BBC cricket presenter Isa Guha kicked off the Wimbledon Championships on Monday (June 29) by paying tribute to Carol Kirkwood, the long-serving BBC Breakfast weather presenter who retired in April after 28 years. Guha, joined by Tim Henman and Anne Keothavong for the early morning coverage, confirmed that a rotating team of BBC weather presenters will replace Kirkwood for the fortnight.
Guha's tribute to Kirkwood
Just minutes into the broadcast, Guha said: "Now, this is normally the time in the show that we head across to Carol Kirkwood for a British weather update, especially here in the sunshine. It would have been great to see her, but after 28 years on BBC Breakfast, Carol has moved on. So, we wish you all the best, Carol. Hopefully you've got your feet up on the sofa with a cup of tea to enjoy the tennis this week."
Kirkwood announced her retirement from BBC Breakfast in April, citing a desire to focus on her marriage and travel. She had been a staple of the programme since 1998.
Rotating weather presenters
Guha explained that no single presenter could replace Kirkwood, so the BBC will deploy a selection of its weather team across the two weeks. Matt Taylor was the first to step in on Monday, delivering the forecast from outside the training courts. Taylor said: "Morning Isa. Absolute pleasure to be here, even if we are missing Carol. But I suspect eagle-eyed viewers may be able to spot her in the crowd somewhere today indulging in a love of tennis right here at Wimbledon itself."
The rotating roster is expected to include Sarah Keith-Lucas, Elizabeth Rizzini, Tomasz Schafernaker, and Helen Willetts.
Wimbledon 2026 highlights
This year's Championships feature several high-profile storylines. US icon Serena Williams is set to make a blockbuster singles comeback after four years away, and will also resume her iconic doubles pairing with her sister Venus. British legend Andy Murray returns as part of Jack Draper's coaching team, while Novak Djokovic continues his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title, facing stiff competition from world number one Jannik Sinner.
Coverage of Wimbledon airs daily on BBC One and BBC Two, and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
