Sue Perkins: Biography, ADHD Diagnosis, and Relationship History

Q: What is Sue Perkins best known for?

She is best known as the co-host of The Great British Bake Off (2010–2016) alongside Mel Giedroyc.

Q: Did Sue Perkins have a brain tumor?

No credible source has reported a brain tumor. The only confirmed health condition is ADHD.

Q: Is Sue Perkins married?

No, she is not married. She was in a relationship with Anna Richardson from 2014 to 2021.

Q: Who did Sue Perkins co-host with on Bake Off?

She co-hosted with Mel Giedroyc from 2010 to 2016.

Q: What is Sue Perkins doing now?

She presents BBC Radio 4's Just a Minute and advocates for ADHD awareness.

When a beloved TV host reveals a late-in-life diagnosis, it often forces a re-evaluation of everything the public thought they knew. Sue Perkins, best known for co-hosting The Great British Bake Off, made headlines in 2023 when she disclosed her ADHD diagnosis at age 55. That revelation, along with the story of how she was outed decades earlier, reshaped how fans see the comedian—and how she sees herself.

Born: 22 September 1969 ·
Best known as: British comedian and broadcaster ·
ADHD diagnosis age: 55 ·
Former partner: Anna Richardson (2014-2021)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts

Sue Perkins was outed by a Sunday newspaper in 2002 (Wikipedia (encyclopaedic biography))
Diagnosed with ADHD at age 55 (Virgin Radio UK (entertainment news))
Relationship with Anna Richardson ended in 2021 (Wikipedia (encyclopaedic biography))

2What’s unclear

Whether Sue Perkins is currently in a relationship
If she has any other health conditions besides ADHD
Exact circumstances of her outing in 2002

3Timeline signal

2002: Outed by Sunday newspaper – a traumatic turning point
2023: Publicly reveals ADHD diagnosis – reframes her identity

4What’s next

Continued TV work and advocacy around ADHD awareness
No public confirmation of new romantic partner

Why this matters

Perkins’ dual experiences—being outed before she was ready and receiving a neurodevelopmental diagnosis decades later—show how privacy and identity intersect for public figures. The ADHD disclosure, made on her own terms, stands in stark contrast to the forced outing of 2002.

Before diving into the details, here are the key facts about Sue Perkins:

Label	Value
Full name	Susan Elizabeth Perkins
Date of birth	22 September 1969
Place of birth	East Dulwich, London, England
Occupation	Broadcaster, comedian, actress, writer
Notable work	The Great British Bake Off, Taskmaster
Years active	1995-present

The table above shows the core biographical details about the comedian.

How was Sue Perkins outed?

In 2002, a Sunday newspaper published details about Sue Perkins’ sexuality without her consent—an event she has since described as deeply traumatic. The outing happened while she was still coming to terms with her own identity, and it robbed her of the choice to share that news on her own timeline.

Who outed Sue Perkins?

The newspaper responsible was The People (now defunct), according to reports (Wikipedia (encyclopaedic biography)).
Perkins later reflected that the experience made her feel “violated” and that it took years to reclaim her narrative (The Independent (British newspaper)).

What was the public reaction?

At the time, the UK tabloid culture was less sensitive toward LGBTQ+ privacy, and the outing sparked debate about media ethics.
Perkins’ career continued to thrive, but she later said the incident left lasting scars (Wikipedia (encyclopaedic biography)).

The trade-off

The forced outing accelerated public visibility but at a personal cost. Perkins now controls her narrative around ADHD, turning a late diagnosis into a source of strength rather than a headline imposed by others.

The implication: the 2002 incident remains a defining but painful milestone in her public story.

Does Sue Perkins have a disability?

Yes—Sue Perkins has publicly confirmed she received a diagnosis of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at age 55. She has spoken candidly about how the diagnosis helped explain lifelong patterns of behaviour that had previously confused her and those close to her.

What is the nature of Sue Perkins’ ADHD?

Perkins described the diagnosis as a revelation: “Now suddenly everything makes sense – to me and those who love me” (PinkNews (LGBTQ+ news outlet)).
She noted specific challenges: “I understand why I lose everything, why I can’t prepare for things, why I don’t like repetition” (Radio Times (TV and entertainment guide)).
The diagnosis came after a period of assessment, and she first disclosed it in response to a tweet from Gomez guitarist Tom Gray, who was himself exploring an ADHD diagnosis (Virgin Radio UK (entertainment news)).

How did getting diagnosed at 55 change things?

Perkins emphasised that she does not “weaponise it to make excuses” (Radio Times (TV and entertainment guide)).
Instead, she uses the knowledge to manage stress and sensory overload: “I now understand why some things make me very upset and stressed” (Radio Times (TV and entertainment guide)).
ADHDUK, a charity, summarised that the diagnosis provided clarity for Perkins and her loved ones (ADHDUK (ADHD charity)).

“Over the last few months I have been undergoing assessment for, and have now been ‘diagnosed’ with, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Once I had the diagnosis, suddenly everything made sense – to me and those who love me.”

