Paula Yates – The life, loves and tragedy of a Big Breakfast superstar

Paula Yates – The life, loves and tragedy of a Big Breakfast superstar

June 21, 2026 · 1h 23m · Season 1 · Episode 48

About this episode

The episode explores the life and legacy of Paula Yates, a prominent figure in 1990s celebrity culture.

Diving deep into all things ’90s. Big Breakfast presenter, tabloid icon and 50% of THE rock power couple, Paula Yates was one of the most fascinating and complicated figures of the 1990s. A journalist, presenter, style icon and gossip column fixture, she helped redefine celebrity culture with her unconventional Big Breakfast interviews. Her high-profile marriage to Bob Geldof, and later relationship with Michael Hutchence, made her one of the most talked-about women in Britain. But behind the glamour lay a life shaped by family secrets, fame, heartbreak and tragedy. Miranda Sawyer is joined by Guardian columnist Polly Hudson to explore the woman who captivated Britain – and the legacy she left behind. ⁠Support us on Patreon Follow us on: BlueSky Instagram TikTok Subscribe to our Spotify playlist • Buy Miranda’s book Uncommon People: Britpop and Beyond in 20 Songs through our affiliate bookshop and you’ll be helping the podcast by earning us a small commission for every sale. Bookshop.org’s fees help support independent bookshops too. • Advertisers! Want to reach smart, engaged, influential people with money to spend? (Yes, they do exist). Some 3.5 MILLION people download and…

People in this episode

Host: Miranda Sawyer

Guest: Polly Hudson

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Guardian, Podmasters

More episodes of Talk ’90s to me

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Talk ’90s to me podcast page.