{{short description|British television presenter (born 1970)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox person |name = Suzi Perry |image = Suzy Perry 2013 British Grand Prix cropped.jpg |image_size = |caption = Perry presenting at the 2013 British Grand Prix |birth_date = May 1970 |birth_place = Cosford, Shropshire, England |death_date = |death_place = |death_cause = |other_names = Suzanne Perry |known_for = Model, television presenter, columnist, sporting host |education = Wolverhampton Polytechnic |alma_mater = |employer = BT Sport, BBC |occupation = Television presenter, Journalist |spouse = {{marriage|Steve Bullock|1997|2001|reason=divorced}}<br>{{marriage|Bastien Boosten|2009|2019|reason=divorced}} |website = [http://www.suziperry.com/ Official website] }} '''Suzi Perry''' (born May 1970)<ref>{{cite web|title=Companies House: Suzanne Perry|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04705176/officers|access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref> is a British television presenter covering Grand Prix motorcycle racing for BT Sport. She is known for covering Grand Prix motorcycle racing for the BBC for 13 years, ''The Gadget Show'' on Channel 5 for eight years and the BBC's Formula One coverage from 2013 to 2015.
==Early life== Perry was born at RAF Hospital Cosford in Cosford, Shropshire, the daughter of a music promoter, and her godfather was guitarist Mel Galley.<ref name="ExStar">{{cite web|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/2009/04/15/tvs-suzi-the-day-i-thought-i-might-die|title=TV's Suzi: The day I thought I might die|publisher=Express & Star|date=15 April 2009|access-date=3 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418191609/http://www.expressandstar.com/2009/04/15/tvs-suzi-the-day-i-thought-i-might-die|archive-date=18 April 2009}}</ref>
Brought up in Finchfield,<ref name="ExStar"/> she attended Smestow School in Wolverhampton, and had a school job as a lighting technician at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.<ref name="ExStar"/> Perry went on to study business studies and finance at Wolverhampton Polytechnic, now the University of Wolverhampton.<ref>[http://www.wlv.ac.uk/default.aspx?page=7239 Famous Alumni: University of Wolverhampton] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090526100032/http://www.wlv.ac.uk/Default.aspx?page=7239 |date=26 May 2009 }}, wlv.ac.uk; accessed 27 March 2016.</ref>
After graduation, Perry spent 12 months in Japan working as a model, then as an advertising model following her return to Britain.<ref name="achica1">{{cite web|last=Peck|first=Emily|title=Gadget Show's Suzi Perry talks tech – ACHICA Living|url=http://www.achicaliving.com/2010/04/gadget-shows-suzi-perry-tech-low-down/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110124048/http://www.achicaliving.com/2010/04/gadget-shows-suzi-perry-tech-low-down/|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 January 2016|publisher=achica.com|access-date=18 December 2012}}</ref>
==Broadcasting career==
===BBC Sport=== [[File:Coulthard, Perry & Jordan British GP 2013 001.jpg|thumb|David Coulthard, Suzi Perry and Eddie Jordan at the 2013 British Grand Prix]] Perry is mainly known as a motor sports correspondent, reporting on motorbike racing for BBC News as well as presenting other sports-related programmes, including Wimbledon, the Boat Race, the London Marathon, Royal Ascot and the Great North Run. She helped to present the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.<ref>{{cite web |title=Modern Legends Will Be Born |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/07_july/06/olympics.shtml |website=www.bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC}}</ref>
From 1997, Perry presented coverage of BBC Sport's Grand Prix motorcycle racing for 13 years.<ref>{{cite web|last=Downes |first=Andy |url=http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/General-news/2010/February/feb1710-suzi-perry-quits|title=Suzi Perry Quits MotoGP on BBC|publisher=Motorcycle News|date=17 February 2010|access-date=18 January 2013}}</ref> In February 2010, following a year in which she suffered a number of health issues including viral meningitis and an ectopic pregnancy, it was announced that she was stepping down from presenting motorcycle racing.<ref name="bmail">{{cite web|author=Roz Laws|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/tv/suzi-perry-on-coming-down-with-meningitis-246860|title=Suzi Perry on coming down with meningitis and missing her motorbikes|work=Birmingham Mail|date=11 April 2010|access-date=18 January 2013}}</ref> She stated that the extensive travelling involved combined with her other TV commitments was having a detrimental effect on her work-life balance.<ref name="bmail"/>
Following her departure from motorcycle racing, Perry was part of the BBC presenting team at the 2010 Epsom Derby,<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/06_june/02/derby.shtml BBC Sport to broadcast the 2010 Derby] BBC Press Office, 2 June 2010</ref> and Royal Ascot.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/06_june/14/ascot.shtml Royal Ascot on BBC Sport] BBC Press Office, 14 June 2010</ref> She was due to be part of the 2011 Grand National coverage but was replaced at the last moment – without any explanation – by Dan Walker, who happened to be at Aintree presenting ''Football Focus'' on the same day.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}
On 21 December 2012, the BBC announced that Perry would replace Jake Humphrey as presenter of the BBC's Grand Prix car racing coverage from the 2013 season, covering 10 live races and 10 highlight shows.<ref>{{cite web|author=GMT|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/20812990|title=F1: Suzi Perry replaces Jake Humphrey as BBC presenter|publisher=BBC|date=21 December 2012|access-date=18 January 2013}}</ref> She also wrote regular blogs for BBC Sport to give a behind-the-scenes look at F1. This was the first time a woman had taken on the full-time main anchor-role in Formula One on British TV.
