
Carol Smillie – Net Worth, Career Now, and Family Life
What is Carol Smillie’s net worth and what is she doing now?
| Full Name | Carol Patricia Smillie |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 23 December 1961 |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Occupation | TV presenter, actress, model, humanist celebrant |
Key insights
- Carol Smillie is best known for hosting the BBC show Changing Rooms and earlier Wheel of Fortune.
- She transitioned from a successful TV career to becoming a humanist celebrant, officiating non-religious weddings.
- She is married to Alex Knight and has three children; her husband runs a restaurant.
- Her net worth is not publicly disclosed, but estimates place it in the region of £1–2 million.
- Carol Smillie maintains an active presence on Instagram, documenting her current work and personal life.
Snapshot facts
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Carol Patricia Smillie |
| Date of Birth | 23 December 1961 |
| Birthplace | Glasgow, Scotland, UK |
| Occupation | TV presenter, actress, model, humanist celebrant |
| Spouse | Alex Knight |
| Children | Three (Christie, Robbie, Jodie) |
| Net Worth (estimated) | £1–2 million |
| Notable Works | Wheel of Fortune, Changing Rooms, The Real Full Monty |
What is Carol Smillie’s net worth?
A reliable, directly sourced figure for Carol Smillie’s net worth is not publicly available. Some entertainment and speaker-profile pages note that she was among the highest-earning women in television during her peak, but they do not provide a verified net worth estimate. Unsourced estimates typically place it between £1 million and £2 million.
What is Carol Smillie doing now?
After stepping back from mainstream television in 2012, Smillie retrained as a Humanist Celebrant. She now conducts non-religious weddings, funerals, and baby-naming ceremonies, primarily in the Glasgow area. Alongside this, she runs the lingerie brand Pretty Clever Pants and takes on public speaking engagements.
According to a July 2024 report in the Metro, Smillie’s work as a humanist celebrant has become a major post-television career shift. She works extensively in the wedding and celebration industry around Glasgow, a move she has described as a natural fit after years of hosting light entertainment shows.
Who is Carol Smillie’s husband and does she have children?
Who is Carol Smillie’s husband?
Carol Smillie has been married to Alex Knight since 1991. Knight is a former model. The couple met before her rise to fame on Changing Rooms and have maintained a relatively private family life away from the television spotlight.
Does Carol Smillie have children?
Yes, Carol Smillie and her husband Alex Knight have three children together. The family lives in the Glasgow area, where Smillie continues to base her celebrant and business activities.
Who is Carol Smillie’s daughter?
Sources consistently report that the couple have three children. Reports from the Daily Record and Metro name them as Christie, Robbie, and Jodie. Smillie has largely kept her children out of the public eye, respecting their privacy as they grew up.
What is Carol Smillie’s husband’s restaurant?
Details regarding Alex Knight’s restaurant ventures are not widely confirmed in mainstream sources. While some unverified mentions exist online, no official name or location has been consistently documented in the provided research.
Carol Smillie and her family have deliberately kept certain personal and business details out of the public domain. This aligns with her approach of maintaining a clear boundary between her public television persona and her private home life.
What was Carol Smillie’s early career and modeling?
Was Carol Smillie a model?
Before television, Smillie pursued a modeling career after studying at the Glasgow School of Art. She worked and modeled to support herself, which eventually helped lead to her first big television opportunity.
What was Carol Smillie like when she was young?
Born and raised in Glasgow, Smillie attended the Glasgow School of Art. Her big break came in 1989 when she beat approximately 5,000 applicants to become the hostess and puzzle-board operator for Scottish Television’s Wheel of Fortune, working alongside Nicky Campbell.
What is Carol Smillie’s career timeline?
- : Born in Glasgow, Scotland.
- : Started a modeling career and worked various jobs after art school.
- : Beat 5,000 applicants to co-host Wheel of Fortune UK.
- : Began presenting the BBC One makeover series Changing Rooms TV show.
- : Published Carol Smillie’s Working Mums Handbook.
- : Stepped back from mainstream television.
- : Works as a humanist celebrant and runs Pretty Clever Pants.
What is known and unknown about Carol Smillie’s finances?
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Date and place of birth (23 December 1961, Glasgow) | Exact net worth (no official figures, only estimates) |
| TV career highlights (Wheel of Fortune, Changing Rooms) | Full name of husband and all children (privacy maintained) |
| Marital status and that she has three children | Details of husband’s restaurant (name and location not widely reported) |
| Current occupation as a humanist celebrant | Specifics of early modeling career contracts or income |
How did Carol Smillie become a famous TV presenter?
Carol Smillie’s route to television fame began in Glasgow. After studying at the Glasgow School of Art, she entered the world of modeling to support herself financially. Her persistence paid off when she successfully auditioned for Scottish Television’s Wheel of Fortune in 1989, a show that catapulted her into the public eye.
After five years on the game show, she transitioned to BBC programming, presenting lifestyle shows such as The Travel Show and Holiday. However, it was her role as the main presenter of Changing Rooms from 1996 to 2003 that made her a true household name in the UK.
What are the best sources for Carol Smillie’s biography?
“Carol has been one of TV’s most recognisable faces. From her early career on ‘Wheel of Fortune’ to the BBC’s ‘Changing Rooms’, earning her invitations…”
— carolsmillie.tv (Official Website)
“Humanist Celebrant & professional smiler. Getting married in Glasgow? I’m your gal!”
— Instagram @carolsmillieofficial
“Carol Smillie is one of TV’s best-known faces and has won an Indie Award, a National TV Awards and a BAFTA Nomination for her TV work.”
— greatbritishspeakers.co.uk
What is Carol Smillie best known for?
Carol Smillie is best known as the vibrant face of 1990s and 2000s British lifestyle television, particularly Changing Rooms and Wheel of Fortune. After stepping away from the screen, she successfully reinvented herself as a humanist celebrant, demonstrating a versatility that has kept her in the public eye. She is one of the most notable Scottish TV presenters of her generation.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Carol Smillie?
Carol Smillie was born on 23 December 1961, making her 63 years old as of 2025.
What is Carol Smillie’s Instagram?
Her official Instagram handle is @carolsmillieofficial, where she shares updates on her celebrant work and personal life.
Does Carol Smillie have a Wikipedia page?
Yes, a detailed Wikipedia page exists under ‘Carol Smillie’ covering her television career and personal life.
What is Carol Smillie doing now?
She works primarily as a humanist celebrant officiating weddings and other ceremonies, runs the lingerie brand Pretty Clever Pants, and takes on speaking engagements.
Who is Carol Smillie married to?
She has been married to Alex Knight, a former model, since 1991.