Carol Smillie: What She’s Doing Now as a Humanist Celebrant

Born: 23 December 1961 ·
Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland ·
Known for: Wheel of Fortune, Changing Rooms ·
Current role: Humanist celebrant

Six key facts from her life and career, one pattern: a public figure who moved from the studio to the ceremony.

What has happened to Carol Smillie?

From TV presenter to humanist celebrant

Carol Smillie spent more than 25 years in front of the camera before stepping away from mainstream television. In 2018, she retrained with the Humanist Society Scotland (the official accrediting body for humanist celebrants in Scotland) and became a fully qualified humanist celebrant. Her personal website states she conducts “fully legal, non-religious wedding ceremonies and funerals.”

Leaving mainstream television

Her last regular TV role was on Changing Rooms, which ended in 2008. She also appeared in the film Infamy (2008). After that, she shifted focus. A 2019 feature on Life Death Whatever (a funeral and end-of-life blog) noted that she qualified as a humanist celebrant in 2018 after “over 25 years in television.”

Launching a new career as a celebrant

Smillie now works exclusively in and around Glasgow. Her Humanist Society Scotland profile lists her ceremony types as weddings and funerals, and she prefers to book only one year in advance. She continues to be active as of 2026, with her website confirming she is currently conducting ceremonies.

The pattern: Smillie didn’t just leave TV – she applied her public-speaking skills to a role that demands empathy and structure, turning a career pivot into a full-time practice.

Is Carol Smillie still married?

Carol Smillie’s marriage and family

Carol Smillie has been married for many years, but the identity of her husband is not publicly confirmed in available sources. Her official profiles and press coverage refer to her family life only in general terms. She has children, but specific names and ages are not widely reported.

Her husband’s identity

Public records show she uses the name Carol Knight in her professional celebrant profile (Humanist Society Scotland portal), which suggests a married surname, but the details remain private. The lack of confirmation means any claim about her spouse’s identity is speculation.

What this means: Smillie has kept her personal life largely out of the public eye, a choice that aligns with her post-TV focus on private ceremonies rather than celebrity appearances.

What was Carol Smillie famous for?

Early career on Wheel of Fortune

Carol Smillie became a household name in the UK as the co-host of Wheel of Fortune on ITV, alongside Nicky Campbell. The show ran from 1995 to 2001, and Smillie’s warm presenting style made her a fixture of Saturday night television. Wikipedia (the online encyclopedia) notes her role as the “letter-turner” on the game show.

BBC’s Changing Rooms

From 1996 to 2008, she presented Changing Rooms, a BBC home-makeover show that became a cultural phenomenon. The series paired neighbours who redecorated each other’s rooms, often with memorable – and sometimes disastrous – results. Smillie was the show’s steady presence across 12 years.

Other television appearances

Beyond game shows and makeovers, Smillie appeared in the 2008 film Infamy (a documentary-style drama). She also made guest appearances on chat shows and panel programmes. Her television career earned her a spot in the description on her own website as “one of TV’s most recognisable faces.”

The catch: her fame was built on two very different formats – one purely entertainment, the other participatory – both of which required her to connect with people, a skill she now uses in a very different setting.

Where does Carol Smillie live now?

Current residence in Glasgow

Carol Smillie lives in Glasgow, Scotland. Her Humanist Society Scotland profile explicitly states she works “in and around the Glasgow area only.” She was born in Glasgow and has remained connected to the city.

Connection to Scotland

Smillie’s identity is closely tied to her Scottish roots. She presents herself on social media with a Glasgow location tag, and her celebrant services are marketed exclusively to the region. A Facebook page titled Carol Knight Humanist Celebrant describes her service as “unique, personal humanist weddings in the Glasgow area only.”

Why this matters: Smillie’s choice to limit her celebrant work to Glasgow is a deliberate scoping – she is not a national brand, but a local practitioner, which gives her a more personal, low-key presence.

What is Carol Smillie doing now?

Working as a humanist celebrant

Smillie’s primary activity is conducting humanist weddings and funerals. She is fully accredited by the Humanist Society Scotland (the national body for humanist ceremonies in Scotland). Her official website provides a professional email contact: carol.knight@humanism.scot.

Social media presence

She is active on Instagram under the handle @carolsmillieofficial, where she posts about her life as a celebrant, reflections on her TV career, and humanist values. A 2024 Instagram post described her reflecting on her career move and her humanist values, as reported by her Instagram account. A 2026 reel mentions “30+ years in TV” before becoming a celebrant.

Other projects

She makes occasional public appearances and continues to be a public voice for humanism in Scotland. There is no indication she plans to return to television.

The trade-off: by leaving the studio, Smillie gained a more intimate, meaningful role – but she also gave up the visibility and income that came with TV fame. For her, the trade-off seems to have been worth it.

Timeline

• 23 December 1961 – Carol Smillie born in Glasgow, Scotland (Wikipedia)
• 1996 – Started presenting BBC’s Changing Rooms (Wikipedia)
• 2008 – Appeared in the film Infamy (Wikipedia)
• 2018 – Retrained as a humanist celebrant with the Humanist Society Scotland (Carol Smillie’s official site)
• Present – Active as a humanist celebrant in Glasgow (Humanist Society Scotland)

Perspectives

“Humanist Celebrant & professional smiler”

– Carol Smillie’s Instagram bio (@carolsmillieofficial)

“Carol has been one of TV’s most recognisable faces. From her early career on ‘Wheel of Fortune’ to the BBC’s ‘Changing Rooms’”

– Carol Smillie’s personal website (carolsmillie.tv)

Carol Smillie’s journey from prime-time presenter to Glasgow-based celebrant is a rare example of a celebrity who didn’t just fade away, but reshaped her career around a new purpose. For anyone wondering what happened to the woman from Wheel of Fortune, the answer is clear: she’s still making people’s days special, just without the cameras. For the public, the choice is straightforward: catch her on Instagram for a glimpse of her current life, or book her for a ceremony – but only if you’re getting married in Glasgow.

For those curious about her journey, Carol Smillies new career as a celebrant offers a detailed look at how she made the switch from television to officiating ceremonies.

Frequently asked questions

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