Editing Paula Yates

{{distinguish|Pauline Yates}}
{{Short description|Welsh television personality and writer (1959–2000)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox person
|name         = Paula Yates
|image        =
|caption      = Yates in the 1990s
|birth_name   = Paula Elizabeth Yates
|birth_date   = {{Birth date|df=yes|1959|4|24}}
|birth_place  = [[Colwyn Bay]], Denbighshire, Wales
|death_date   = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2000|9|17|1959|4|24}}
|death_place  = [[Notting Hill]], London, England
|occupation   = Television presenter, writer
|known_for    = ''[[The Tube (1982 TV series)|The Tube]]''<br/>''[[The Big Breakfast]]''
|years_active = 1979–2000
|parents      = {{ubl|[[Jess Yates]] (adoptive father)|[[Hughie Green]] (biological father)}}
|spouse       = {{marriage|[[Bob Geldof]]|1986|1996|reason=divorced}} 
|partner      = [[Michael Hutchence]] (1995–1997; his death)
|children     = 4, including [[Peaches Geldof|Peaches]], [[Pixie Geldof]] and [[Tiger Lily Hutchence Geldof]]
}}

'''Paula Elizabeth Yates''' (24 April 1959 – 17 September 2000) was a Welsh television presenter and writer. Yates is best known for her work on two television programmes, ''[[The Tube (1982 TV series)|The Tube]]'' and ''[[The Big Breakfast]]''. She was subjected to intense media attention and scrutiny, owing to her popularity and her relationships with musicians [[Bob Geldof]] and [[Michael Hutchence]].

==Early life==
Born on 24 April 1959<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1355814/Paula-Yates.html "Paula Yates"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160227150927/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1355814/Paula-Yates.html |date=27 February 2016 }}. ''The Telegraph'' (18 September 2000). Retrieved 3 October 2020.</ref> in [[Colwyn Bay]], Wales, to English parents, Yates was brought up in a show business family. Her mother was Elaine Smith (whose stage name was Heller Toren, and who later wrote under the pseudonym Helene Thornton). Up until 1997, Yates believed her biological father to be [[Jess Yates]], who hosted the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] religious programme ''[[Stars on Sunday (TV series)|Stars on Sunday]]''. A [[DNA test]] in that year revealed that her biological father was game show host [[Hughie Green]].<ref>{{cite news |title='I thought I was at the darkest point in my life – now this'|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/39288.stm |newspaper=BBC News |date= 13 December 1997|accessdate=19 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Branigan|first=Tania|title= TV star killed by heroin 'binge'|url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/nov/09/drugsandalcohol.taniabranigan|newspaper=The Guardian |date= 9 November 2000|accessdate=19 January 2023}}</ref>

Yates described her childhood as lonely and isolated; her mother, she claimed, was absent for much of her upbringing.<ref name=baby/> She attended a village primary school, [[Rydal Penrhos|Penrhos College]], and [[Ysgol Aberconwy]]. The Yates family ran the Deganwy Castle Hotel for a time,<ref>{{cite web|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_west/8444081.stm|title=Historic Deganwy Castle hotel closes its doors|date=11 January 2010|access-date=8 April 2018|archive-date=9 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409112604/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_west/8444081.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> before moving to a house near Conwy. After the break-up of her parents' marriage in 1975, Yates lived mostly with her mother despite having a closer relationship with Jess, and also had periods in [[Malta]] and [[Mallorca]] where she was a pupil at Bellver International College, before returning to Britain.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

==Career==
In 1979, Yates began her career as a music journalist with a column called "Natural Blonde" in the ''[[Record Mirror]]'', shortly after posing for ''[[Penthouse (magazine)|Penthouse]]'' magazine. She first came to prominence in the 1980s, as co-presenter (with [[Jools Holland]]) of the [[Channel 4]] pop music programme ''[[The Tube (1982 TV series)|The Tube]]'', having been a minor co-host of BBC TV chat shows with presenter [[Terry Wogan]]. She also appeared alongside her friend [[Jennifer Saunders]] in 1987 for a spoof documentary on pop group [[Bananarama]].{{cn|date=December 2022}}

In 1982, she released a version of the [[Nancy Sinatra]] hit song "[[These Boots Are Made for Walkin']]" from the Music of Quality and Distinction Volume One album by B.E.F. (British Electric Foundation). <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.secondhandsongs.com/song/6437.html |title=These Boots Are Made for Walkin' |publisher=Secondhandsongs.com |access-date=25 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013143049/http://secondhandsongs.com/song/6437.html |archive-date=13 October 2007 }}</ref> 

After the birth of her daughters, Yates wrote two books on motherhood. She continued with her rock journalism, in addition to being presenter of the cutting-edge music show ''[[The Tube (1982 TV series)|The Tube]]''. 

