Paula Yates, the ground-breaking tv presenter, author and journalist, was one of the most famous British women of the 1980s and '90s. Appearing on the most iconic TV shows of the era, presenting both The Tube and The Big Breakfast on Channel 4, Paula redefined what it was to be a woman onscreen. Fiercely intelligent, outrageously flirtatious and effortlessly cool, Paula was also one of the first high-profile women in Britain to have her personal life played out daily in the tabloid press, and would experience the full impact of what it means to be a woman in the public eye.
Often defined by her rockstar partners, married first to Bob Geldof and then in a relationship with Michael Hutchence, the lead singer of Australian rock band INXS, this two-part series aims to re-examine Paula on her own terms, exploring the huge influence she had, and the difficulties she faced as a result of her fame. After the tragic death of Michael Hutchence in 1997, Paula recorded a series of interviews with one journalist that have never been broadcast before. Using these audio tapes, as well as contributions from many of those who were close to Paula throughout her life, this series explores the pressures she faced, celebrates Paula, and gives her a voice in the telling of her own story.
Music Composed by
TIM GOALEN
Drama Cast:
Paula Yates
SALLY DAVEY
Martin Townsend
SIMON NOBLE
Make-up & Hair
SHERRIE WARWICK
ALICE THEOBOLD
Costume Designer
ALLISON WYLDECK
Art Director
HANNAH MOORMAN
Drama Camera Assistant
JOSH SPEAR
Drama Director of Photography
PATRICK SMITH
US Director of Photography
KEVIN ROBERTSON
US Sound Recordist
JAMES GODDARD
US Producer
CAROLINA PACHECO
US Data Wrangler
JOHN GOODNER
Directors of Photography
WILL BILLANY
STEVE MIDDLEDITCH
Additional Editing
FELIX BUCKLEY
Transcribers
SOPHIE BOHANE
MOIRA HALL
Production Assistants
SOPHIE EDGE
JOEL STOLZ-HUNTER
RICHARD YAXLEY
Graphics
ED EMMERSON
Post-Production Facility
SPLICE POST
Post Producer
LYDIA THATCHER
Colourist
CONNOR O’NEILL
Online Editor
SOL COKER
Dubbing Mixer
JACK LEWIS
Production Accountant
IWONA GONCALVES
Development Producer
BECKY KENT
Archive Producer
JOHN GREATHEAD
Production Co-ordinator
YASMIN HEIDARY-MILIC
Production Manager
KAT BEE
Head of Production
NICKY VARLEY
Editors
EMMA LYSAGHT
JOANNA CRICKMAY
Executive Producer
DOV FREEDMAN
Producer
CHARLENE CHIKA OSUAGWU
Directed by
CHARLIE RUSSELL