Sue Perkins Has Had Brain Tumour For 8 Years

Great British Bake Off co-host Sue Perkins has revealed that she has had a brain tumour for eight years.

The television personality has thanked fans for their support after disclosing in a magazine interview that it also means she cannot have children.

Perkins was diagnosed with prolactinoma, a non-cancerous tumour, during a check-up while filming The Supersizers, a programme about diets throughout history.

She went online to assure people she is alright, tweeting: "Ta for sweet tweets about my prolactinoma. It's benign & non-symptomatic. All fine, Let's focus on those less fortunate in the world."

The 45-year-old, who hosts the hit baking show alongside long-time friend Mel Giedroyc, said living with the condition can be a challenge.

"Sometimes it's big and makes me mad, and sometimes it's small and is in the background," she told Good Housekeeping.

"Sometimes it screws up my hormones. I have various tests now to make sure the side effects aren't too onerous."

Perkins said being told she would not be able to have children was difficult.

She said: "I don't know if I would have gone on to have children. But as soon as someone says you can't have something, you want it more than anything."

She added that Giedroyc giving birth to her first child made her acutely aware that she will not be able to experience motherhood.

In December 2014 Perkins revealed she was in a relationship with TV presenter Anna Richardson.