Channel 4 to Explore Life of Paula Yates in New Documentary

Channel 4 has ordered the two-part documentary Paula from Curious Films to delve into TV presenter, journalist and author Paula Yates’ life and death.

Paula features four never-before-seen interviews recorded in 1998 and 1999 before her death in 2000 in which she candidly discusses the positives and negatives of her life. Friends and close colleagues also provide testimony to reveal who Yates was behind the tabloid narrative centered around the men in her life.

The documentary comes as Channel 4 celebrates its 40th anniversary. Yates’ TV debut on Channel 4 took place on November 5, 1982 on the pop music program The Tube, and she went on to present The Big Breakfast in 1992.

“Paula Yates exploded onto our screens in the very first week that Channel 4 came on air in 1982, a whirlwind of wit, verve and charisma—a totally unique style,” said Shaminder Nahal, head of specialist factual at Channel 4. “Looking at what she achieved now, it feels like no one has ever quite matched her as a TV presenter. So as Channel 4 reflects on 40 years, it feels right to look at her life and career and what an impact she made. As ever, Curious Films has made a riveting and sensitive series that will, I hope, introduce Paula to a new generation.”

Charlene Chika Osuagwu, producer for Curious Films, added, “Paula is the real story of a singular woman who was both ahead of her time and totally of it, which explores how she shaped and was shaped by the seismic changes in British culture and celebrity and what it meant to be a successful woman in that era. Paula’s battle to ‘have it all,’ torn between the duties of family life and her own personal career and happiness in the magnifying glare of a world determined to judge her, provide a powerful lesson for today’s world and women fighting the same issues 40 years later.”