You might remember her spinning the wheel on Wheel of Fortune or giving living rooms a radical makeover on Changing Rooms. Carol Smillie was one of the most recognisable faces on British television throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. But the Scottish presenter has taken a remarkable career turn that few saw coming — she’s now one of Scotland’s busiest humanist celebrants, conducting weddings and funerals around Glasgow.

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Born: 23 December 1961, Glasgow, Scotland ·
Known for: Presenting Wheel of Fortune and BBC’s Changing Rooms ·
Current role: Humanist celebrant in Glasgow ·
Instagram followers: 61K

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • No verified public IQ score exists (Wikipedia)
  • Exact net worth not published in reliable records (Wikipedia)
  • Spouse’s surname not publicly confirmed (Wikipedia)
3Timeline signal
  • 1989–1994: Wheel of Fortune co-presenter (Wikipedia)
  • 1996–2004: Changing Rooms host (Wikipedia)
  • 2018: Qualifies as humanist celebrant (Golden Charter)
4What’s next
The upshot

Smillie’s career pivot is more than a lifestyle change — it’s a response to a growing demand. Humanist ceremonies are now the number one choice across Scotland for both weddings and funerals, a trend that has created a steady stream of work for accredited celebrants like her.

Six key facts about Carol Smillie’s background, career, and current life at a glance:

Fact Details
Full name Carol Patricia Smillie
Date of birth 23 December 1961
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Occupation Former TV presenter, actress, model; current humanist celebrant
Known for Wheel of Fortune, Changing Rooms
Spouse John (surname not publicly confirmed)

What is Carol Smillie doing now?

Carol Smillie now works as a fully qualified humanist celebrant based in Glasgow. She retrained with the Humanist Society Scotland (accrediting body for celebrants) in 2018 and conducts legal, non-religious wedding ceremonies, funerals, and naming ceremonies. Her own website (Carol Smillie’s official site) describes her as a “fully qualified Humanist Celebrant.”

Humanist celebrant work in Glasgow

Latest public appearances

Smillie maintains an active presence on Instagram under @carolsmillieofficial (verified personal Instagram account), where she has 61K followers. Her bio describes her as “Humanist Celebrant & professional smiler.” In a 2024 Instagram post (Carol Knight celebrant account), she noted that after more than 30 years in television, becoming a humanist celebrant gave her control of her time.

The implication: Smillie’s transition from television to celebrant work is a genuine career change, not a side project. Her busy schedule on the official portal signals strong demand for her services in the Glasgow area.

What was Carol Smillie famous for?

Smillie rose to fame as a television presenter during the 1990s, when she was a regular fixture in millions of British households. Her career spanned game shows, lifestyle programmes, and occasional acting roles.

Wheel of Fortune

  • Smillie co-presented the UK version of Wheel of Fortune from 1989 to 1994 alongside host Nicky Campbell (Wikipedia).
  • Her role primarily involved revealing letters and interacting with contestants, making her one of the most recognisable game show personalities of the era.

Changing Rooms

  • Smillie hosted the BBC One makeover show Changing Rooms from 1996 to 2003 (Wikipedia).
  • The programme regularly attracted up to 11 million viewers at its peak, making it a staple of British weekend television.
  • She replaced original host Fern Britton and became the face of the show for its most successful years.

Other TV work

  • Smillie appeared in the film Infamy in 2008 (IMDb (film and TV database)).
  • She made a guest appearance in the children’s series Sooty in 2001 (IMDb).
  • Before her presenting career, she worked as a model and actress in the 1980s (Wikipedia).

The pattern: Smillie’s television career peaked during a period when British audiences consumed appointment-to-view television. Her move to a less visible but deeply personal occupation reflects a deliberate shift away from the spotlight.

Where does Carol Smillie live now?

Carol Smillie remains based in Glasgow, Scotland, where she was born and raised. Her work as a humanist celebrant is strictly limited to the Glasgow area, as confirmed by her official Humanist Society Scotland portal profile (celebrant registry).

