Perkins Sue

Sue Perkins — Public Profile Overview

Name: Sue Perkins (Susan Elizabeth Perkins)

Born: Monday 22 September 1969, London, United Kingdom

Profession: Comedian, writer, broadcaster, presenter

Sue Perkins is a British presenter and comedian celebrated for her quick wit, warmth, and curiosity. She rose to wide prominence co-hosting The Great British Bake Off and has since become a distinctive voice in travel documentaries, factual entertainment, and radio.

At a glance

• Chair of BBC Radio 4’s Just a Minute (2021–present), continuing with new series through 2024.
• Fronted the Netflix travel docuseries Sue Perkins: Perfectly Legal (2022), exploring surprising laws and extreme experiences across Latin America.
• Frequent guest host and panellist on UK shows including Have I Got News For You, QI, and The Last Leg.
• Author of bestsellers Spectacles and East of Croydon; regular speaker at literary and media festivals.

Recent news and updates (through Oct 2024)

• Ongoing runs of Just a Minute on BBC Radio 4, with Perkins established as the permanent chair following Nicholas Parsons.
• Perfectly Legal remains available on Netflix in multiple regions; the series drew attention for its mix of dark humor, cultural insight, and high-adrenaline set pieces.
• Regular TV appearances across panel, quiz, and chat formats; continued hosting and Q&A slots at arts and book festivals.
• Public advocacy and fundraising appearances for literacy, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and humanitarian causes.

Selected recent and notable projects

• Just a Minute (BBC Radio 4, 2021–present) — Chair of the iconic improvisational panel show.
• Sue Perkins: Perfectly Legal (Netflix, 2022) — Travel docuseries through Latin America, testing unusual laws and limits.
• Hitmen / Hitmen: Reloaded (Sky, 2020–2021) — Sitcom starring Perkins and Mel Giedroyc as hapless contract killers.
• The Write Offs (Channel 4, 2020) — Documentary series supporting adults improving literacy skills.
• Japan with Sue Perkins (BBC, 2019) — Cultural travel series exploring contemporary Japan.
• The Ganges with Sue Perkins (BBC, 2017) and The Mekong River with Sue Perkins (BBC Two, 2014) — Landmark river journeys blending travel, history, and human stories.
• The Great British Bake Off (BBC, 2010–2016) — Co-host with Mel Giedroyc; the show became a global hit.
• Heading Out (BBC Two, 2013) — Creator and star of a sitcom about a vet navigating life and love.

Books and writing

• Spectacles (2015) — Candid, humorous memoir; Sunday Times bestseller.
• East of Croydon (2018) — Travel memoir inspired by her Asian journeys and documentaries.

Radio, podcasts, and live

• Just a Minute continues to anchor her radio presence.
• Frequent contributor and guest across BBC Radio 4 strands and live festival stages, hosting interviews, literary chats, and comedy nights.

Background

Perkins studied English at Cambridge, performed with Footlights, and formed the long-running double act “Mel & Sue.” They fronted Channel 4’s Light Lunch/Late Lunch in the late 1990s, establishing a warm, improvisational style that underpins Perkins’s presenting work.

Causes and public engagement

• Advocacy for LGBTQ+ visibility and inclusion.
• Support for literacy and education initiatives, reflected in The Write Offs.
• Regular charity telethons and fundraising specials participation.

Social media and official links

• X (Twitter): @sueperkins
• Instagram: @sueperkins
• BBC Radio 4 — Just a Minute: Programme page

Notes

Information reflects widely reported public activity up to October 2024. For the latest announcements, tour dates, and media appearances, consult the verified social accounts and broadcaster pages listed above.