Sue Perkins, via social media, as reported by PinkNews (LGBTQ+ news outlet)

“I am creeping towards an ADHD diagnosis. I have been strongly advised to get assessed, and it would help me or people in my relationships.”

Tom Gray (Gomez guitarist), via social media, as reported by Virgin Radio UK (entertainment news)

Bottom line: The pattern: the diagnosis gave Perkins a framework to understand decades of unexplained behaviour.

Is Sue Perkins still with Anna Richardson?

No. Sue Perkins and television presenter Anna Richardson were in a relationship from 2014 until their separation in 2021. The split was reported as amicable, and both have moved on.

Who is Anna Richardson’s partner now?

Anna Richardson has been linked to other people since the breakup, including chef Andi Oliver, though she has not publicly confirmed a new long-term partner (Wikipedia (encyclopaedic biography)).

How long were Sue Perkins and Anna Richardson together?

They dated for approximately seven years, from 2014 to 2021.

Does Sue Perkins have a partner now?

As of 2025, Sue Perkins has not publicly confirmed a new romantic partner. Since the split with Anna Richardson, she has focused on her career projects and her health journey following the ADHD diagnosis.

What is Sue Perkins’ relationship status?

She has kept her private life largely out of the spotlight, and no verified reports of a new partner have emerged.
In interviews, she has spoken more about her work and neurodivergence than about dating.

Who is Sue Perkins dating?

There is no public information about a current partner. The uncertainty is noted in the “What’s unclear” snapshot above.

What illness does Sue Perkins have?

Sue Perkins has been diagnosed with ADHD, which is a neurodevelopmental condition, not a life-threatening illness. The widely searched term “Sue Perkins brain tumor” appears to be based on unsubstantiated rumours; no credible source has reported such a diagnosis.

Is Sue Perkins’ health condition serious?

ADHD is manageable with therapy, medication, and lifestyle adjustments. Perkins has described brain fog and memory issues as symptoms, but there is no evidence of a brain tumour or other serious disease (The Independent (British newspaper)).

What is the prognosis?

Perkins continues to work actively in television and radio. She has said the diagnosis has improved her quality of life by helping her understand her own needs.

The upshot

The “brain tumour” rumour appears to be a search-engine artifact with zero support from legitimate medical or news sources. The only confirmed health condition is ADHD—and Perkins herself has framed it as a clarifying, not limiting, revelation.

Timeline of key events

22 September 1969: Sue Perkins is born in East Dulwich, London.
1995: Begins comedy career, later forms partnership with Mel Giedroyc.
2002: Outed by a Sunday newspaper against her will.
2014: Begins relationship with Anna Richardson.
2019: Appears in the film Last Christmas as an actress.
2021: Separates from Anna Richardson.
Late 2022: Diagnosed with ADHD after a period of assessment (Radio Times (TV and entertainment guide)).
January 2023: Publicly discloses ADHD diagnosis via social media.

Confirmed vs. unanswered questions

Confirmed facts

Sue Perkins was outed by a newspaper in 2002.
She was diagnosed with ADHD at age 55.
Her relationship with Anna Richardson ended in 2021.
She does not have a brain tumour (no evidence found).

What remains unclear

Whether she is currently in a relationship.
If she has any other neurodevelopmental or health conditions besides ADHD.
Exact details of the 2002 outing (specific newspaper behaviour).

Quotes from those involved

“I have fully crept.”

Sue Perkins, responding to Tom Gray’s tweet about an ADHD diagnosis, via PinkNews (LGBTQ+ news outlet)

“I don’t weaponise it to make excuses for things that I do that aren’t optimal.”

Sue Perkins, speaking about her ADHD diagnosis, via Radio Times (TV and entertainment guide)

Bottom line: Sue Perkins turned two deeply personal events—a forced outing and a late ADHD diagnosis—into a narrative of self-understanding rather than victimhood. For fans, the lesson is that public figures deserve the right to disclose their own stories. For others navigating a late neurodivergence diagnosis, Perkins offers a model of acceptance without excuse.

Additional sources

youtube.com, instagram.com, facebook.com, mediafoorumi.fi

Frequently asked questions

What is Sue Perkins best known for?

She is best known as the co-host of The Great British Bake Off (2010–2016) alongside Mel Giedroyc, and for her comedy partnership with Giedroyc. She has also appeared on Taskmaster and presented various BBC shows.

Did Sue Perkins have a brain tumor?

No credible source has reported a brain tumor. The rumour appears to be unfounded; the only confirmed health condition is ADHD.

Is Sue Perkins married?

No, she is not married. She was in a long-term relationship with Anna Richardson from 2014 to 2021, but the couple have since separated.

Who did Sue Perkins co-host with on Bake Off?

She co-hosted The Great British Bake Off with Mel Giedroyc from 2010 until 2016, when the show moved from BBC to Channel 4.

What is Sue Perkins doing now?

She continues to work in television and radio, presenting shows such as Just a Minute (BBC Radio 4) and appearing as a contestant on Taskmaster. She also advocates for ADHD awareness.

Where was Sue Perkins born?

She was born in East Dulwich, London, England on 22 September 1969.