Behind the radiant smile that lights up BBC Breakfast, Carol Kirkwood has faced personal storms that she kept hidden from her audience. Imagine stepping off camera, tears streaming, only to reapply your makeup and return with a smile that never falters. In a recent interview, Carol revealed the emotional toll of maintaining her cheerful persona during her 2008 divorce from her then-husband, Jimmy. 'I'd come off air, go to the ladies, have a good cry, and then reapply my eye makeup before stepping in front of the cameras again,' she shared with Candis magazine. But here's where it gets even more intriguing: Carol believes this compartmentalization of her grief actually aided her healing process. 'I put my grief into a compartment that I kept separate from my work, otherwise I'd have ended up in a puddle of tears,' she explained. This raises a thought-provoking question: Can compartmentalizing emotions be a healthy coping mechanism, or does it risk suppressing genuine feelings?
Fast forward to today, and Carol, now married to Steve Randall, rarely discusses her personal life. However, in a rare moment of openness with The Times, she boldly compared her two marriages, stating, 'Love is lovelier the second time around. No disrespect to my first husband, but this is better.' Is it fair to compare relationships, or should each love story stand on its own? She also playfully noted that Steve is 'a very good cook and tidy as well—tidier than I am,' a lighthearted detail that humanizes the star. Their intimate wedding at Cliveden House last December was described as 'perfect,' despite Storm Gerrit raging outside. 'We didn't even notice it,' Carol recalled, highlighting the couple's focus on their special day. Their first dance? Ed Sheeran's Perfect, a song released in 2017—the year they began dating. Coincidence or destiny?
In a Q&A, Carol revealed that Perfect remains her go-to song for a mood boost, as it reminds her of meeting Steve. 'It’s just so beautiful and was the first song at our wedding,' she gushed. But this is the part most people miss: Carol's ability to find joy in the little things, even amidst life's storms, is what makes her story so relatable. How do you balance personal struggles with professional demands? Share your thoughts in the comments—we'd love to hear your perspective!
