Carol Smillie – Net Worth, Husband, and Celebrant Career

Carol Smillie, the Scottish television presenter who became a household name through Wheel of Fortune and Changing Rooms, has taken a path that few in the entertainment industry expected. Since stepping away from regular television work, she has built a second career as a humanist celebrant, conducting non-religious weddings, funerals, and baby namings across Scotland. Her story is one of deliberate reinvention rather than retirement.

Born in Glasgow on 23 December 1961, Smillie first entered the public eye as a model before television brought her into living rooms across the United Kingdom. By the late 2000s, however, she had begun shifting her focus. Today, she is far more likely to be found officiating a ceremony in a Glasgow venue than presenting a primetime show. The change has been substantial, and it has prompted steady curiosity about her current life, family, and financial standing.

This article examines what is known about Carol Smillie in 2025, what remains unconfirmed, and how her career evolved from primetime presenter to accredited celebrant.

What is Carol Smillie Doing Now?

Smillie qualified as an accredited humanist celebrant with Humanist Society Scotland in 2018. Local profiles indicate she now conducts roughly 50 to 60 weddings a year, along with funerals and baby naming ceremonies. Her official website describes her as available for booking, and her Instagram bio reads “Humanist Celebrant & professional smiler.”

There is no evidence that she has permanently ruled out television work, but she has not appeared in any regular broadcast role for many years. Guest appearances and occasional media features remain possible, based on her public profile.

Who Are Carol Smillie’s Family Members?

Marriage to Alex Knight

Carol Smillie married Alex Knight, a restaurateur, in August 1991. The couple have been together for more than three decades and celebrated over 30 years of marriage publicly in 2021. Knight’s restaurant business is based in the Glasgow area, though the specific name of the establishment has not been widely reported in reliable sources. This detail has generated local curiosity, particularly among Glasgow food enthusiasts. The Daily Record has noted the couple’s long-standing relationship, and Smillie herself has referenced her husband in interviews without providing extensive detail about his business.

Children: Christie, Robbie, and Jodie

Smillie has three children. Their names, as reported by The Daily Record and IMDB, are Christie, Robbie, and Jodie. Their exact ages are not publicly documented, and the family has generally kept the children out of the media spotlight. Smillie’s daughter, Jodie, has appeared in occasional social media posts but maintains a largely private life.

Age and Early Life

Born on 23 December 1961, Carol Smillie turned 63 in 2024. She grew up in Glasgow and attended Hutchesons’ Grammar School before studying fashion at the Glasgow School of Art. Her early career began in modelling, which eventually led to radio and then television work. Scottish Places notes that she was once described as one of the higher-earning women in British television, though that claim is presented as a historical observation rather than a current financial figure.

What is Carol Smillie’s Career Background and Net Worth?

From Model to Television Star

Smillie began her career as a model in the 1980s before moving into radio. Her television break came in 1989 when she became the hostess of the Scottish version of Wheel of Fortune. She later presented The Travel Show and Holiday for the BBC, but it was Changing Rooms, the interior design series that ran from 1996 to 2004, that made her a household name. Her official website lists these credits alongside appearances on The National Lottery and other mainstream UK programmes. She also acted in the film Infamy (2008) and made guest appearances on children’s shows such as Sooty.

Entrepreneurial Ventures

Beyond television, Smillie has worked as an author, columnist, and entrepreneur. According to Champions Speakers, she launched the underwear brand DiaryDoll in 2012 and later sold the business. The venture reflected a broader pattern of diversification that preceded her eventual move into celebrancy.

The Humanist Celebrant Transition

In 2018, Smillie qualified as an accredited humanist celebrant with Humanist Society Scotland. Ayrshire Magazine has reported that she conducts approximately 50 to 60 weddings annually, a figure that suggests a busy and active practice. Her ceremonies are non-religious and personalised for each couple or family. This career shift has been widely covered because it represents a complete departure from entertainment, yet it leverages the public speaking skills she developed over decades in television.

