And while she says she “loved her job,” it was the love of her husband that made her want to quit Breakfast. A decision she says was spurred on by the loss of Steve’s older sister Jane, who while older than the ex-copper, was younger than Carol.
When asked if there was a “lightbulb moment” that led to her BBC exit, Carol told the Daily Mail’s Weekend magazine: “Yes, when we lost Steve’s elder sister Jan last year after a short illness.
“She was older than him but younger than me. It made us realise that old age isn’t guaranteed.”
Carol added: “We weren’t getting any younger, either of us, and especially me. There were so many things we wanted to do, mostly travel. So, best to get on with it.”
While Carol admits she will miss “the people” at the BBC - including presenters Sally Nugent, Jon Kay, Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty - she says she won’t miss having to set her alarm at 2.45am, having gone to bed at 7pm.
She joked that her alarm clock went “straight in the bin” on April 2 after she retired. Although Carol does admit that she still finds herself waking up at 2am, only that she can now “turn over and go back to sleep”.
She however admits “the time was right” to call it a day at the BBC, explaining that the decision was “mine alone”. She believes it will be a “new chapter” in her life with Steve, who she married in 2023.
Carol explains that the couple plan to visit Italy as their first destination before heading to the Caribbean after visiting on a cruise last year. While Carol enjoyed waking up in Barbados one day and then St Lucia the next, she admits she would like to explore more.
Carol, who announced she was leaving the BBC in January, was showered with well-wishes from colleagues, viewers, and famous faces when she delivered her final programme. In a heartfelt goodbye, she told viewers she was going to spend "a bit more time with Steve, and perhaps the luxury of watching the weather instead of presenting it".
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was among those to pay tribute to Carol. He said: “You've been a staple every morning for us in relation to the weather, with your professionalism, your warmth, and that sunny disposition you have.”
