Sue Perkins 'touched inappropriately' by Orville the Duck on Light Lunch
Sue Perkins' co-host has claimed she was touched by puppet Orville the Duck as she spoke out against the "Naughty Nineties". The comedian and former Great British Bake Off host, 55, claimed the famous green bird got handsy with her.
Her best friend and co-star Mel Giedroyc, 57, spoke of the alleged incident on Channel 4 daytime show Light Lunch. They were hosting the programme together in 1997 when they saw that children's entertainer Keith Harris was invited on.
He turned up with the giant green duckling, who wore a nappy. Mel recalled: 'We're back in the Naughty Nineties - woof! Weren't they naughty - they were a very naughty decade.
'The most memorable of all the lunches, we had three puppeteers with their puppets for lunch. We had Keith Harris with Orville, who got a bit naughty with Sue! Well, Orville did," she claimed on the Parenting Hell podcast.
She added: 'Yes. Harris via Orville got a bit 'Naughty Nineties.'' Fellow comedian and podcast host Rob Beckett asked: 'He was nipping at the body?'
Mel replied: 'Yes. There is a ruddy hand (in there)!' Josh Widdecombe added: 'They'd get away with it by claiming it was a grey area," to which Mel agreed as she said: "Exactly!"
Keith, who died in 2015 aged 67, and the two other guests Roger de Courcey with Nookie Bear and Matthew Corbett with Sooty, were all allegedly captivated by Sue.
Mel claimed: 'They were trying to get all over Perks's grill, she was the honey trap, I was just the fly buzzing round the edge rather desperately. They bloomin' loved Perks, all of them.'
Sue and Mel met while studying at Cambridge University, where they launched their long-standing career together. In the 1990s, the comedy duo wrote for BBC Radio 4 show Weekending and created sketches for French & Saunders.
They went on to host daytime shows Light Lunch and Late Lunch for Channel 4 between 1997 and 1998. Their series ended in 1999 and Mel insisted they have fond memories of Light Lunch.
Mel even revealed there was plenty going on off screen as she admitted to snogging a runner on the programme. She said it was a then-unknown Dermot O'Leary as he was working one of his very first TV jobs.
'There was a lot going down - it should have been called Heavy Lunch," she teased. Mel and Sue returned to screens years later as the hosts of Great British Bake Off.
They held the positions between 2010 and 2016 on the BBC. However, the pair quit in protest of the show's move to Channel 4 and would go on to host their short-lived chat show on ITV called Mel and Sue.
The pair confessed they were "shocked and saddened" to discover the news of Bake Off's move and explained they "made no secret" of their desire for the show to remain where it was.
The Mirror has contacted Channel 4 for comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
a few seconds ago
- Daily Mail
JD Vance's family holiday destination in Cotswolds 'revealed'
After almost 200 turbulent days in office, US Vice-President JD Vance has earned the right to a relaxing holiday - so it may be of little surprise that he has reportedly chosen to retreat to a cosy corner of the Cotswolds. The 40-year-old is set to visit Charlbury, a civil parish around 12 miles north-west of Oxford, for his annual break with wife Usha and children Ewan Blaine, Vivek and Mirabel. Fashion journalist and socialite Plum Sykes told BBC Radio 4's PM programme that the family would be staying in a rented house in Oxfordshire, as Trump visits the UK to inaugurate his new golf course and hold talks with PM Sir Keir Starmer. Ms Sykes - who once served as assistant to Vogue editor Anna Wintour and reportedly inspired a character in The Devil Wears Prada - suggested Charlbury captures the quintessential idea of life in the English countryside. And as it happens, the tiny town is home to the UK's best pub - ideal for a man who confessed on the campaign trail last year: 'I do like to drink beer... I probably like to drink beer a little bit too much.' Ms Sykes claimed to know 'the whole story' about Vance's decision to take a transatlantic trip, which comes after chat show host Ellen DeGeneres relocated to the area - ironically, to escape the current US administration. She told Radio 4: 'There has been this mass exodus from America to the Cotswolds because it's an English fantasy of the countryside. But it's so glamorous and it's sort of very hot because one person goes, Ellen goes.' Ms Sykes continued: 'The fact that JD Vance has rented this house in Charlbury... I have to say I secretly know the whole story, but I can't tell you. It's just so hot and so trendy and so fashionable... it's an incredibly beautiful area because it's being protected, almost like a national park that you can live in. Americans cannot get over the charm but since Covid it's been refashioned with all the pleasures of London, Paris and New York.' Earlier this year, Charlbury was named as one of the best places to live in Oxfordshire, alongside the towns of Henley and Burford. It's only an hour away from London by direct train - making it an ideal place to live for the well-to-do commuter - and has a population of just over 3,500, per the most recent census. And if he does indeed favour a picturesque Oxfordshire escape, the second most powerful man in America will find himself well-entertained. As well as The Bull pub - which re-opened under new management two years ago - there is the Charlbury Museum, founded in 1949. Mr Vance could even take a trip to Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm Shop or The Farmer's Dog pub, both of which are just a few miles away. Ellen DeGeneres' farmhouse is also within reach - though the star is said to have hastily arranged a holiday to ensure she won't cross paths with the VP. Last week she revealed she is selling one of her two Cotswolds properties for a cool £22.5million – £7.5million more than she paid for it. Ellen and wife Portia de Rossi moved to the Cotswolds after she stepped away from showbiz under a cloud of allegations that her chat show had allowed a toxic work environment to foster. A probe eventually saw three executive producers sacked - and the star issue an apology on-air for her part in not tackling the issues sooner. She has since said she left the US to 'get away from Donald Trump' after he became president. 