BBC Breakfast star Carol Kirkwood hits back after years of online abuse

Carol Kirkwood has hit back at trolls after facing horrific online abuse, saying she doesn't care what people think of her.

The BBC Breakfast star, 63, joined the broadcaster in the 90s, first appearing on BBC News as a weather presenter in 1998.

Having won the TRIC award for best TV Weather Presenter several times, and appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, Carol has gained a loyal fan following.

However, she's also had to deal with a significant amount of online abuse.

The author, who has four books under her belt and is about to publish her fifth, has now spoken out about the trolling she receives, and whether she aligns herself with industry peers in using the #notaweathergirl hashtag online to fight what's been considered as demeaning sexism.

"I am what I am, and I don't really care what anybody thinks of me," she told RadioTimes in a new interview.

"And in that sense, whether I'm a 'weather girl' or a 'weather presenter' or a 'broadcast meteorologist' doesn't really bother me.

"I'm just doing my job to the best of my ability and hopefully improving myself on a daily basis, whether people think I'm capable or not. Titles don't really matter."

Carol went on to say that she gets abuse on a regular basis on X and people even emailing in to say "dreadful things".

"But that's water off a duck's back to me now. Or maybe that should be heavy rain off a duck's back?" she defiantly stated.

The BBC star has previously admitted that "some of it gets to you," despite being resilient in the face of the trolling.

In an interview with The Herald in 2014, she said some comments could not be repeated, explaining: "They're being personal, but they don't actually know you, so you let it go."

"When someone says, 'I've seen that dress seven times in the last month, stop wearing it,' you think, 'You wouldn't say that to somebody in the office'. But you take it on the chin," she went on, as previously quoted by The Express.

Speaking of aging and comments made about her appearance, the meteorologist continued: "I won't be getting rid of my laughter lines. What's wrong with getting old? We all do.

"I've had three close friends who have died from breast cancer and it makes you think, 'Why am I worried about a few lines?'"

She added: "It's terribly sad there's such a youth culture these days. People expect you to look young. Why? There's beauty in every age."

The full interview can be read in the upcoming issue of RadioTimes.

BBC Breakfast airs weekdays from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.