Meet your cover star

Carol Kirkwood, queen of BBC weather, talks to Jen ‘I’VE ALWAYS Crothers about the joy in always having the sunniest BEENpositive, THIS outlook on TV… ‘My job is wonderful. it’s my default’ Sometimes I have to pinch myself ’

arol, 57, lives in Berkshire many great places, like the Queen’s anyway. When you’re doing the weather, with her tabby cat Donald. quarters on the now-decommissioned there’s a green screen behind you, so She is celebrating 21 years royal yacht Britannia, and at Wimbledon. you can’t actually see anything; that’s as the face of the weather I’m always working, so I’ve not been the challenge, being able to run your on BBC Breakfast. able to see a tennis match there yet. finger down a weather front that you C I can’t suddenly say, ‘I’m off to a game!’ can’t actually see. But the art is to make But it’s wonderful. Sometimes I have it look like you can. And that was it, A NATIONAL to pinch myself. I was hooked. I got the job and went OBSESSION off to Atlanta to train. After that job, It’s so inherently British to be obsessed It wasn’t always my dream to present I trained in meteorology with the Met with the weather. It’s always a topic of the weather. When I was 12 years old, Office. There are so many exams and conversation; even if you pass somebody I wanted to be a Blue Peter presenter, lots of training but I finally got on to at a bus stop you might say ‘beautiful day’. so I wrote to the editor who, in those the telly at the BBC, my dream job. I love my job with a passion, it’s as simple days, was Biddy Baxter. I was told to get as that, and I do it to the best of my ability. a degree and get back to them, which When I’m working, I get up at 2.45am. years later I did. I joined the BBC in its I’m at work for 4.30am. The first thing People often ask me what the weather’s secretarial reserve, which was like an I do is go into the studio and make sure going to be like for big occasions, such in-house temping agency, but I was very my graphics are working. At 5am, we as, ‘When is the best month to get married shy back then. I became a production have our conference, then I get my hair next year?’ We have long-range forecasts, assistant, worked in radio and started and make-up done before I leg it back but as for specific ones, they are too far doing some broadcasting, reading up to the office, get my earpiece and out. If I say August or September and out someone else’s words on Radio 4’s double-check everything is working then it rains on that particular day, they’ll Thought For The Day. again. We rehearse the headlines with be cursing me! We always get asked for the presenters and reporters, and then a wedding forecast and the typical one One of the chaps I worked with offered we’re live at 6am. I do Radio 2 with Zoe is, ‘Warm and close, with a little sun to be my agent. Later on, he got me Ball at 7.25am, update the weather and later,’ which covers all eventualities. an audition with an American weather my graphics and, when I’ve finished Dress, Traffic People. Shoes, Sargossa. Jewellery, Dower & Hall. Parasols, brolliesgalore.co.uk Dower & Hall. Parasols, Shoes, Sargossa. Jewellery, People. Dress, Traffic channel. I said, ‘I don’t know anything Breakfast and Radio 2, it’s off to BBC My job on Breakfast is such great fun. about the weather and neither do I want News for a meeting. I’m officially I’ve presented the weather from so to,’ but he told me to do the audition finished by 12 – mornings really fly by.➺ Carol wears 8 PRIMA.CO.UK | July 2019 PRIMA.CO.UK | July 2019 9 Meet your cover star