Current residence

While Smillie keeps her exact home address private, all professional indications point to her living and working within greater Glasgow. Her online presence, including her personal website, emphasises the Glasgow area as her operational base.

The catch: Unlike many former TV personalities who relocate to London or retire from public life, Smillie has stayed rooted in her home city, building a second career that serves her local community.

What was Carol Smillie’s IQ?

There is no verified, publicly available IQ score for Carol Smillie. Claims about a specific IQ number circulate on unsubstantiated internet lists and forums, but no legitimate source — including Smillie herself, her publishers, or reputable media outlets — has ever published a confirmed result.

IQ claims and their origin

  • Various online databases list an IQ score of around 130 or higher for Smillie, but none cite a verifiable source (Wikipedia).
  • These numbers appear to originate from user-generated celebrity IQ lists, which have no editorial oversight or testing methodology.

No confirmed public IQ score

The absence of a confirmed IQ score is typical for public figures who have not taken standardised intelligence tests under supervised conditions for publication. Any number circulating online should be treated as unsubstantiated.

Why this matters: Readers searching for “Carol Smillie IQ” are likely encountering misinformation. The only honest answer is that no credible source has ever reported this figure.

What TV shows with Carol Smillie are popular?

Smillie’s television work spans several genres, but two programmes dominate her legacy.

Wheel of Fortune

As co-presenter of the UK version from 1989 to 1994, Smillie became a household name. The show aired on ITV at peak times and was one of the most popular game shows of its era (Wikipedia).

Changing Rooms

Her role as host of this BBC One makeover programme from 1996 to 2003 cemented her status as a daytime television staple. The show’s format — neighbours redecorating each other’s rooms — became a cultural reference point for British audiences.

Other appearances

  • Infamy (2008) — a film role (IMDb)
  • Sooty (2001) — guest appearance (IMDb)
  • Modelling and acting work in the 1980s before television presenting (Wikipedia)

Career timeline

Period Event
1961 Carol Smillie born in Glasgow, Scotland
1980s–1990s Works as a model and actress; co-presents Wheel of Fortune
1996–2004 Hosts BBC’s Changing Rooms
2008 Appears in the film Infamy
2010s–present Becomes a humanist celebrant, performing weddings and funerals
2023 Active on Instagram with 61K followers
The trade-off

Smillie swapped the instant recognition and high production values of network television for the deeply personal, one-on-one work of a celebrant. The reward: autonomy over her schedule and the ability to serve her local community in Glasgow on her own terms.

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

— Carol Smillie, Instagram bio (@carolsmillieofficial)

After over 25 years in television, Carol qualified as a Humanist Celebrant in 2018. She now conducts non-religious funerals, naming ceremonies, and legal wedding ceremonies.

— Life, Death & Whatever (personal development and funeral planning blog)

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Frequently asked questions

Is Carol Smillie still married?

Yes, Carol Smillie is married to John (surname not publicly confirmed). She uses her married name, Carol Knight, in her work as a humanist celebrant.

Does Carol Smillie have children?

Carol Smillie has three children with her husband, John. She has kept details about her family largely private throughout her career.

How did Carol Smillie become a humanist celebrant?

She retrained with the Humanist Society Scotland (accrediting body) in 2018, completing the organisation’s celebrant training programme. She began conducting funerals under her married name, Carol Knight, later adding weddings and naming ceremonies (Golden Charter).

What is Carol Smillie’s net worth?

Carol Smillie’s exact net worth has not been published by any reliable source. Various online estimates exist, but none are backed by verifiable financial records.

Did Carol Smillie appear in any films after Changing Rooms?

Yes, she appeared in the film Infamy in 2008 (IMDb). She has not taken major acting roles since.

What is Carol Smillie’s height?

Carol Smillie’s height is listed as 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) on her IMDb profile.

How can I book Carol Smillie as a celebrant?

You can contact her through her official website at carolsmillie.tv, where she provides a contact email using her married name, Carol Knight. Note that she only covers the Glasgow area.

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For the Glasgow community seeking a celebrant, the choice is clear: book early or risk missing out, as Smillie’s official portal shows her availability as “Busy” and “Limited Available.”