Carol Kirkwood has shared the happy news that she is engaged during her latest live appearance on BBC Breakfast. The 59-year-old was congratulated on the news by her BBC Breakfast colleagues Sally Nugent and Jon Kay as she reported from the Chelsea Flower Show.
Introducing the weather presenter, Sally said: "I'm a little bit concerned about you this morning. I don't know how you're managing to stand up with that giant rock on your left hand, Carol!"
Glancing at her hand, Carol said: "Oh, that one? Thank you Sal! It is rather nice, I got engaged." Sally replied: "Congratulations from all of us! It's the happiest news, we are so, so delighted. Congratulations."
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The presenter, who said an emotional farewell to co-host Dan Walker last week, then added: "Can we confirm to the nation what's happened?"? Carol replied with a giggle: "Yes! I think you just have, Sal. Yes, I got engaged. We got engaged when we were on holiday. So it's lovely news and we're both thrilled, so thank you!"
The Scottish presenter, who was a contestant in the 2015 series of BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing and was partnered with Pasha Kovalev, has never publicly named her long-term partner, who has been described previously in reports as her “secret boyfriend”.
Carol confirmed she had found love with her new man in 2021, 13 years after her divorce from first husband, cricketer Jimmy Kirkwood. The pair had married for 18 years before they divorced.
During promotion for her her debut romantic novel last year, Carol told the PA News agency of her partner: "He’s only a secret boyfriend because I never talk about him. I always feel that through my job, I put myself in the public eye and am very happy, but my partner and my family and my friends haven’t, so I’m hugely respectful of their privacy. I just don’t talk about them, other than to say that my partner is drop-dead gorgeous, he’s funny, he makes me very happy."
Since revealing her joyous news, Carol's co-stars have been flooding her with congratulatory messages. BBC Breakfast sports presenter Mike Bushell, tweeted: "Wow wow what fabulous news to wake up to today. Huge congratulations to wonderful friend and colleague @carolkirkwood – so chuffed for you on your engagement”.
Former BBC Breakfast presenter Dan, who hosted his last show on the famous red sofa last week, also tweeted: “Carol Kirkwood is the best of us. Delighted she has found someone who can handle her headlock hugs. Congratulations Carol. If you get married live on #BBCBreakfast can I come back for a one off?"
Speaking to Prima magazine last year, Carol said of her unnamed husband-to-be: "I don't want to say too much about my boyfriend, but I will say that he is very kind and very funny - he's always making me laugh. And extremely handsome, as well.
"He always makes me a cup of tea before I go to work in the morning, which is very romantic - it's 2.45am and he often leaves me a little love note for when I come home from work. That, to me, is worth a million red roses."