'We got here the day before the election and woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emojis and I was like, "He got in",' she previously said. 'And we're like, "We're staying here then".' The US VP joins Beyonce and Jay-Z and Taylor Swift as fans of the bucolic area's chocolate-box villages, honeyed-stone, rolling hills and cosy pubs. Music mogul Simon Cowell and his fiancée Lauren Silverman also live nearby - as do David and Victoria Beckham, who own a Grade II listed property near Chipping Norton. The Beckhams are among the famous faces said to have visited the trendy Soho Farmhouse members club down the road in Great Tew - which hosted Meghan Markle's hen do before she and Harry made for Montecito. And just last week the Bull Inn hosted a pre-wedding dinner event for guests of Apple heiress Eve Jobs and her husband-to-be, the Olympian show jumper Harry Charles. Among the illustrious company at the event was Vance's predecessor Kamala Harris and Bruce Springsteen's daughter Jessica. The wedding itself took place on Saturday at St Michael & All Angels Church in Great Tew, a few miles away. But some locals say the 'Americanisation' of the tiny Cotswolds town could be its undoing. A local waiter called Harry told the Times last week: ' Charlbury as an area has changed a lot. I dislike that it's been heavily Americanised, it's lost its charm.' Mr Vance's family breaks have equally racked up disharmony during his short time in office. Earlier this month, Disneyland visitors were left outraged after Vance shut down rides so he could enjoy them with his children. The Vice President strolled through the theme park in Los Angeles, California, hand-in-hand with children Vivek and Mirabel - with a vast Secret Service security detail alongside them. Barricades went up outside popular rides including Pirates of the Caribbean as K9 units stood guard - with an entourage of 50 bodyguards and Disney personnel said to be involved in the visit. Mr Vance and his family are expected to arrive in Britain soon after the President's five-day stay in Scotland. Mr Trump is hosting talks with Sir Keir Starmer on the war in Gaza and US-UK trade today, after signing a deal on tariffs earlier this year. The Stop Trump Coalition protested his visit, and has outlined plans for further action during his state visit, which is expected to take place in September. It has proclaimed similar opposition to Mr Vance's British break in a statement - warning that his security detail could cause misery for locals. 'JD Vance is every bit as unwelcome in the UK as Donald Trump,' the organisation said. 'The prospect of such a heavy security presence in the winding rural roads of The Cotswolds is likely to spark logjams in an already overly congested area of the UK. We remember how Vance cut short his ski trip in Vermont because he was so enraged by the sight of a few protesters. We are sure that, even in the Cotswolds, he will find the resistance waiting.'
Daily Mirror
a few seconds ago
- Daily Mirror
Vogue Williams claims Spencer Matthews was 'not happy' after insulting comment
Model and podcaster Vogue Williams has opened up about her marriage to former Made in Chelsea star Spencer Matthews, and how he was left seething after she made a dig about his artwork Podcaster Vogue Williams has revealed how her other half, Spencer Matthews, was left rather miffed when she publicly dissed one of his treasured artworks. Since launching their 'Spencer and Vogue' podcast, the married couple have been dishing out episodes weekly, giving fans a peek into their hectic family life and fielding queries from their audience. But earlier this year, Spencer surprised listeners by announcing his departure from the show to chase new ventures. It was later disclosed that the podcast would carry on with Vogue's elder sister Amber stepping in to fill Spencer's shoes. In her freshly published memoir 'Big Mouth', Vogue reminisces about her podcasting days with the ex-'Made in Chelsea' heartthrob and shared why he was "not happy" following a particular remark she made on air. Revealing the cause of the upset, she wrote: "He was especially not happy when I slagged the onion painting he did when he was sixteen years old," reports the Irish Mirror. Despite confessing that Spencer had his fair share of "thrown a few epic wobblers", she insists their spats are just like those of any other married couple: "Every so often he would threaten to quit, but these are the usual conflicts and dramas of a married couple." Not long after bowing out from their shared podcast, Spencer was back behind the microphone with his fresh solo venture, 'Untapped'. Launched earlier this year, the podcast features the former reality TV star engaging in conversations with sporting icons such as Mo Farah, Ulrika Jonsson and Ben Stokes, delving into the secrets behind their remarkable successes. Reflecting on the couple's early days, it was eight years ago when they first met while participating in the Channel 4 programme The Jump in 2017. Just a few months later, they said their "I dos", in the company of celebrity guests including Jamie Laing. The duo pledged their love for each other against the breathtaking backdrop of Spencer's parents' exquisite Glen Affric Estate in the Scottish Highlands. Since then, the couple have embarked on their journey as parents, welcoming their first child, Theodore, followed by daughter Gigi and youngest son Otto.
