Carol Kirkwood thanks audiences for trusting her on final BBC Breakfast show

BBC Breakfast weather presenter Carol Kirkwood has thanked viewers for trusting her as she made her final appearance on the show after 28 years.

The 63-year-old was shown messages of congratulations from friends and celebrities including former BBC Wimbledon presenter Sue Barker, singer Bryan Adams and Line Of Duty star Vicky McClure.

Signing off at the end of Wednesday’s show, Kirkwood said: “This is a forecast I’ve known for quite a while was coming, but that doesn’t make it any easier to present.

“Because after 28 years as a BBC weather presenter, tracking storms, chasing sunshine and occasionally getting it completely wrong, I’m saying goodbye.

“When I first walked into this studio, I could never have imagined the journey ahead – back then the graphics were simpler, the maps were a bit clunkier, and I had a lot less grey hair than this.

“But one thing has never changed, and that is the privilege and honour of being welcomed into your homes. Thank you, thank you for trusting me, be it telling you about heatwaves or snow, from big national events to the everyday question of: ‘Do I need to take a brolly?’

“You’ve been the constant in all of this, and I’ve never taken that for granted, and thank you for all the wonderful gifts, cards and messages, I’m really going to miss you.”

She also thanked her colleagues “past and present”, some of whom joined her on the show’s sofa at the end of the show, including TV presenter Naga Munchetty, and added that her career had given her “friendships I treasure deeply”.

Speaking about her next steps after her BBC role, Kirkwood added: “I don’t have a detailed forecast, but I do know this, it’s time for a new chapter, a bit more time with Steve (her husband, who surprised her by appearing on the show), and perhaps the luxury of watching the weather instead of presenting it.

“Thank you for letting me be part of your lives.”

Her husband Steve said he “couldn’t be more proud” and added he was the “luckiest man in the world” to be married to her, presenting her with flowers as she teared up towards the end of the show saying she was “completely overwhelmed”.

Kirkwood was also reunited with Flash, a dog which pulled her over during a live broadcast that went viral, greeting him by saying: “Hello gorgeous.”

Her friend Barker paid tribute to her during a montage of clips, in which she said: “You were always so embarrassed when people wanted to stop you and say how wonderful you are.

“Well, I hope today that you realise just how special you are and how loved you are, you’re one in a million, and I’m proud to call you a friend.”

Actress McClure added she wanted to wish Kirkwood “massive luck and massive love” and said: “Thank you for sharing the weather with us for all these years.”

Summer Of 69 singer Adams said: “Carol, just want to say thanks for all the great weather reports over the years, and good luck wherever you land.

“Take care, lots of love from Bryan.”

As well as presenting the weather on BBC Breakfast since 1997, Kirkwood took part in the seventh series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, where she was partnered with dancer Pasha Kovalev, being eliminated in the seventh week. She is also a published author.