Are there any children in Carol Kirkwood's family, and who is her former husband Jimmy Kirkwood? This comes as she ties the knot with policeman Steve Randall in a breathtaking ceremony in Buckinghamshire.
Carol Kirkwood celebrated her marriage to Steve Randall in a private and 'intimate and perfect' ceremony in Buckinghamshire over the Christmas week. The BBC Breakfast star expressed her joy, stating, 'It was the most perfect, romantic, and intimate wedding. We are both so incredibly happy.' This marks the presenter's second marriage, following her divorce from Jimmy Kirkwood after 18 years of marriage.
So, who is Carol Kirkwood's ex-husband and did they have any children? Find out by reading on.
Who is Jimmy Kirkwood?
Born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, on February 12, 1962, Jimmy Kirkwood, a versatile sportsman and former cricketer, entered the life of BBC favorite Carol MacKelliag. The two tied the knot in 1990 when Carol, then 28, was just starting her career at the BBC.
Jimmy, in addition to his cricketing prowess, also represented his country in hockey. He achieved Olympic Gold for Great Britain in hockey at the 1988 Seoul games, featuring in three matches during the group phase against South Korea, the Soviet Union, and India. The accomplished athlete also proudly represented Ireland at the Hockey World Cup two years later.
Following her marriage to Jimmy, Carol briefly departed from the BBC to pursue work in recruitment. However, she rejoined the BBC in 1993 as a freelance presenter. During this period, she also hosted a bi-monthly program, Talking Issues, for HTV West.
Why did Carol Kirkwood split from her ex-husband?
Ms. Kirkwood's unexpected separation from Jimmy became public in 2008, but it wasn't until seven years later, during her participation in Strictly Come Dancing alongside professional dancer Pasha Kovalev, that she openly discussed it.
Reflecting on her past, she shared, 'I was married for a long time, and I got married quite young, so it's nice doing things I have the freedom to do now. If I want to go out to the theatre or have dinner with friends, I've got that freedom.'
Even with these insights, she remains notably private about her personal life, and the details behind the divorce remain undisclosed.
Do Carol and Jimmy Kirkwood have any children?
Carol and Jimmy did not have any children together, but her current partner, Steve Randall, has a daughter from his previous relationship with Nichola Randall. Steve and Nichola were married for 12 years before parting ways in 2017.
Steve is reported to be Carol's primary romantic involvement since her divorce from Jimmy. The couple started their relationship in 2021 and took it a step further by getting engaged a year later.