ward. I’m not a first responder… I’ve loved my job but I love my husband more, and now I want us to be more than ships that pass in the night.”
Viewers couldn’t help but notice the absence of Naga during Carol’s tribute, with social media buzzing: “Maybe Naga and Carol really didn’t get on” and “Amazed she wasn’t on the tribute”. Yet the tension dissolved with laughter later in the studio, when Carol cheekily thanked Naga: “And even you, Nags!” – prompting a playful comeback and giggles all around.
After 28 years of early alarms and frosty mornings, Carol is finally free – and fans are celebrating the end of an era, while still loving every spicy moment from behind the scenes.