Daily Mirror
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Dark lonely life of Bonnie Blue from acid attack fears and seclusion to divorce
A new Channel 4 documentary is set to give viewers the first ever glimpse of Bonnie Blue's life behind the scenes, and the true cost of being one of the most controversial figures on the internet A new documentary delving into the real life of Bonnie Blue has exposed the sad reality of earning millions of pounds through extreme sex challenges, all while being one of the most hated figures on the internet. Channel 4's new show, titled "1,000 Men and Me: The Bonnie Blue Story" follows the 26-year-old for six months, giving viewers a startling glimpse into how an OnlyFans empire is made - and the true toll that comes with such a controversial lifestyle. Before finding fame as one of the biggest adult stars in the world, Bonnie, real name Tia Billinger, worked a normal job as a NHS recruitment worker. The star, from Derbyshire, was married, had her own home and from the outside, lived the perfect life. But she says she was desperately unfulfilled. "It was just the same day in day out, repetitive calls", she says of her old career. "I was like: Is this what I'm going to do for the rest of my life? People would look at me and oh wow she must be so happy in life, she's got a house, a fancy job. It's boring. Surely there's more to life than this." She then began selling x-rated tapes online, but it's her troubling genre on the platform, and the way she promotes her content, that's sparked widespread fury and fear as many question the ethics and potential dangers of her work. Indeed, Bonnie prides herself in specialising in sleeping with "barely legal" teenagers. Claiming in the new documentary that it "gives her purpose" - and even jokingly calling herself a "community worker" for sleeping with "normal people" - the star's most viral "challenge" came when she slept with 1,057 men in 12 hours. Through harnessing the lucrative model of "rage-bait" - where social media users post contentious, outrageous clips, opinions or statements purely to spark anger online - Bonnie has made millions. A year and a half into her work, she was making £500,000 a month. That soon skyrocketed to £2m a month, she claims. "I was the most searched woman in the world this year. I've had headlines in just about every country. I get to travel to amazing places, I've got an amazing team behind me. My bank account has millions in," Bonnie brags. "I think people think I'm going to regret this or she must be unhappy. No, I feel sorry for you, the ones who are sat there giving me hate, I'm sorry you're so basic." But she admits that her fame has come at a dark cost. As the film's director Victoria Silve notes: "Bonnie's commitment to work that very few people seem to be able to handle has left her quite alone. She may have a full bank account, but life looks pretty isolating when the world hates you." Indeed, away from the sex stunts, where hundreds of condoms litter the floor and men in balaclavas wait their turn to sleep with the notorious star, Bonnie's home life also seems far from normal. Her home is vast but simplistic in its decor, with crushed velvet furniture, white walls and - like most 20-somethings - delivery boxes scattered everywhere. Pepsi max cans are left across the apartment, along with piles of clothes dotted across different rooms, designer handbags and a bathroom sink full to the brim with Velcro rollers. At the screening that was attended by The Mirror, Bonnie insisted she was "very happy" with her life, and she is shown petting her fluffy white Pomeranian, completing puzzles or doing crafts. Yet a different story soon emerges as Bonnie's mask slips as Tia's real-life fears bubble to the surface. As her career took off, Bonnie split from her husband and childhood sweetheart Oliver Davidson and her closest friends now seem to be Josh, her live-in videographer, and a stylist named Hermes. She says: "My sort of circles got smaller, but my team are also my best friends." Admitting she never gets to go out alone - both in the UK and on the trips she takes abroad for work - she says: "The last time I went out by myself was probably about six months ago. Now it is not that safe. I get 100s of death threats a day, so it is not that safe when I walk around." The star confesses that she's worried about being attacked with acid on the street. "I say, 'It is going to happen at some point, someone will come and give me stick' and fair play to her, at least they are getting up off their sofa. My worst one is acid, if someone did acid, and I could see some spiteful girl doing that," she tells the camera. It was actually Oliver, or Ollie as he's known to Tia, who encouraged her to move into sex work. "I met Ollie when I was like 14, 15," she explains in the show. "We got married really young. Pretty, quite intimate wedding, nothing crazy, nothing over the top. Then we relocated to Australia shortly afterwards. "Ollie was beyond supportive, he gave me the confidence to do OnlyFans. And it wasn't because he wanted to pimp me out, he just wanted me to be happy and have control of my life. And obviously the money was good as well." Her now ex, who appears fleetingly in the film, explains why she's so successful and insists he's proud of her. "She really connects