In 2015, it was announced Perry would present a new F1 show for BBC Two with Murray Walker. The show, called ''Formula 1 Rewind'', involves Walker looking back at some of the BBC's archives.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/31735303|title=Formula 1: BBC offers extensive coverage of the 2015 season|publisher=BBC Sport|date=5 March 2015|access-date=27 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/formula-1-on-the-BBC|title=2015 Formula 1 on the BBC|publisher=BBC|date=5 March 2015|access-date=8 March 2015}}</ref>
===BT Sport=== In March 2016 it was announced that Perry would join BT Sport,<ref>{{cite web |title=BT Sport signs TV presenter Suzi Perry |url=http://sport.bt.com/more-sport-hub/more-sport/bt-sport-signs-tv-presenter-suzi-perry-S11364044894448 |website=www.sport.bt.com |publisher=BT Sport |access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref> presenting the channel's motorsport content, including World Championship motorcycle racing, FIM Speedway and the World Rally Championship. The announcement coincided with the news that UK terrestrial TV coverage of Formula 1 was moving from the BBC to Channel 4.<ref>{{cite news |title=F1 snapped up by Channel 4 as BBC exits deal early |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/dec/21/formula-one-channel-4-bbc-deal |website=The Guardian |date=21 December 2015 |last1=Sweney |first1=Mark }}</ref>
The BT Sport motorcycle racing team includes Perry, hosting the coverage alongside former bike racers and pundits Sylvain Guintoli, Michael Laverty, and Natalie Quirk. Commentary and reporting is provided by Neil Hodgson and Gavin Emmett.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Team BT Sport |url=https://www.bt.com/sport/watch/our-team |website=www.bt.sport.com |publisher=BT Sport}}</ref>
===Other television work=== [[File:Suzi Perry.jpg|thumb|right|Perry filming for ''The Gadget Show'' in 2011]] Perry was the original presenter of ''Live Elite League Speedway'' on Sky Sports. She appeared on the 2002–03 revival of ''Treasure Hunt'', where she took the "skyrunner" role made famous by Anneka Rice.<ref>{{cite news |title=BBC2 unearths Treasure Hunt |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/sep/04/bbc.broadcasting |newspaper=The Guardian |date=4 September 2002 |publisher=BBC|last1=Plunkett |first1=John }}</ref>
Since 2004, Perry had been a co-presenter for Channel 5's ''The Gadget Show'', a hi-tech weekly programme, alongside Jason Bradbury, Jon Bentley, Ortis Deley and Pollyanna Woodward. She was temporarily replaced by Gail Porter while recovering from an ectopic pregnancy, and returned in August 2009. Perry created the current theme music for the ''Gadget Show'' in 2011, as part of one of the show's challenges. In February 2012, it was announced that the show's format was going to change and be renamed ''The Gadget Show: World Tour'', featuring only two of the previous team of presenters: Jason Bradbury and Pollyanna Woodward.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fwd.channel5.com/gadget-show/gadget-news/the-gadget-show-rebooted-for-2012|title=The Gadget Show rebooted for 2012 by The Gadget Show|publisher=Fwd.channel5.com|access-date=18 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713060936/http://fwd.channel5.com/gadget-show/gadget-news/the-gadget-show-rebooted-for-2012|archive-date=13 July 2012}}</ref>
On 15 May 2008, Perry appeared on ''Through the Keyhole'' on BBC Two, allowing Lisa Snowdon to look around her property before being identified by the panel. In 2010 Perry appeared on ITV's ''All Star Mr & Mrs'' with husband Bastien.<ref name=MrMrs>[https://archive.today/20130204194746/http://www.tv.com/all-star-mr.-and-mrs./barry-mcguigan-suzi-perry-simon-gregson/episode/1342354/reviews.html All Star Mr and Mrs – Barry McGuigan, Suzi Perry, Simon Gregson Reviews], tv.com; accessed 27 March 2016.</ref>
Her other shows include ''Housecall'', ''Superstars'', ''City Hospital'', ''How to take Stunning Pictures'' and ''Holiday''.
On 10 March 2012, Perry danced to "Livin' the Vida Loca" with ex-''Gadget Show'' fellow presenter Ortis Deley for the BBC's ''Let's Dance for Comic Relief''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01cmkgt/dancers/suzi-ortis|title=Let's Dance for Sport Relief – Suzi and Ortis|publisher=BBC|date=1 January 1970|access-date=18 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0agK_vTpZs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/G0agK_vTpZs| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Suzi Perry & Ortis Deley dance to Livin' La Vida Loca – Let's Dance for Sport Relief 2012 – BBC One|publisher=YouTube|access-date=10 May 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Perry was a guest panellist on the Channel 5 magazine show ''The Wright Stuff'', alongside comedian Lee Hurst, for the week of 19–23 March 2012. Her appearance as a guest in the third series of BBC Two's ''The Sarah Millican Television Programme'' was shown on 2 November 2013. On 14 June 2014, she co-presented the BBC's coverage of Trooping the Colour with Huw Edwards.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trooping the Colour |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b047h9m6 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |publisher=BBC}}</ref>
In 2017, she presented ''Suzi Perry's Queens of the Road'' and ''Invented in London'' for BBC One.
