Carol Kirkwood's secret toyboy fiancé 13 years younger is divorced cop

EXCLUSIVE – Revealed: Carol Kirkwood’s secret toyboy fiancé – 13 years her junior – is a divorced police officer and father-of-one who once completed world’s toughest marathon

• BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood’s fiancé is policeman and divorced dad
• MailOnline can reveal identity of Steve Randall, 47, 13 years Ms Kirkwood’s junior

Carol Kirkwood’s secret toyboy fiancé is a police officer and divorced father-of-one who once completed the world’s most gruelling marathon, MailOnline can reveal.

Fitness fanatic Steve Randall, 47, who is 13 years her junior, has been in a relationship with the BBC1 weather presenter since 2021, Ms Kirkwood’s first notable romance since her 2008 divorce from husband of 18 years Jimmy Kirkwood.

She has ardently attempted to keep Mr Randall’s identity under wraps even when announcing their relationship in a magazine interview and when the Scot confirmed live on breakfast television that the pair had got engaged in May 2021.

Ms Kirkwood has only ever publicly referred to him by his first name once and provided few details about his life and their relationship.

The couple went public earlier this month by attending the star-studded Radio Times Covers Party held at Claridge’s in London, igniting further questions about who Ms Kirkwood was pictured with.

BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood (right) has been coy about the identity of her secret toyboy fiancé Steve Randall (left), 47, pictured at the Radio Times Covers Party at Claridge’s

Mr Randall (right) is a divorced police officer who was married to his his ex-wife Nichola Randall (left) for 12 years

Kirkwood, 59, announced her engagement in May last year as she chatted to BBC Breakfast hosts Sally Nugent and Jon Kay while she broadcast live from the Chelsea Flower Show

Kirkwood has previously said her partner is the ‘best thing that’s ever happened to me’

Fun loving fitness fanatic Mr Randall is pictured at a Halloween fancy dress party wearing a Captain America costume

But now MailOnline can reveal the true identity of her new man.

Hampshire-based Randall split from his wife of 12 years Nichola Randall, and mother of their teenage son, in 2017.

His ex-partner posted a message on her Facebook page in June that year suggesting unrest between the couple, it read: ‘And’s now it’s time for me,’ which was met with supportive comments from pals, including one who replied: ‘It’s about time!’

READ MORE: BBC weatherwoman Carol Kirkwood seen holding hands with masked man

Away from his work as a police officer, Mr Randall is a dedicated runner who follows a punishing fitness regime.

A keen amateur athlete, he upped his challenges in his late 30s, firstly taking part in the South Downs half marathon in 2013 then taking on the gruelling the Marathon Des Sables, which takes place in the Moroccan desert, described as the ‘toughest foot race in the world’ in 2014.

He raised money for cancer charities and the poppy appeal during both races, the latter seeing him run 244km over six stages in the baking heat.

Mr Randall wore a blue Marathon Des Sables-branded T-shirt when he was first spotted together with Kirkwood last May, sparking rumours he could be her mystery man.

The couple live together in Ms Kirkwood’s lavish £2 million home which is located within a gated community in Berkshire, on the banks of the River Thames. They are believed to have moved in together last year.

One resident of the complex told MailOnline: ‘Steve’s a great bloke, very friendly and easy to talk to. You don’t see him and Carol out and about that much but when you do, they like walking along the Thames.

‘He was visiting Carol all the time and then moved in last year. They’re both very down to earth and make a lovely couple.’

Another resident said: ‘Steve and Carol are very popular members of this community. You sometimes see them walking around and it’s obvious that they’re both very happy.

‘They’ve always got time for a chat with us and we’re all really happy for them.’

Kirkwood seen here in 2021 after a shopping trip close to her Berkshire home with her fiancé

Mr Randall (pictured right with his ex-wife Nichola, left) is a dedicated runner who follows a punishing fitness regime

Kirkwood was married to ex-cricketer Jimmy Calderwood for 18 years until they split in 2008

Kirkwood’s fiance Mr Randall is seen here with his ex-wife. When they split in 2017, she wrote on Facebook: ‘And’s now it’s time for me,’ which was met with supportive comments from pals, including one who replied: ‘It’s about time!’

The BBC star revealed in June 2021 she had entered a new romance, describing her secret boyfriend as ‘the best thing that has ever happened to me.’

Speaking to Prima Magazine, she told of his romantic gestures and how handsome’ he is.

She said: ‘I don’t want to say too much about my boyfriend, but I will say that he is very kind and very funny – he’s always making me laugh. And extremely handsome, as well.

‘He always makes me a cup of tea before I go to work in the morning, which is very romantic – it’s 2.45am and he often leaves me a little love note for when I come home from work. That, to me, is worth a million red roses.

‘He is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, without a shadow of a doubt.’

Nearly 12 months later, Ms Kirkwood revealed during her segment from the Chelsea Flower Show on BBC Breakfast the couple had got engaged, after host Sally Nugent joked, she was struggling to stand with a ‘giant rock’ on her finger.

Ms Kirkwood responded: ‘Thank you, Sal. I got engaged.’

Flashing the ring, she added: ‘It’s the happiest news! We are so, so delighted.’

Quizzed by Nugent and co-host Jon Kay on how it happened, Kirkwood then added. ‘We got engaged when we were on holiday. So, it’s lovely news and we’re both thrilled. Thank you.’

Ms Kirkwood opened up further about how Mr Randall popped the question during an interview with Hello magazine in July last year, where she also confirmed his first name, saying: ‘It was a lovely, sunny day and we had taken a picnic with us, and we were sitting by the river, watching the boats going by.

‘I turned to say, ‘What’s wrong?’ He was on his knee, and he proposed. At first, I thought he was joking, but he said, ‘No no, I really do mean it, Will you marry me?’ I said: ‘Yes!! Of course!’ Aw.’

Ms Kirkwood also revealed she had known Mr Randall before they started dating, adding: ‘I met Steve in my 50s; we were friends before we were romantically linked.

He is funny, gorgeous and, also, he is really kind, thoughtful and romantic.’

Kirkwood excitedly showed off her gorgeous engagement ring to viewers when she announced on TV that she was engaged

Mr Randall (left) who recently enjoyed a trip to Venice to celebrate Kirkwood’s 60th birthday, separated from the mother of his son (right) six years ago

In August last year during an interview with The Times, Ms Kirkwood told how she celebrated her 60th birthday with Mr Randall with a romantic trip to Venice.

She also beamed about how the pair wanted to go on a road trip in a camper van.

Ms Kirkwood’s shock split with ex-husband Jimmy was revealed in 2008, but it wasn’t until she starred in BBC1 series Strictly Come Dancing seven years later, when she was partnered with pro Pasha Kovalev, she really opened up about it.

She married Jimmy, a cricketer from Northern Ireland who also played hockey for Great Britain, in the early Nineties during her early days at the BBC.

Speaking about her failed marriage, she said: ‘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 go out with friends for dinner, I’ve got that freedom.’

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