Carol Kirkwood clears up 'misconception' about BBC Breakfast role

Carol Kirkwood has cleared up a "misconception" about her role as a weather presenter.

The BBC Breakfast star, 63, joined the broadcaster in the 90s, first appearing on BBC News as a weather presenter in 1998.

She went on to win the TRIC award for Best TV Weather Presenter several times, and has appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, gaining a loyal fan following.

However, Carol has now revealed a behind-the-scenes secret, as she addressed something viewers don't realise.

In a new interview, she shared: "People think we use autocue, but we don't - it's all ad-libbed off the top of our heads!

"We have an idea of what's going on, which is why we can explain it in different ways with different charts. But it's a live interpretation of the facts."

Speaking to Prima, Carol went on to reveal a memorable moment that something went wrong on-air, that left her "horrified".

She said: "I was reporting live from Greenwich Park, and I'd rehearsed it, saying: 'We've been watching joggers and dog walkers all morning.'

"When we went live, I somehow managed to get the two words muddled up to end up saying something very different!

"I was horrified! But I had to stay straight-faced and carry on."

Carol has become a firm fan-favourite on BBC Breakfast, often joking with Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt.

However, she's also revealed she's had to deal with a significant amount of abuse, and has openly spoken about the trolling she receives.

In a recent interview, Carol spoke about the online fight of the #notaweathergirl hashtag circulating, and whether she aligns with industry peers in hoping to fight back against demeaning sexism.

"I am what I am, and I don't really care what anybody thinks of me," she told RadioTimes in a new interview.

"And in that sense, whether I'm a 'weather girl' or a 'weather presenter' or a 'broadcast meteorologist' doesn't really bother me.

"I'm just doing my job to the best of my ability and hopefully improving myself on a daily basis, whether people think I'm capable or not. Titles don't really matter."

Carol went on to say that she gets abuse on a regular basis on X and people even emailing in to say "dreadful things".

"But that's water off a duck's back to me now. Or maybe that should be heavy rain off a duck's back?" she defiantly stated.

BBC Breakfast airs weekdays from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.