Sue Perkins to Explore Late ADHD Diagnosis in Audible Podcast
Sue Perkins will explore her late-in-life ADHD diagnosis for the first time in a new podcast for Audible. Deadline reported the commission as an exclusive on Oct 19, 2026, meaning the outlet was first to publish the news. The announcement frames the show as Perkins' first long-form audio project built around the condition.
Perkins, a comedian and presenter best known as a former host of The Great British Bake Off, was diagnosed with ADHD in her 50s a few years ago. ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a neurodevelopmental condition associated with inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. She has discussed the diagnosis in newspaper and magazine interviews. This podcast is the first series she has built around it.
The series is titled Attention, Please! Tales From a Distracted Mind. The title puts distraction front and centre. It also signals a personal tone, with stories drawn from Perkins' own life.
The production mixes dramatic recreations with live conversations. Original music comes from composer Joe Zeitlin. That combination gives listeners acted scenes, unscripted talk and score in one package.
Three experts join Perkins across the series. They are psychologist Dr Tara Quinn-Cirillo, neuroscience expert Professor Ellie Dommett and endocrinologist Professor Niamh Martin. The line-up brings psychology, brain science and hormone health into the same conversation.
Perkins spoke about the diagnosis in April 2025 interviews. She told Radio Times the diagnosis helped her understand neurodivergent people, a term used for people whose brains work differently from what is considered typical. Speaking to The Independent, she said she refuses to use ADHD as an excuse. Those earlier comments were brief asides. The Audible series gives her room to go further.
What makes this stand out is the shift from mention to examination. Perkins is not revealing a new diagnosis. She is returning to one she has held for a few years and testing what it explains about work, memory and daily life. For listeners, this means a familiar voice in a different slot: less presenting, more personal inquiry.
