Carol Kirkwood has left her BBC co-star stunned by her career beyond television. The former BBC Breakfast weather presenter said goodbye to the programme in April, following 28 years at the corporation.

In a lengthy on-air statement at the time, the 63-year-old said: "Thank you for trusting me, be it telling you about heatwaves or snow, to the everyday question of, 'Do I need to take a brolly?'. To my colleagues past and present, both in front and behind the camera, I owe you all so much. You've been my team, my safety net, and, very often, my family.

"We've shared breaking news, long shifts, plenty of laughter, bad hair days, and the occasional moment of pure chaos. And do you know what? I wouldn't change a second of it."

While she is most recognised for presenting the weather, Carol has also ventured into writing in recent years - a move that has left Carol Klein rather surprised.

The Gardeners' World host looked visibly stunned upon discovering Carol's alternative career during an appearance on the Pottering with Tom Allen podcast.

Following a discussion about the changing weather during the recording, she said: "That Carol Kirkwood, she's lovely isn't she, she's a keen gardener.

"She's a great writer as well," Tom interjected, to which she appeared startled and asked: "Is she?". He continued: "She's got a lot of novels out.

"I haven't read anything, I'll have to," the BBC star responded. Praising the books, Tom insisted they are a good read and "always set in lovely places".

"The freedom of being able to get in the car, drive and go anywhere we want for as long as we want is really appealing," she told the BBC.

Carol also disclosed that a more personal motivation lay behind her choice. "I'm not getting any younger, I'm newly married and we've had some losses in our lives recently," she added.

The presenter went on to explain that those experiences had led her to recognise that she needed to "get on with my retirement and that's what I'm going to do".

Retirement, however, does not mean she has stopped working completely. Her sixth romance novel is due to be published in October, and she has reportedly already committed to penning at least two further books thereafter.

The television personality has also expressed a desire to take up the guitar and welcome a couple of cats into her home.

BBC Breakfast airs daily from 6am on BBC channels.