Sue Perkins' life off-screen from Bake Off exit to tumour diagnosis which 'destroyed' her

TV host and comedian Sue Perkins has been a familiar face on British television for over 25 years. After making her name alongside friend and collaborator Mel Giedroyc on UK TV with their own shows, Sue has featured on numerous panel shows, reality programmes and hosted her own radio shows.

The 55-year-old is now back on our screens in the travel Channel 4 series Sue Perkins' Big Adventure: Paris to Istanbul, where she traces the path of the Orient Express.

The celebrity will delve into various cultures and activities across mainland Europe, discovering what makes each city distinct and special. This is the latest television endeavour from the comedian who has enjoyed a successful career.

Beyond television, Sue Perkins has led a busy life, encompassing high-profile relationships and a challenging health diagnosis.

Early life and career

Born on September 22, 1969 in Croydon, she was raised alongside her two younger siblings by her parents. Her father was employed at a local car dealership while her mother worked as a secretary.

She attended the independent girls' school Croham Hurst School with TV presenter Susanna Reid, before studying English at New Hall in Cambridge. It was here that she met Mel Giedroyc at the Footlights, igniting their lengthy career together.

In the 1990s, the comedy pair wrote for the BBC Radio 4 show Weekending and created sketches for French and Saunders. They also presented the daytime shows Light Lunch and Late Lunch for Channel 4 between 1997 and 1998.

Sue Perkins is perhaps best known for co-hosting The Great British Bake Off on the BBC from 2010 to 2016, before quitting when the show moved to Channel 4. She and Mel Giedroyc went on to host their own short-lived chat show, Mel and Sue, on ITV.

As a solo presenter, Sue has appeared on a range of shows, including Celebrity Big Brother, Have I Got News for You, Mock the Week, QI, Room 101, Celebrity Weakest Link, Question Time, and Newsnight.

In 2015, Sue faced online harassment after being falsely linked to the presenter role on Top Gear, leading her to temporarily leave social media and deny the rumours as "fabricated".

More recently, Sue has co-hosted Thronecast, a Sky Atlantic chat show for Game of Thrones fans, and competed on The Masked Singer in 2021 and Taskmaster in 2023.

Sue Perkins' latest travel series

Sue has become known for her travel documentaries, including Sue Perkins' Big American Road Trip and Japan with Sue Perkins. Her latest series, Sue Perkins' Big Adventure, follows the route of the iconic Orient Express from Paris to Istanbul, taking her on a unique and quirky journey.

She explores vibrant cultures, stunning landscapes, and the people who give each city its unique identity. The first episode synopsis reads: "After narrowly missing the train in Paris, Sue samples gourmet insects crafted by a world-class chef; gets a little tipsy on absinthe; and finds her place as a catwalk model in Paris Fashion Week before ending her time in the city with a night at the Crazy Horse Cabaret."

The series airs weekly at 9.15pm on Wednesday, November 5 on Channel 4.

Sue Perkins' tumour diagnosis

In 2015, Sue revealed that medical tests for a BBC show led to the discovery of a non-cancerous tumour in her pituitary gland.

Perkins confessed that the diagnosis of the benign tumour left her feeling "destroyed" and that she endured a "very dark time" following the news. The tumour may also affect her ability to have children.

Perkins says she had tests to check on the side effects of the tumour, some of which revealed that the tumour had caused "epic destruction" in her body.

She told BBC Radio 4: "It’s only really now that I consider the epic destruction this tiny little rice-shaped thing in my pituitary gland has caused. Sometimes it screws up my hormones. I have various tests now to make sure the side effects aren’t too onerous.

"I don’t know if I would have gone on to have children, but as soon as someone says you can’t have something, you want it more than anything."

Speaking to Radio Times in a recent interview, the comedy star insisted she wouldn’t let it hold her back.

She said: "As long as I remember to take my medication, I’m alright. It’s an annoying lump in my head, but… I don’t intend to let it circumscribe my future in any way."

Sue Perkins' famous relationships including TV presenter

Sue Perkins was unexpectedly outed when her past relationship with Rhona Cameron became public knowledge during the latter's stint on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2002.

The comedian met fellow presenter Anna Richardson at a Halloween party in 2014, shortly after Anna had parted ways with her partner Charles Martin.

Sue and Anna were together for seven years until 2021 and they have since reconnected as friends. On Anna's podcast It Can't Just Be Me, the Naked Attraction host admitted they didn't speak for a while after their split.

Sue Perkins added: "You have to sort of detonate parts of the familiar in order to grow new things, different ways of being, which are born out of friendship. And also, you have to forgive what's been, don't do history lessons.

"Once you get that space, the history lessons stop. What I mean by history lessons is in a row you go from talking about the thing that's upsetting you in the moment to then tracking back through all the other things in your past, that has been points of inflammation.

"Our break and split and time apart and everything has meant that we no longer do history lessons. We can forgive and just go, it's all OK."

Anna responded: "That's certainly what I missed - the love but also the fun. When you've got that with somebody, when you go 'do you know f**k it, let's let go of all that s**t'. ultimately our very core is love. We understand each other."

"All that love can be repurposed into a friendship, I really believe that" Sue added.