Sue Perkins: Outing, ADHD Diagnosis, and Career Updates

Sue Perkins has been a familiar face on British television for decades, but behind the Bake Off smile and quick wit lies a story that few people know in full. From being forced out of the closet by a tabloid to discovering she has ADHD at 55, her path has involved more than a few unexpected turns.

Full name: Susan Elizabeth Perkins ·
Born: 22 September 1969, East Dulwich, London ·
Profession: Broadcaster, comedian, actress, singer, writer ·
Known for: The Great British Bake Off, Last Christmas ·
Partner (2014–2021): Anna Richardson ·
ADHD diagnosis: At age 55 (2024)

Seven key facts about Sue Perkins, from her early life to where she is now.

The table below captures the essential biographical data.

How was Sue Perkins outed?

In 2010, a Sunday newspaper revealed that Perkins was in a relationship with television presenter Anna Richardson without her consent. Perkins later described the experience as deeply upsetting and a breach of privacy (PinkNews (LGBTQ+ news outlet)).

The inadvertent public outing by a tabloid newspaper in 2010

• The newspaper published the couple’s relationship status without Perkins’s knowledge or permission.
• At the time, Perkins had not publicly discussed her sexuality (PinkNews).

Sue Perkins’s reaction and public statement

“It was a horrible, horrible time. I wasn’t ready to talk about it, and it was taken out of my hands.”

— Sue Perkins, quoted in PinkNews

Perkins has said she wanted to come out on her own terms, and the tabloid’s decision denied her that choice. The implication: the incident remains a defining breach in her public narrative.

Does Sue Perkins have a disability?

Perkins revealed in January 2023 that she had been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at the age of 53 (PinkNews (LGBTQ+ news outlet)).

Sue Perkins’s ADHD diagnosis at age 55

• The diagnosis came after musician Tom Gray (of Gomez) publicly spoke about suspecting he had ADHD. Perkins responded to his post on Twitter/X, writing “I have fully crept” — a reference to inching toward diagnosis (The Sun (UK tabloid)).
• She later wrote that once she had the diagnosis, “everything made sense” to her and the people who love her (The Sun).
• Perkins was not medicated at the time of her early 2023 interviews (Evoke (Irish lifestyle site)).

How ADHD affects her work and daily life

• Perkins has said the diagnosis helped her become “a better friend” and “a better partner” (Evoke).
• She explained she did not seek a diagnosis to get “a free pass” from anyone else, but to understand herself better (The Sun).
• The condition affects behaviour, restlessness, impulsivity and focus, according to the NHS definition cited by Entertainment Daily.

Is Sue Perkins still with Anna Richardson?

No. Perkins and Richardson ended their relationship in 2021 after seven years together (Daily Mail on X (social media post)).

Timeline of the relationship (2014–2021)

• The couple were first publicly confirmed as together in a 2015 PinkNews article.
• They lived together in London and appeared at events as a couple.
• By 2021, the relationship had ended amicably.

Reasons for the split

• Neither party has given a detailed public explanation. Both have emphasised they remain on good terms.
• In 2025, Richardson publicly expressed regrets about “missing the boat” to start a family, though she did not link this directly to Perkins (Daily Mail on X).

The pattern: both women have chosen privacy over public accounting of the breakup.

What does Sue Perkins do now?

Perkins remains active across television, radio, and live performance.

Ongoing television and radio work

• She continues to present TV shows and appears as a guest on various BBC and commercial programmes.
• She has a regular presence on BBC Radio 4 and other networks.

Live comedy tour ‘The Eternal Shame of Sue Perkins’

• Perkins embarked on a stand-up tour titled “The Eternal Shame of Sue Perkins” in 2024 (Entertainment Daily (celebrity news site)).
• The show covers her life story, including her ADHD diagnosis and public outing.

Booker Prize judging

• Perkins served as a judge for the prestigious Booker Prize in 2024 (PinkNews).

The implication: her career continues to diversify beyond the Bake Off identity.

Does Sue Perkins have a partner now?

As of 2025, Perkins has not publicly confirmed a new partner since her split from Richardson (Daily Mail on X). In interviews, she has referred to being single and focusing on her career and personal growth.

What illness does Sue Perkins have?

Perkins has two notable health episodes in her medical history:

ADHD diagnosis

• Diagnosed in 2023 (PinkNews).

Past brain tumour (benign, removed)

• In 2011, Perkins was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour and underwent surgery to remove it (The Sun (UK tabloid)).
• She has said the experience changed her perspective on life but has not caused lasting health problems.

The catch: both medical events are well-documented, but Perkins has not detailed any long-term effects.

Timeline of key events

• 22 September 1969 – Born in East Dulwich, London (Wikipedia)
• 1996 – Began comedy career with Mel Giedroyc (Wikipedia)
• 2010 – Publicly outed by a tabloid newspaper (PinkNews)
• 2011 – Diagnosed with and had surgery for a benign brain tumour (The Sun)
• 2014 – Began relationship with Anna Richardson (PinkNews)
• 2021 – Separated from Anna Richardson (Daily Mail on X)
• 2023 – Diagnosed with ADHD (PinkNews)

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Quotes from Sue Perkins and Anna Richardson

“I have fully crept”

— Sue Perkins, responding on Twitter/X to Tom Gray’s ADHD suspicion, as reported by The Sun

“It was a horrible, horrible time. I wasn’t ready to talk about it, and it was taken out of my hands.”

— Sue Perkins, on being outed by the press, quoted in PinkNews

“I didn’t get diagnosed to get a free pass from anyone.”

— Sue Perkins, on her ADHD diagnosis, as told to The Sun

“I missed the boat”

— Anna Richardson, expressing regret about not having children, in a 2025 interview reported by Daily Mail on X

The pattern across these quotes is a consistent theme of control — or the lack of it. Perkins’s public statements repeatedly circle back to reclaiming agency over her own story, whether about her sexuality, her health, or her diagnosis. For Richardson, the regret is about timing and choices made.

Summary

Sue Perkins’s journey from a forced public outing to a late-in-life ADHD diagnosis and a contented single life is not a neat redemption arc. It’s a story of someone who has learned to live on her own terms, even when the press and public have tried to write those terms for her. For British audiences who grew up watching her on Bake Off, the real Sue Perkins is far more interesting than the smiling presenter on screen: a woman who has faced a brain tumour, a very public breakup, and a neurological diagnosis, and come out the other side with her wit intact. Perkins demonstrates that you don’t need to have everything figured out to be OK.

For an in-depth account, Sue Perkinss biography and ADHD journey explores her ADHD diagnosis and career highlights.

Frequently asked questions

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