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Sue Perkins

Kirsty Young interviews comedian and broadcaster Sue Perkins.

Kirsty Young's castaway is the comedian and TV presenter Sue Perkins.

She and her friend Mel Giedroyc first appeared as a comedy duo at the Edinburgh Fringe over 20 years ago and together they presented the first seven series of The Great British Bake Off.

Born at the end of the 1960s, Sue grew up in Croydon, the eldest of three siblings. By her own description a "shy and awkward" child, she nonetheless made it to Cambridge University to study English. She and Mel met at a Footlights open mic gig soon after she'd arrived. Their first joint high-profile success was landing a new live daytime programme on Channel 4 called Light Lunch, which turned them into household names.

Sue also formed a second presenting partnership, making historical food programmes with Giles Coren. When she was 38 she was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour which left her unable to have children. Sue has been in a relationship with the TV presenter Anna Richardson since 2013.

Producer: Cathy Drysdale.

Available now

53 minutes

Last on

Fri 14 Jul 2017 09:00
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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  • Delicious music choices from the Queen of Bake-Off.

Clips

See all clips from Sue Perkins (2)

Music Played

  • Sylvester

    You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)

    • Disco Hits of the Β‘70s.
    • Universal-Island Records.

  • Lonnie Donegan

    Rock Island Line

    • Lonnie Donegan: The EP Collection.
    • Decca.

  • The Smiths

    How Soon Is Now?

    • Meat is Murder.
    • Warner.

  • T. Rex

    20th Century Boy

    • Tanx.
    • Edsel.

  • CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE

    • Kate Bush

      Moments of Pleasure

      • The Red Shoes.
      • EMI.

  • Giovanni Battista Pergolesi

    Stabat Mater

    Performer: Emma Kirkby. Performer: James Bowman. Performer: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Christopher Hogwood.
    • Decca.

  • Nick Drake

    Northern Sky

    • Bryter Layter.
    • Universal-Island.

  • Philip Glass

    Opening (from Glassworks)

    • Glassworks.
    • Sony Classical.

  • BOOK CHOICE

    'How to Clone Your Dog'

  • LUXURY ITEM

    Her deceased dog's hair

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Sue Perkins
Producer Cathy Drysdale

Broadcasts

  • Sun 9 Jul 2017 11:15
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM
  • Fri 14 Jul 2017 09:00
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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