Suzi Perry is celebrating 30 years in broadcasting as you’d expect – at full throttle – by jetting around the world with the 200mph bike racing stars of MotoGP. Away from the track she’s just as busy, presenting the hugely popular Gadget Show podcast, cheering on her beloved Wolves – and looking after her dad, who lives right across the road!

Image credit: Nicky Johnston

High octane! That would be the perfect way to describe the days that preceded our interview with Suzi Perry. After fronting TNT Sports live TV coverage of MotoGP’s first bike race of the season in Thailand, Suzi faced the uncertain and potentially perilous journey back to the UK on the day when the US began its bombing campaign against Iran – then once home, she dashed to Molineux to cheer on her beloved Wolves to a dramatic win over Premier League champions, Liverpool.

“Wow, yes, it’s been what I guess you’d call quite a few days,” said Suzi, whose life has always seemed as fast-paced as the 200mph-plus racers she follows around the world – going right back to when she fronted BBC’s coverage of Formula One with the likes of the legendary Murray Walker. This year is especially notable for Suzi as she celebrates 30 years in broadcasting as well as completing a four-year house renovation which now sees her living opposite her dad in Wolverhampton. “It’s brilliant,” she says. “I can see what my dad is up to in his living room over the road as I look out of my front window. Ever since my mum passed away, I’ve wanted to keep an eye on him whenever I can.”

SLEEPLESS NIGHTS

We spoke to Suzi in what qualifies as her brief ‘downtime’. Having landed from Thailand the previous day and been at the football a few hours later, Suzi had grabbed a quick nap, before presenting her hugely popular Gadget Show podcast. Minutes after wrapping up that, she found time for us. How does she do it all? “I’ve always been a bit of a live wire.” Quite some understatement!
She follows that up with an apology. “I’ve got a sore throat, sorry about that! It’s all the shouting at Molineux last night.” To say Suzi is a committed Wolves fan is another understatement. “When I was in Thailand, I really wanted to watch the Wolves-Villa game, but the kick-off was at 3am in the morning Thai time. I started off trying to get some sleep at 1am, but I was just laying there and couldn’t stop thinking about the game. So, I thought, to hell with it, and put the match on TV. Wolves won two-nil. Then when it was over, I phoned my dad to talk about it. So, no sleep! I was ruined the next day!”

Suzi’s MotoGP schedule typically sees her travel to the track on a Thursday, present live coverage culminating on race day on Sunday before flying home on the Monday. This year’s championship features 22 races, spanning the globe from Asia to South America, Europe (including the British GP at Silverstone in August), the US and Australia, and runs right through to mid-November. Fitted in between is the Gadget Show podcast which Suzi presents with Jason Bradbury. Suzi admits to being a ‘technology nut’ and was part of the original Channel 5 TV team for eight years, covering 17 series. She also presented Gadget Show Live at the NEC.

SPORT FOR CHOICE

Looking back on the highs of her 30 years in broadcasting, Suzi says: “Nostalgia is a weird thing. I don’t think anyone really understands time – some things that happened seem like they were just yesterday. It feels like only five minutes since my first broadcast when I was 27 years old back in the 90’s. I feel very lucky in all the things I have done, and especially lucky to have had my career in sports”

Suzi was born at RAF Cosford in Shropshire but raised in Wolverhampton, and has been a Wolves fan since a child. Her father was a music promoter, and Suzi’s love for live music has remained with her. Her break into the world of sport came in the late 90’s as a reporter for Sky Sports – previously she had worked as a fashion model and appeared in TV commercials. She then became the first permanent female anchor for BBC’s Formula One coverage, but when it left the BBC, Suzi returned to her love of motorbikes, joining BT Sport – now TNT Sports – as their channel ambassador and host to the MotoGP coverage. Suzi said: “I have had the good fortune to have travelled the world reporting from trackside and speaking to the biggest names in motorsport.”

Her CV isn’t just about motorsport though. Her credits include presenting at Royal Ascot, Wimbledon, the London Marathon, Trooping the Colour, the Olympics, the Great North Run and the Boat Race. In 2009, Suzi was awarded an Honorary Fellowship at Wolverhampton University, and then in 2016, the university presented her with an Honorary Doctor of Engineering. In the same year, Suzi was also honoured with a Wolverhampton Famous Sons and Daughters Award, which she says still remains “very special”.

Earlier this year, Suzi was named as an ambassador for Wolverhampton Grand Theatre with a VIP booth in the Dress Circle bar named in her honour. Suzi’s first-ever job was backstage at the Grand, and now she joins fellow ambassador, Wolves legend Steve Bull, and singing star Beverley Knight who is a theatre patron. Suzi is also an ambassador with the Wolves Foundation charity, helping those in the local community.

SPECIAL MOMENTS

During an amazing career, Suzi says there have been many special moments. “Working with Murray Walker was just amazing – his energy was incredible. He is still the person everyone thinks of as the Voice of F1. Then there are the moments when those who become the greats of sport win their first championship – like Lewis Hamilton in F1 and Valentino Rossi in MotoGP. And I’ll never forget filming with Ewan McGregor for Sports Personality of the Year. He just loves motorbikes and when we filmed with him, he had just done Star Wars. He was so chilled and normal, drinking tea and eating a bacon sandwich. It was so special!”

Looking forward, Suzi says she’d like to do more radio and “something more with Wolverhampton” probably with the Foundation. “I love being here in the Midlands,” she adds. “It has so much to offer. I love the people. I love the food. I love its soul.”