Sue Perkins: Biography, Health, and Relationships

For millions of viewers, Sue Perkins is the warm, quick-witted co-host who made The Great British Bake Off feel like a cozy kitchen chat. But beyond the tent, she’s navigated a very different set of challenges—from an on-set health scare to a life-changing ADHD diagnosis later in life. Here’s what you need to know about the British broadcaster’s biography, relationships, and the health journey she’s chosen to share.

Born: 22 September 1969 ·
Age: 55 (as of 2024) ·
Profession: English broadcaster, comedienne, actress, singer, writer ·
Known for: The Great British Bake Off ·
ADHD diagnosis: Age 55 (announced 2024)

Eight key biographical facts, one pattern: Perkins’s public life is marked by milestones that she has chosen to share on her own terms.

The pattern here is consistent: Perkins’s major life updates—health, relationships, identity—have all been disclosed carefully, with sources confirming the facts but not the emotional weight behind them.

Who is Sue Perkins’ partner?

Sue Perkins was in a long-term relationship with television presenter Anna Richardson. According to Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia), the couple were together from 2014 to 2021. HELLO! Magazine (celebrity news outlet) reported that they met at a Halloween party in 2014, shortly after Richardson’s separation from her husband. Multiple entertainment outlets, including The Sun (UK tabloid), have reported that the relationship ended in 2021.

Is Sue Perkins still with Anna Richardson?

No public confirmation of a current relationship exists. Earlier on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, Perkins was described as “happily settled with a partner,” but that reference was made before 2021 and no updated statements have been issued.

Does Sue Perkins currently have a partner?

As of 2024, Perkins has not publicly disclosed a current partner. She appears to keep her private life very guarded, and no reliable source has confirmed a new relationship.

Does Sue Perkins have a disability?

Perkins has spoken openly about two significant health conditions: an ADHD diagnosis received at age 55 and a benign brain tumour discovered during filming.

What is Sue Perkins’ ADHD diagnosis?

In January 2023, ADHD UK (charity and advocacy organisation) reported that Perkins had been diagnosed with ADHD. The Independent (UK broadsheet) later wrote in April 2025 that she was 55 at the time of her diagnosis and that she “refuses to use it as an excuse.” ADHD is recognised as a disability in many contexts, and Perkins’s decision to go public has resonated with many adults facing late diagnoses.

Does Sue Perkins have any other health conditions?

During a 2015 recording of the BBC show The Supersizers, blood tests revealed a benign but symptomatic brain tumour. BBC (UK public broadcaster) documented the discovery. Entertainment Daily (celebrity news site) described the tumour as a prolactinoma, a non-cancerous growth that can disrupt hormones. The condition reportedly left her unable to have children—a topic she has called “heartbreaking.”

Are Mel and Sue still friends?

The comedy duo Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, known collectively as Mel and Sue, first met at Cambridge University. HELLO! Magazine notes that they began performing together shortly afterward. They co-hosted The Great British Bake Off from its revival in 2010 until 2016, when the show moved to Channel 4.

What is the history of Mel and Sue’s partnership?

In a 1999 interview with The Independent (UK broadsheet), the pair described themselves as “very good mates” who were compatible both on and off stage. Their partnership has spanned more than three decades.

Have they worked together recently?

Yes, they have occasionally collaborated since leaving Bake Off, including on a few one-off television projects and charity events. Both have stated in interviews that their friendship remains strong, even if they no longer work together daily.

Does Sue Perkins have a child?

Sue Perkins does not have any children. She has been open about the fact that the prolactinoma tumour affected her ability to conceive. In a candid interview cited by Entertainment Daily (celebrity news site), she said, “I felt bereaved” after learning she could not have children.

The decision was not entirely voluntary; she has described the health constraints that made motherhood impossible. This aspect of her life remains one of the most personal and emotional topics she has addressed in public.

Who outed Sue Perkins?

Sue Perkins was outed as a lesbian in 2002 by her former partner, comedian Rhona Cameron. According to a post from LGBT+ History Month (Facebook page), Cameron made the disclosure during a television appearance, without Perkins’s consent.

What happened when Sue Perkins was outed?

The outing was widely reported in the press at the time, and Perkins has later described it as a violation of her privacy. In interviews, she has said the incident affected both her career—she feared it might limit her opportunities in mainstream television—and her personal life. She has since become a prominent gay figure in British media, but the experience left a lasting imprint.

How did Sue Perkins respond?

Perkins handled the situation with characteristic grace: she did not retaliate publicly and instead focused on her work. Over the following years, she continued to build a successful career, eventually becoming one of the most recognisable faces on British television. She has since used her platform to support LGBTQ+ causes.

The timeline shows a clear pattern: Perkins’s private struggles were often made public by others or by circumstance, yet she consistently reclaimed the narrative on her own terms.

The picture that emerges is of a woman who has managed to keep her public persona warm and funny while privately grappling with serious health challenges and a complicated personal history. For fans of British comedy and broadcasting, Sue Perkins remains a respected figure whose willingness to share her journey offers both inspiration and a cautionary tale about the price of public life. The takeaway is clear: there’s often more to a smile than meets the eye—and Perkins’s strength lies in how she controls what the world sees.