BBC Breakfast viewers were left feeling deeply emotional as beloved weather presenter Carol Kirkwood was honoured with a special surprise during one of her final broadcasts. The star, who announced earlier this year that she would be stepping down from the long-running morning show, was visibly overwhelmed by the tribute.
A Heartfelt Surprise at RHS Wisley
During Monday's programme, broadcast from the picturesque RHS Wisley gardens, Carol Kirkwood was unexpectedly presented with a unique honour by Tim Upson, the RHS director of gardens and horticulture. In a touching moment that caught the presenter completely off guard, Upson revealed that the official Met Office weather station at the site would be renamed the Carol Kirkwood Weather Site.
"Oh my goodness! How wonderful is that?" exclaimed Kirkwood as she received a commemorative plaque. "That is just fabulous! I'm going to have to put this on the outside of my house!" she joked, comparing it to the famous blue plaques seen across London.
Viewers Share Their Emotional Responses
The poignant segment prompted an outpouring of emotion from loyal BBC Breakfast fans across social media platforms. Many admitted to feeling tearful as they contemplated Kirkwood's impending departure, scheduled for April 1.
One Instagram user wrote: "How absolutely wonderful, I'm feeling quite tearful thinking about her last day on Wednesday. She will be so missed."
Another viewer commented on X: "A very fitting tribute this morning on BBC Breakfast to Carol from RHS Wisley as she embarks on a new chapter in her life."
Additional heartfelt messages included:
- "Wow what a fabulous surprise thoroughly deserved"
- "Carol is going to be really missed on Breakfast. Wednesday is going to be a sad day"
- "Aww that's lovely. Congratulations Carol Kirkwood"
Kirkwood's Reflections on Her BBC Career
Following the surprise presentation, Kirkwood took a moment to reflect on her extensive career with the BBC, which began in 1998. "I have absolutely loved all my time on BBC Breakfast," she said. "It's been amazing. I've been privileged and honoured to see everything and go everywhere that I've been."
The presenter expressed particular gratitude to her colleagues at the Royal Horticultural Society and the Chelsea Flower Show, stating: "It's always a pleasure here and to everybody at the RHS and Chelsea Flower Show and all my friends I've made over the years, thank you! I'll treasure these memories always!"
Reasons Behind the Departure
In January of this year, Kirkwood announced her decision to leave BBC Breakfast, explaining that she wanted to spend more quality time with her husband Steve. "We're ships that pass in the night," she revealed, "so I'm really looking forward to doing that. We want to travel as well."
She described her nearly three-decade tenure with the BBC as an "absolute privilege," a sentiment echoed by both colleagues and viewers who have come to regard her as one of the programme's most cherished personalities.
As BBC Breakfast continues to air daily from 6am on BBC One, the departure of Carol Kirkwood marks the end of an era for the morning show, leaving behind a legacy of professionalism, warmth, and memorable weather reports that will be difficult for any successor to match.
