Carol Kirkwood was born in Morar, Inverness-shire.
After attending Napier University in Edinburgh, where she gained a BA in Commerce, Carol initially joined the BBC's Secretarial Reserve in London in 1984.
Various internal moves led to her first broadcasts for the BBC's Religious Broadcasting department on Radio Scotland, Radio 2 and Radio 4.
In 1993 she joined the BBC's Television Training Department at Elstree as a presenter. During this time she also researched, produced and presented a bi-monthly programme called Talking Issues and a weekly programme for HTV entitled The Guide.
In 1996, Carol joined the Weather Channel, presenting the weather on satellite and cable television, as well as on Talk Radio's Drivetime shows.
Having undergone meteorological training at the Weather Channel, Met Office and the BBC, Carol joined the team at the BBC Weather Centre in April 1998.
She started broadcasting on BBC News Channel (previously BBC News 24), then quickly added BBC One as well as all the other BBC channels that feature weather to her portfolio. Currently she is the main weather presenter on BBC Breakfast.
In 2003, Carol was named best TV Weather Presenter at The Television and Radio Industries Club (TRIC) Awards. This was the first time weather had been included in the TRIC Awards. She won again in 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Carol also presents regularly on the BBC's The One Show and has appeared on CBBC, Hacker Time being a particular favourite of hers.
Carol also took part in the live Great British Weather show in 2011 and has appeared on a host of other programmes such as Castle in the Country, Pointless, Food Factory, Blue Peter and Ready Steady Cook.
In January 2012, Carol had the great honour of giving a talk to Her Majesty the Queen and the Ladies of the Women's Institute in Sandringham, something she says she will never forget.
On her days off, you will find Carol ensconced in a book, or singing and dancing.
The latter skills have been demonstrated during Children in Need in recent years, and of course on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015.
She also enjoys fishing, travelling and driving fast cars.