with the fans. Most people, if they do porn, they seem out of reach. You're never going to meet them. You're never going to be able to film with them. "Whereas Bonnie puts a location online, and then obviously her fans can actually film with her. It's like a defining moment in porn, where she's completely changed the game." Away from the vulnerable admission about her personal safety, Bonnie is quick to brush away any notion that her work has any impact on her physical or mental health. After one of her gruelling sex stunts, where she sleeps with more than 1,000 men in one day, Bonnie reflects: "I'm just not emotional. I can very much control my emotions. If I don't want to be upset, I won't be upset. "But no, I don't think I'm gonna need therapy, or I've got PTSD, or that there's any trauma. There's no hidden reason of why I do what I do." But some psychologists think otherwise. When her 1,057 man 'challenge' went viral, many critics questioned whether the stunt, which saw men wearing nothing but boxers and balaclavas lining up to take it in turns to sleep with the star, was even physically possible. There are 720 minutes in 12 hours, which means each man would have had less than 60 seconds with Bonnie. And that's before factoring in breaks. Bonnie insists in the show that she simply loves to have sex and that the extreme events don't phase her. But Natasha Silverman, a psychosexual therapist, told The Mirror it's "unusual" for women to "naturally remain in a state of pleasurable sexual arousal for a 12 hour period." She explained: "Having sex when no longer 'turned on' can be psychologically and physically painful and distressing, and increase the chances of sexual interactions becoming traumatic." The expert said that if Bonnie did sleep with 1,057 men in 12 hours, she may have used dissociation to cope. She explained that dissociation is a "coping mechanism" where the person may "disconnect" from their body or emotions as a way to protect themselves from discomfort, distress, anxiety, or emotional overload. Natasha said when sex lasts for an extended period, or involves multiple partners, it can lead to feelings of being "out of control" or "detached" from the experience. And while some people might find out-of-body experiences "pleasurable" or even "transformative" others may find them "distressing". It comes as other experts have warned that the current online landscape is encouraging sex workers to go to great lengths to succeed in reaching mass audiences, as it favours viral and shocking content. Health psychologist Jo Rodriguez, from Straightforward Psychology, told The Mirror that younger "brains are not adaptive enough to recognise that actually that's not the real world". She warned: "It's a version of reality that is given to you in the context of the situation. These young people, they see this, they expect this to be what relationships are like. How women are or what men are like, and then believe that they need to fit these roles. [...] It can create all sorts of problems for both men and women, because it is not an accurate reflection of reality.." When asked how she feels about young teenagers coming across her content, Bonnie admits in the documentary that she "forgets" to think of it from that point of view. She then says bluntly: "There's also a parent's responsibility to say, hey, there's people in the world that do mass murders. [It] doesn't mean you do that." Despite widespread fears about her work, Bonnie's family seem supportive of her career, despite facing backlash of their own. One scene in the documentary shows Bonnie at home with mum Sarah, who speaks with pride about how her daughter was a great dancer as a child. She says: "Would it be something that I chose for her to do, no. I was really, really shocked, but now would I want her to do anything else? No, not at all. It's her choice. "People I know always liked us both, but think it's OK to make nasty comments. Most of the time I just laugh. I'm like, 'If you could earn a million pounds in a month, your morals would soon change, and you'd get your bits out'. I don't care what people say." Sarah and other family members have given up their jobs to be on Bonnie's payroll. Bonnie adds: "My family started to put up with hate, I get that, but I also get the life I live and the money. So it's like I also want them to receive some of the rewards.' The star admits she uses the widespread hate she gets as fuel for engagement, and often puts women down as part of her brand. At one stage, while answering questions at a Q&A after the screening, she even labels them "the fat women that stay at home and make TikToks." She says in the show: "A lot of the times when I'll push into the hate, I know the more women that chat about me, the more husbands are going to search my name. "The more they're talking to me in their household, the more their sons are going to go to their bedroom and search for me. So I'm happy to p*** off the women because they're not my target audience." Channel 4 defended the multiple sex scenes in the documentary, telling the Mirror: "The explicit content is editorially justified and provides essential context.' And at the screening, commissioning editor Tim Hancock said: "We are very proud to do films like this." * 1000 Men and Me: The Bonnie Blue Story, Channel 4, Tuesday, 10pm.
