Beloved BBC Breakfast weather presenter Carol Kirkwood has opened up about the unexpected health trigger that led to her dropping approximately one and a half dress sizes, reaching a svelte size eight. The 63-year-old broadcaster, who is also a bestselling author, explained that a "terrible" bout of food poisoning at the start of 2025 fundamentally changed her relationship with food and her overall lifestyle.
A Life-Altering Illness
Kirkwood, known for her curvy figure and previous discussions about weight loss plans, revealed that the dramatic transformation wasn't the result of a deliberate diet or weight-loss injections, but rather a severe illness that struck unexpectedly. "Afterwards, I just ate two slices of toast for two days and I wasn't hungry," she told OK magazine, describing how the food poisoning episode reshaped her eating habits permanently.
Transformed Eating Habits
The presenter, who has been open about her love for chocolate, wine, and crisps, explained how her approach to food has completely changed. "I'm a snacker. I love chocolate, a glass of wine, crisps, and I thought, 'Right, you don't need all this food'. Now I eat when I'm hungry rather than just eating because I can."
Kirkwood was careful to note that she hasn't been depriving herself, but rather has discovered a new balance. "I've done every single diet going but now I'm not depriving myself of anything. If I want a piece of chocolate, I'll have it, but then I actually don't. It's like somebody's flipped a switch in my head."
Rediscovering Her Wardrobe
While the star declined to specify exactly how much weight she's lost, calling her weight "a state secret," she admitted to being "probably a dress size-and-a-half" smaller. She now comfortably fits into a size 10, and sometimes even an eight.
"I've got lots of clothes from years of doing telly. When I couldn't get into them, I put them away. Now I can. It feels like I've got a whole new wardrobe, but I don't. It's old clothes that I'm wearing again," she shared, expressing delight at being able to wear her existing collection of television outfits.
Daily Routine and Nutrition
Kirkwood detailed her current eating patterns, which have evolved significantly since her illness. With her BBC Breakfast shifts requiring a 2.45am start, she explained: "By 9.30am, if I'm a bit peckish, I'll have an apple or a banana, then, after my shift, I get home and eat whatever the dickens I want, perhaps a toasted pitta with rocket, tomatoes, sweetcorn, peppers and chicken."
She added that in the evening she might have "another pitta with hummus, or some peppers with hummus" and noted that because of this eating approach, she's "not hungry between meals any more."
Addressing Weight-Loss Injection Rumours
The weather star was quick to dismiss speculation that she had used pharmaceutical weight-loss aids. "I have had a couple of emails saying, 'It's obvious you're doing this.' Each to their own. If somebody wants to do that, I'm not going to judge them — it's their bodies, their life — but I'm glad I'm doing it this way," she insisted.
Career Transition and Personal Priorities
Kirkwood's revelations come as she prepares to leave the BBC in April after more than 25 years with the broadcaster. She announced her departure on Tuesday, explaining that she wants to spend more time with her husband, Steve Randall, whom she married in 2023.
"I love my job, I've loved working at the BBC, but I love my husband more than my job. More than everyone, I should say," she told presenters Sally Nugent and Jon Kay. "We only got married a couple of years ago and we're ships that pass in the night so I'm so looking forward to [spending more time together]. The future is rosy and the time is right, absolutely right for me to go."
A Distinguished Broadcasting Career
After beginning her BBC presenting career on the News channel, Kirkwood became a regular fixture on BBC One. She has served as the main weather presenter on BBC Breakfast since 2010, becoming a familiar face to millions of morning viewers.
Beyond her daily weather bulletins, Kirkwood has frequently presented from notable locations including Wimbledon, the Chelsea Flower Show, and various royal events. Her broadcasting portfolio also includes reporting for The One Show and a memorable stint on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, where she reached week eight with her professional partner Pasha Kovalev.
As she prepares for this new chapter, Kirkwood's journey serves as a testament to how unexpected health challenges can sometimes lead to positive lifestyle transformations, even as she prioritises personal relationships over her distinguished broadcasting career.
