Carol Kirkwood made a surprise return to breakfast television on Friday, appearing on ITV's Good Morning Britain to discuss her life since retiring from her longtime weather role at BBC Breakfast.
The 64-year-old opened up about her decision to prioritise her health, explaining that retirement prompted her to undergo a comprehensive health assessment. "The reason I did that was because, for me, the best is yet to come," she told hosts Kate Garraway and Ranvir Singh.
© Getty"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. And I decided that it's probably a good idea to check out my health now rather than wait until something goes wrong, she continued, adding: "And I'm so glad I did because it was really reassuring."
Reflecting on the check-up, Carol said: "I thought my cholesterol was going to be horrific because my body is full of chocolate. This is not a temple. But my cholesterol was fine."
She did, however, admit to feeling disappointed about her fitness results. "And I thought that my fitness would be really quite good... I walked tons and exercised," said Carol. "But it was just average. So I was really disappointed."
© Jeff Spicer/Getty ImagesEmphasising the importance of looking after your health, Carol noted that only 12 per cent of people would consider seeking out such assessments. "Prevention is much better than cure," said the presenter, who left the BBC in April.
Carol's life after BBC Breakfast
Since leaving breakfast television, Carol has embraced a retirement filled with travel. "My husband Steve and I have been all over the place," shared the Scottish star. "We started off in Vegas and saw the Grand Canyon.
"Our reason for going there was because we're both big fans of the band The Eagles and we saw them at the Sphere," she explained. "That was a sensory overload! It was amazing."
© Maureen McLean / Alamy Stock PhotoRetirement has also brought a welcome change to Carol's daily routine. The former weather presenter revealed that she has bid farewell to her early starts, throwing away her alarm clock.
"It was one of the first things I did. No more 2.45am wake-ups for me!" she exclaimed.
It's also allowed Carol and her husband Steve to reconnect after years of spending limited time together.
© BBC"Steve and I saw each other for about four hours a week between Sunday and Thursday," shared Carol. "So now we have all evening and it's really nice. It's nice to spend time together."
Carol and Steve's home life
Carol and Steve, who live in Berkshire, first met in 2017.
"I met Steve in my 50s; we were friends before we were romantically linked," the former weather presenter previously told HELLO!. "He is funny, gorgeous and, also, he is really kind, thoughtful and romantic."
The couple wed in a beautiful winter ceremony held at Cliveden House in Berkshire in 2023.