===Radio work=== Perry presented ''Suzi Perry's Formula 1 Anthems'' on BBC Radio 2 during her time with BBC's Formula 1 commentary team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3j9kfgF2vBL7nwbDQRryDWT/what-would-you-hear-on-a-formula-1-legends-playlist|title=Suzi Perry's Formula 1 Anthems|website=BBC|access-date=3 October 2016}}</ref>
===Online broadcasts=== During the coronavirus lockdown of spring 2020, Perry began a series of live Instagram broadcasts, called 'Suzi's Breakfast Club', that incorporated interviews with people from the worlds of sport, music and entertainment. These included motorsport stars Carl Fogarty, James Toseland, Colin Edwards, Max Biaggi, Steve Parrish, Mark Blundell, David Coulthard, and Jason Plato. Also Jack Savoretti, Carol Vorderman, and Mark King of Level 42. The majority of broadcasts were also uploaded to YouTube.<ref>{{cite web |title=Suzi's Breakfast Club |url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4QEXemVBCKq7juV7Owwg8P5bJSNdKEcV |website=YouTube.com |publisher=Suzi Perry}}</ref>
==Honours== In September 2016, Perry was made an honorary Doctor of Engineering by the University of Wolverhampton for services to science, technology, and work encouraging young entrepreneurs.<ref>{{cite news|title=Honorary degree for TV's Perry, Broadcaster returns to university|work=Shropshire Star|date=21 September 2016|page=15|first=Doug|last=Wootton}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wlv.ac.uk/about-us/news-and-events/latest-news/2016/august-2016/university-announces-honours-list.php|title=University announces honours list|publisher=University of Wolverhampton.|website=wlv.ac.uk|access-date=3 October 2016}}</ref>
==Personal life== In 1997 Perry married Steve Bullock; their marriage lasted four years.<ref name="ExStar"/> In September 2008, she was engaged to her Dutch boyfriend, Bastien Boosten, whom she met while filming ''The Gadget Show''<ref name="ExStar"/> She suffered a ruptured ectopic pregnancy on 17 February 2009, and was taken to West Middlesex Hospital from her home in Chiswick, where she underwent surgery after losing four pints of blood.<ref name="ExStar"/> From April 2010, Perry lived in London, but shared a house in the south of France with Boosten.<ref name="ExStar"/>
In 2019, Perry contracted Dengue fever virus followed by post viral fatigue which forced her out for six weeks.<ref>{{cite web |author=Suzi Perry |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbt_wEfoy-Y/|title= Suzi Perry - No Argentina |publisher=Instagram |date=1 April 2022 |access-date=1 April 2022}}</ref> In 2023, Perry missed six races because of a suspected heart problem, coped with the death of her mother and a close-friend from schooldays, then had to care for her dad after he fell and broke his femur.<ref>{{cite web |author=Suzi Perry |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CxY11QYIEOQ/|title= Suzi Perry - Health Update |publisher=Instagram |date=19 September 2023 |access-date=19 September 2023}}</ref>
Perry is a supporter of Wolverhampton Wanderers football club.<ref name="ExStar"/>
===Charity=== In 2006, Perry appeared as a celebrity showjumper in the BBC's Sport Relief event ''Only Fools on Horses''. On 12 July, after being voted off the show, she revealed that she had fallen off her horse 12 times.<ref>{{cite web |author=Anna Tyzack |url=http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/86371.html |title="Only Fools on Horses" stars named – Equestrian news, equine news, horse news |publisher=Horse & Hound |date=9 June 2006 |access-date=19 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404154257/http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/86371.html |archive-date=4 April 2009 }}</ref>
Perry is a patron of Promise Dreams,<ref name="ExStar"/> a charity launched in 2001 in her home town of Wolverhampton, to provide treatment for seriously or terminally ill children and to support their families.<ref>[http://www.promisedreams.co.uk/friends.asp Promise Dreams] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724195201/http://www.promisedreams.co.uk/friends.asp |date=24 July 2008 }} – Wolverhampton's Children Charity</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Suzi Perry}} *{{IMDb name|id=0973626|name=Suzi Perry}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perry, Suzi}} Category:1970 births Category:Living people Category:People from Wolverhampton Category:English female models Category:English television presenters Category:Motorcycling mass media people Category:Alumni of the University of Wolverhampton Category:Formula One journalists and reporters Category:BT Sport presenters and reporters Category:BBC sports presenters and reporters Category:Motorsport announcers Category:English journalists Category:People from Cosford, Shropshire Category:Models from Shropshire Category:Models from the West Midlands (county)