Net Worth: What Is Known and What Is Not

No confirmed net worth figure exists for Carol Smillie. One tabloid source, The Sun, has reported estimates ranging from $1 million to $5 million, but that article explicitly describes the figure as an estimate rather than a verified amount. More cautious sources note that her exact net worth is undisclosed. During her television peak, she was described as one of the higher-earning women in British television, but that claim is historical and does not reflect current earnings. Without financial disclosure from Smillie herself or a verified public record, any net worth figure remains speculative.

How Did Carol Smillie’s Career Evolve Over Time?

1. 1961 — Born in Glasgow, Scotland
2. 1980s — Worked as a model before transitioning to television
3. 1989 — Became host of the Scottish version of Wheel of Fortune
4. 1996–2004 — Hosted BBC’s Changing Rooms, achieving national fame
5. 2000s — Acted in film Infamy (2008) and made guest TV appearances
6. 2012 — Launched the underwear brand DiaryDoll
7. 2018 — Qualified as an accredited humanist celebrant with Humanist Society Scotland
8. 2025 — Active as a celebrant, conducting 50–60 weddings per year; maintains a public social media presence

This timeline illustrates a clear pattern: from model to television presenter to entrepreneur to celebrant. Each stage built on the skills developed in the previous one, particularly public speaking and audience engagement.

What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear?

What Does Carol Smillie’s Career Shift Mean in Context?

Carol Smillie represents a relatively uncommon case of a television personality who successfully pivoted to a meaningful second career outside entertainment. Unlike many former presenters who fade from public view or return to reality television, she identified a profession that allowed her to use her communication skills in a different, more personal setting. Humanist celebrancy requires warmth, organisation, and the ability to speak publicly under emotional circumstances — all qualities that served her well on television.

The persistent public curiosity about her husband’s restaurant reflects a broader pattern in celebrity journalism: audiences often seek to connect former stars to local businesses or landmarks. In Smillie’s case, the Glasgow food scene has been the subject of speculation, but no reliable source has confirmed the specific eatery. Similarly, the net worth question persists because of her long and visible television career, but the absence of financial disclosure means any answer remains conjectural.

Her career trajectory also highlights a broader trend: former television presenters increasingly retrain as celebrants, leveraging their public speaking backgrounds. Smillie is one of the more prominent examples of this shift in Scotland.

What Do the Sources Say About Carol Smillie?

Carol Patricia Smillie (born 23 December 1961) is a Scottish former television presenter, actress and model.

— Wikipedia

Humanist Celebrant & professional smiler. Getting married in Glasgow? I’m your gal!

— Carol Smillie’s Instagram bio

Carol Smillie is one of TV’s best-known faces and has won an Indie Award, a National TV Awards and a BAFTA Nomination.

— Great British Speakers

These sources, combined with Carol Smillie’s Wikipedia entry and her Instagram profile, provide a consistent picture of a woman who has moved from television to celebrancy while maintaining a public presence. None of the sources contradict one another on the core facts of her birth, career, marriage, or children.

What Is the Full Picture of Carol Smillie’s Life and Career?

Carol Smillie is a Scottish former television presenter, actress, and model who rose to fame in the 1990s and 2000s before retraining as a humanist celebrant in 2018. She was born in Glasgow, educated at Hutchesons’ Grammar School, and studied fashion at the Glasgow School of Art. Her television career included Wheel of Fortune, Changing Rooms, Holiday, and The National Lottery. She is married to restaurateur Alex Knight, with whom she has three children. She lives in Glasgow and continues to officiate weddings, funerals, and baby namings. Her net worth has not been publicly confirmed. For a more detailed look at her television years, see Carol Smillie’s career and biography. For information about her current role, see Carol Smillie’s work as a humanist celebrant.

Frequently Asked Questions About Carol Smillie