Carol Smillie is a Scottish former television presenter, model, and actress who rose to fame in the 1990s as the host of Wheel of Fortune and Changing Rooms. Today, she works as a fully qualified humanist celebrant, conducting non‑religious weddings, funerals, and naming ceremonies in the Glasgow area.
Born in Glasgow on 23 December 1961, Smillie began her career in modelling before moving into television. She became a household name through her presenting roles and later stepped away from mainstream TV to pursue new ventures, including a lingerie brand and a book. Her current role as a celebrant marks a significant shift from her earlier public persona.
Despite leaving the screen, Smillie remains a figure of public curiosity. Questions about her net worth, family life, and what she does now frequently appear in search results. This article brings together the verified facts and addresses the most common questions about her life and career.
What Is Carol Smillie’s Net Worth?
Carol Smillie’s exact net worth is not publicly confirmed. Online estimates vary, with one source citing a range of roughly £785,000 to £3.9 million and explicitly noting that this figure is speculative. The wide range reflects the lack of official financial disclosure and the difficulty of estimating personal wealth from a television career, book sales, and business ventures.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Carol Patricia Smillie |
| Born | 23 December 1961 (age 63) |
| Birthplace | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Known For | Changing Rooms, Wheel of Fortune, modelling |
| Current Role | Humanist Celebrant |
| Net Worth | Estimated £785,000–£3.9 million (not publicly confirmed) |
- Carol Smillie transitioned from mainstream TV presenter to a humanist celebrant, reflecting a shift in modern career paths.
- Her net worth is not publicly disclosed; estimates are based on her long TV career and book sales.
- She maintains a social media presence on Instagram with 62 K followers, indicating ongoing public engagement.
- Her husband’s restaurant business is a known public fact, often asked about.
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Carol Patricia Smillie |
| Date of Birth | 23 December 1961 |
| Age | 63 (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Occupation (current) | Humanist Celebrant |
| Former Occupations | TV presenter, model, actress |
| Spouse | Alex Knight (married 1991) |
| Children | Christie, Robbie, Jodie |
| Net Worth (estimated) | £785,000–£3.9 million (speculative) |
| Notable TV Shows | Wheel of Fortune, Changing Rooms |
| Book Title | Carol Smillie’s Working Mums Handbook (2003) |
| Social Media | Instagram @carolsmillieofficial |
What Is Carol Smillie Doing Now?
Carol Smillie now works as a fully qualified humanist celebrant with Humanist Society Scotland. She conducts non‑religious ceremonies including weddings, funerals, and naming ceremonies, primarily in and around Glasgow. She qualified as a celebrant in 2018, according to one source.
Her Work as a Humanist Celebrant
Smillie describes herself as a “professional smiler” on her Instagram bio. Her official website states that she is one of the most recognisable faces from British television and that she brings that warmth and professionalism to the ceremonies she leads. She is available for bookings through her personal site.
Smillie left mainstream television in 2012 to launch Pretty Clever Pants, a women’s underwear brand. She also published Carol Smillie’s Working Mums Handbook in 2003. Her move to celebrant work in 2018 represents a second major reinvention.
Her Transition from Television
After her run on Changing Rooms ended in the early 2000s, Smillie made occasional television appearances, including a role in the film Infamy and guest spots on shows like Sooty. She cited onscreen ageism as a factor in her decision to leave TV, according to an interview with Metro.
Online Presence
Smillie remains active on Instagram, where she shares updates about her celebrant work, family life, and occasional throwback photos. Her account has around 62 K followers and provides a direct window into her current activities.
Who Is Carol Smillie’s Husband?
Carol Smillie is married to Alex Knight, a restaurateur. Multiple sources confirm they married in 1991. Knight is involved in the restaurant business in Glasgow, though the exact name of his establishment is not widely reported in public records.
Alex Knight and the Restaurant Business
Knight’s work as a restaurateur is a frequently asked topic. While the specific restaurant name is not consistently cited in the available sources, it is known that he owns a restaurant in the Glasgow area. This detail is often mentioned in biographies but rarely named explicitly.
Alex Knight and Carol Smillie have been married since 1991. They have three children together: Christie, Robbie, and Jodie. The couple has maintained a private family life, with limited public appearances.
How Many Children Does Carol Smillie Have?
Carol Smillie has three children: Christie, Robbie, and Jodie. Their exact ages are not publicly confirmed, but all three are adults. The family has remained largely out of the spotlight, with Smillie occasionally sharing glimpses on social media.
Raising a Family While Working
Smillie wrote Carol Smillie’s Working Mums Handbook in 2003, drawing on her own experiences balancing television work with motherhood. The book offers practical advice for working mothers, a topic she has spoken about in interviews.
Was Carol Smillie a Model?
Yes, Carol Smillie began her career as a model. She worked in modelling before transitioning into television in the late 1980s. Her early modelling photographs are available on her official website and through media archives, showing her in her younger years.
