Telford 24 Seven

FIVE MINUTES WITH . . . SUZI PERRY

TV presenter Suzi Perry was born in 1970 just a stone’s throw from Telford, at Cosford, and started her working life selling men’s shoes. She went on to be a theatre lighting technician, studied business at university and danced with a band called the Red Lemons. These days she’s the BBC’s superbike expert, and helps present in The Gadget Show, on Channel Five.

Suzi Perry, Telford’s motorcycling queen.

IF YOU HAD TO BE STUCK IN A LIFT WITH SOMEONE, WHO WOULD IT BE?
“Alan Carr, because I just love him. I am in love with a gay man. I find him utterly hysterical. I’d actually really like to be stuck in a lift with Alan Carr.”

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
“I’m not really much of a scaredy cat. Probably losing my family.”

DO YOU HAVE ANY SUPERSTITIONS?
“No, my mum’s always telling me off for putting my shoes on the table and things. If I do see one magpie I do ask it how its family is, so I am a bit superstitious. I lied.”

IF YOU COULD HAVE ONLY ONE SONG ON YOUR IPOD, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
“The Wichita Lineman by Glen Campbell. It just reminds me of my dad, it’s quite nostalgic and the words are great. It’s an old song that’s great for reminiscing.”

WHAT’S THE MOST EXPENSIVE THING YOU’VE BOUGHT, NOT INCLUDING PROPERTY?
“I did buy a leather catsuit once that cost me two-and-a-half thousand pounds. It was an absolutely ridiculous thing to buy.”

WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN?
“It’s from my dad. If I’m in a situation where I feel like exploding, just take a deep breath and hold my head high.”

WHAT’S YOUR INDULGENCE?
“Curry. You can’t beat a chicken and mushroom balti.”

HOW ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ARE YOU?
“Quite. I’m the extreme. I do a lot of recycling, but I live in France as well so I do a lot of flying and obviously I fly a lot with my job, which is not very good.”

HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND IN A DAY?
“Probably about 15 or 20 I guess.”

WHAT ITEM COULD YOU NOT LIVE WITHOUT?
“My iPod. I can’t live without my music.”

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
“To stop getting creaky. My muscles are getting creaky as I get older.”

WHERE ARE YOU GOING ON HOLIDAY THIS SUMMER?
“I’m going to Spain on holiday for two weeks with my boyfriend and his daughter. I’m really looking forward to it.”