old. He has a thyroid issue, but he’s WEATHERING ME AND MY fit and healthy otherwise. THE STORMS FAMILY When I first appeared on television, I’m one of eight siblings. We try Donald wakes me up at the weekend some viewers complained. They to have a big gathering at least once at around 4am by constantly licking my said I was too happy and too smiley, a year, around a birthday or just in the forehead. I’ve even got a mark in the and that it couldn’t be genuine. summer. My brothers and sisters are middle of my head where he does it. However, I’ve always been this all over the place; some of them live So I get up and give him his breakfast positive; it’s my default. I know I’m in Scotland, I have one in Holland, and his medicine, and then go back lucky, so I appreciate what I have and one in the Lake District, and my to bed until 7 or 8am when I read the I love the weather because it changes nieces and nephews are scattered papers on my iPad. In the evenings, all the time. I just want to keep going all over the world. I stay up late. Still being up at 9.30pm as long as I can until the BBC says, at night feels really rebellious! ‘Kirkwood, there’s the door!’ Coming from such a big family is lovely. I’m third from the bottom so there’s My idea of relaxing is with good TV, The term ‘weather girl’ doesn’t five above me. When we were growing a bottle of wine or seeing friends for necessarily conjure up a good image. up, events like Christmas were just lunch or coffee. A lot of my friends I’m sure it’s not intended to be stupendous. You couldn’t get into the are mums, or mums with grown-up derogatory because, historically, that’s room for all the presents from family, children so, despite my hours, it’s what the job’s been called. But it’s more aunts, uncles and friends. They weren’t not difficult to plan catch-ups as than just a pretty young thing – male or necessarily extravagant gifts, but they we can meet during the day. female – standing in front of a screen were fabulous and it was so exciting. and reciting something. Meteorology My favourite soap is Coronation is a science. There’s a lot of work and Street. I was sitting watching the knowledge that goes into it, so I think ‘In life, a sense show one night and they were talking the term can sound, on occasions, about who they would invite to their derogatory. Nobody writes you of humour is ideal dinner party, and they said me! a script. You listen, you take part in a I actually had a part playing myself conversation and then you go with it. so important. in Hollyoaks last year, too. Sometimes We all love a joke’ they use the weather as a background The advent of social media means on BBC shows, so somebody might that people tell you when they don’t be watching the telly and it’s the like something. They might say things There’s a great sense of humour that weather and I think, ‘That’s me on like ‘I don’t like your dress’ or ‘you runs in my family. My dad loved a joke. EastEnders!’ Boast value there: don’t suit your hair long’ or ‘you’re too He would be killing himself laughing THE THINGS THAT I’ve been on EastEnders, but I haven’t fat’ or ‘you’re too Scottish’. You do get before he got to the punchline and MAKE CAROL SMILE really. It’s surreal but cool. that kind of thing, sadly, but those are it wouldn’t be that funny when he got BRYAN ADAMS He is just lovely. the people you mute and they don’t to it, but we were all laughing, too, He’s humble, talented, good I never talk about my private life, bother you any more. If it was one of because he was enjoying it so much. looking, modest and his songs are ever, but I’m very happy. [Carol my friends saying I didn’t suit my hair My mum loves a joke as well, we fabulous. I’ve seen him many times separated from her husband of 18 in a particular way then I would take all do. In life, a sense of humour is and I’ve introduced him on stage at years, Jimmy Kirkwood, in 2008, and is it on board, but not from a complete so important. an event, which was an honour. currently in a new relationship]. To me, stranger who’s having a pop. SUNSHINE I love the sun in any my private life is just that. It’s private season, but particularly in summer. and I’ve always been like that. I always As the weather is live, anything HOME IS Last summer, I was working outside feel that I’ve chosen this career, but my can happen. A horse once walked for six weeks solid because the other half and my family haven’t, so past and stopped right in front of WHERE THE weather was so hot. I love my job! I’m not going to catapult them into me during an outside broadcast, HEART IS CHOCOLATE I’ve had amazing something they don’t want to be in and trying to see around this horse When I was much younger, I lived in gifts from viewers over the years, as they’re not in the industry. was futile as it was so big. Dogs . It was good fun, but I like living which have been hugely generous, Top, Mercy Delta at Trilogy. Jeans, J brand at Trilogy. Earrings, Sif Jakobs. Ring, Lola Rose. Rose. Ring, Lola Earrings, Sif Jakobs. Jeans, J brand at Trilogy. Mercy Delta at Trilogy. Top,

relieve themselves behind me, too, Beaded bracelet, Dower & Hall Sif Jakobs. Earrings, ring and bangle, Jumpsuit, The Pretty Dress Company. in the countryside now. I live in a small particularly the chocolate ones. A good sense of humour is one of all kinds of things! I’m so focused on house with a small garden in Berkshire. MY CAT Donald is a tabby and the most important things to me in what I’m doing and what I’m talking It’s a little oasis, and my garden’s full he’s gorgeous. I’m always kissing a partner. Somebody who’s kind, about that all hell could be breaking of plant pots with pretty colours: pinks, him, whether he likes it or not. not generous as in giving gifts, but loose behind me and I wouldn’t whites and purples. I live there with my WORKING WITH FRIENDS I’m lucky just a kind person. Someone who’s even notice. I just carry on. cat, Donald, who’s 18; I got him from enough to work with my friends. It gentle, and has a bit of spark about

Carol wears (this page) Carol wears (opposite) Cats Protection when he was six weeks really makes a difference in your job. them. I don’t want to get married ➺

10 PRIMA.CO.UK | July 2019 PRIMA.CO.UK | July 2019 11 Meet your cover star

for the sake of getting married. It’s not on the cards at the moment, but never say never! KEEPING HEALTHY At the moment, I’m doing my best to get fit. I have a new personal trainer who I see twice a week – she’s a mum, who lives near me, who does everything with a smile, even though she’s torturing me. She works every muscle in my body. I want to be strong, I want to be toned and I want to be healthy at 57. I’m not ashamed of my age.

When I did , I was the fittest I’ve ever been. I absolutely loved it. I was exercising six hours most days on top of my job. All I did was Strictly and work. On the one day I had off, I did my washing, shopping, cleaning and then prepared for the next week.

We’re all still in touch. We have a WhatsApp group and we were talking ‘I’ve never felt earlier today, actually, and I sometimes bump into Anton Du Beke at functions. anything but Once you’re in the Strictly fold, you’re in empowered’ there for life. I’ll never regret nor forget doing it, as it was a very fun and happy time in my life. I’ve been approached for other reality shows, but I wouldn’t consider any at the moment.

There’s nothing wrong with growing old. I have lines around my eyes, which

are joining with lines coming up from Ian McIntosh at Carol Hayes my mouth, and lines on my forehead. Sometimes, when I see myself on TV, I think, ‘Oh, you’ve put on weight, you

need to address this,’ because telly will Hair & make-up add 10lb to you anyway. I’ll put that pressure on myself because I want to look better, but I’ve never felt any pressure to change my appearance. Rachel Fanconi Rachel

I’ve never felt anything but empowered Styling if I’m totally honest. There are more opportunities for women now, and that’s only a good thing, because women are just as capable as men. Nicky Johnston Dress, Bombshell. Shoes, Lisa Kay. Earrings, Claudia Bradby. Parasol, brolliesgalore.co.uk. brolliesgalore.co.uk. Parasol, Earrings, Claudia Bradby. Dress, Bombshell. Shoes, Lisa Kay.

• Carol Kirkwood presents the weather on BBC Breakfast, which is on BBC One

every day from 6am Carol wears Photography

12 PRIMA.CO.UK | July 2019