Former BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood, 64, expressed disappointment after a recent health check-up rated her fitness level as merely "average," despite her active lifestyle. She shared the results live on ITV's Good Morning Britain on June 26, 2026, during a conversation with hosts Kate Garraway and Ranvir Singh.
Health Assessment Reveals Surprising Results
Kirkwood explained that she underwent a series of "mature health assessments" to ensure she remains healthy as she ages. "The reason I did that was because, for me, the best is yet to come. I want to live life well into old age. I want to be healthy. I want to do all the things that we have planned. Travel is a big one," she said. She added that she decided to check her health proactively rather than waiting for something to go wrong, calling the experience "really reassuring."
However, the results were not entirely as expected. "You know, I thought my cholesterol was going to be horrific because my body is full of chocolates. This is not a temple. But my cholesterol was fine. And I thought that my fitness would be really quite good... I walked tons and exercised. But it was just average. So I was really disappointed," Kirkwood admitted.
Prevention Over Cure
The former weather presenter highlighted the importance of preventive health measures, noting that research shows 41% of people believe life will be good as they age, but only 12% would consider a health assessment before symptoms appear. "Prevention for me is much better than cure," she stated.
Kirkwood left her BBC role earlier this year after 28 years with the broadcaster. She reflected on how her daily routine has changed since departing the BBC, particularly her sleep schedule and time with her husband Steve. "I used to stay awake all day and go to bed between 7pm and 8pm, so that has changed. And now having an evening, we can go out and do things. But the nice thing that really has changed is that Steve and I saw each other for about four hours a week between Sunday and Thursday. So now we've got our evening. And it's really nice," she shared.
Life After BBC
Kirkwood's departure from the BBC marked a significant shift for the beloved weather presenter, who had become a household name over nearly three decades. She and her husband Steve are now focusing on travel and enjoying more quality time together. The health assessment, while yielding an "average" fitness score, has motivated her to adjust her perspective on health and aging.