From Modelling to Television
Her television breakthrough came in 1989 when she became the hostess on the UK version of Wheel of Fortune. She later moved to presenting Changing Rooms for the BBC, a role that made her a household name. Her modelling background helped her land early screen roles.
While it is well established that Smillie modelled before TV, the exact dates and scope of her modelling work are not documented in detail across the available sources. The timeline is generally described as “1980s” without a precise start year.
How Old Is Carol Smillie?
Carol Smillie was born on 23 December 1961 in Glasgow, Scotland. As of 2025, she is 63 years old. Her age is a commonly searched fact, along with questions about her appearance in her younger years.
Photos of Carol Smillie Young
Images from her modelling and early television days are available on her official website and on platforms like Instagram. These photos show her as a young woman in the 1980s and 1990s, often with the characteristic smile that later became her trademark.
Carol Smillie Career Timeline
- 1961: Born in Glasgow, Scotland.
- 1980s: Began modelling career.
- 1989: Became hostess on Wheel of Fortune (UK).
- Mid‑1990s – early 2000s: Presented Changing Rooms on BBC.
- 2003: Published Carol Smillie’s Working Mums Handbook.
- 2000s: Appeared in film Infamy and TV show Sooty.
- 2012: Left mainstream television to launch Pretty Clever Pants lingerie brand.
- 2018: Qualified as a Humanist Celebrant with Humanist Society Scotland.
- 2020s–present: Active as a celebrant, conducting ceremonies and maintaining an Instagram presence.
What Is Known and What Remains Unclear?
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Born 23 December 1961 in Glasgow. | Exact net worth figure (not publicly confirmed). |
| Former TV presenter and model. | Specific details of her husband’s restaurant (name, location vary by source). |
| Currently a humanist celebrant. | Exact ages of her three children. |
| Married to Alex Knight (restaurateur) since 1991. | Precise end years of her TV roles are not consistently reported. |
| Three children: Christie, Robbie, Jodie. | Current relationship status (though likely still married). |
What Is the Background to Carol Smillie’s Career?
Carol Smillie rose to fame in the 1990s as a bubbly TV presenter on BBC’s Changing Rooms, a popular home‑improvement show. The programme was a ratings success and made her a familiar face in British households. Before that, she had already gained recognition as the hostess on Wheel of Fortune.
After stepping back from television, she reinvented herself as a humanist celebrant. This shift reflects a broader trend of TV personalities moving into celebrant roles, often citing a desire for more meaningful work. Smillie has spoken about ageism in the industry, telling Hello! Magazine that she felt pushed out of mainstream TV as she got older.
Her net worth remains a topic of curiosity, though she has not publicly disclosed it. She remains active on social media, connecting with fans and promoting her celebrant services. The consistent search interest in “Carol Smillie now” and “husband restaurant” shows that audiences are keen to know what she is doing after TV.
Where Do the Facts About Carol Smillie Come From?
The main sources for Carol Smillie’s biography include Wikipedia, her official website, IMDb, and news articles from Daily Record, Hello! Magazine, and Metro. Additional details about her net worth come from a Signalpost article that explicitly notes the speculative nature of the estimates.
“I’ve been one of TV’s most recognisable faces.”
— carolsmillie.tv
“Humanist Celebrant & professional smiler.”
— Instagram bio
In Summary
Carol Smillie is a Scottish former TV presenter and model who became a household name through Changing Rooms and Wheel of Fortune. She has since built a new career as a humanist celebrant, conducting weddings and other ceremonies in Glasgow. Her net worth is not publicly confirmed, but estimates range from £785,000 to £3.9 million. She is married to restaurateur Alex Knight, with whom she has three children: Christie, Robbie, and Jodie. For more on other TV personalities, see our profile of Tess Daly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Carol Smillie
What is Carol Smillie’s net worth?
Carol Smillie’s net worth is not publicly confirmed. Estimates based on her TV career and book sales suggest it could be in the range of £785,000–£3.9 million.
What is Carol Smillie doing now?
Carol Smillie is now a humanist celebrant, performing wedding ceremonies and other life events. She also manages an active Instagram account.
Who is Carol Smillie’s husband?
Carol Smillie is married to Alex Knight, a restaurateur. They married in 1991.
Does Carol Smillie’s husband own a restaurant?
Yes, Alex Knight owns a restaurant in Glasgow, though the exact name is not widely reported in public sources.
How many children does Carol Smillie have?
Carol Smillie has three children: Christie, Robbie, and Jodie.
Was Carol Smillie a model?
Yes, Carol Smillie began her career as a model before moving into television presenting.
How old is Carol Smillie?
Carol Smillie was born on 23 December 1961, making her 63 years old as of 2025.
What did Carol Smillie look like when she was young?
Carol Smillie was a model in her youth and has photos from that era available on her official website and Instagram.
Sophie Kendall is Culture & Events Editor at DailyCity.co.uk, covering restaurants, nightlife, theatre, exhibitions, festivals and city life.