Yates became known for her "on the bed" interviews on the show ''[[The Big Breakfast]]'', produced by her husband, [[Bob Geldof]].<ref name=knew>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2000/nov/07/tvandradio.television|work=The Guardian|date=6 November 2000|title=The Paula I knew|access-date=9 April 2018|author=Hodgson, Michael|archive-date=9 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409171615/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2000/nov/07/tvandradio.television|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=baby>{{cite web|work=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/baby-baby-baby-paula-yates-the-rock-chick-who-married-bob-geldof-and-interviews-people-in-bed-has-1475902.html|title=Baby, Baby, Baby: Paula Yates, the rock chick who married Bob Geldof and interviews people in bed, has set herself up as an expert on motherhood. Is she serious, or is she just flirting with it, the way she does with everything else?|date=28 February 1993|author=Bedell, Geraldine|access-date=8 April 2018|archive-date=9 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409171339/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/baby-baby-baby-paula-yates-the-rock-chick-who-married-bob-geldof-and-interviews-people-in-bed-has-1475902.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She casually asked the questions she felt people really wanted the answers to: "Is it true you had an affair with [[Prince (musician)|Prince]]?" (to [[Kylie Minogue]]) — and persuaded [[Sting (musician)|Sting]] to take his trousers off live on air.

At the time of her death in 2000, Yates was working on a book titled ''Sex and Death'', writing about her life from the moment she visited Hutchence's body in the morgue.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/paula-yates-channel-4-documentary-series-interview-2023-9gbg62xr9|title=Paula Yates, her untold story|website=The Times|last=Potton|first=Ed|date=2 March 2023|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.channel4.com/programmes/paula|title=Paula|date=13 March 2023|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Yates met Geldof in the early days of [[the Boomtown Rats]]. They began a romantic relationship in 1976 when she flew to Paris to surprise him while the band was playing there. Their first daughter, Fifi, was born in 1983.<ref name="GeldofBio">{{cite book|last=Geldof|first=Bob|title=Is That It?|publisher=Penguin|location=London|date=March 1987|edition=First|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isthatit00geld/page/360 360 pages]|isbn=978-1-55584-115-7|url=https://archive.org/details/isthatit00geld/page/360|url-access=registration}}</ref> After ten years together, Yates and Geldof married on 31 August 1986 in [[Las Vegas Valley|Las Vegas]], with [[Simon Le Bon]] of [[Duran Duran]] acting as [[best man]]. The couple then had two more daughters, [[Peaches Geldof|Peaches]]<ref>{{Cite news|title= Peaches Geldof calls for end to silly names|url= http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/peaches%20geldof%20calls%20for%20end%20to%20silly%20names|access-date= 8 April 2018|date= 19 January 2006|work= [[Contactmusic.com]]|archive-date= 24 June 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090624030859/http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/peaches%20geldof%20calls%20for%20end%20to%20silly%20names|url-status= live}}</ref> on 13 March 1989, and [[Pixie Geldof|Pixie]] on 17 September 1990.

Whilst married to Geldof, Yates had a year-long affair with American singer [[Terence Trent D'Arby]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/movies/paula-channel-4-review-sad-082159280.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAE6lItay6zsGL0ZncCAbKvKPFuHYkV2C8glA7NxhXIeplTcrbPvmj4nFwpHCveXoBOjAnkErwLzp77AExf3uhMu8NGhUXC0sC-Dk4uA5gjnRFgMCoK85bKz7ueqN901k382zNOQr2ISBO3LlV5fxWTdeZeKJLu3xstOG-89obHJH|title=Paula on Channel 4 review: The sad, but familiar, tale of how a unique talent lost her way|website=Yahoo and Evening Standard|last=Ramsdale|first=Suzannah|date=13 March 2023|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/mar/13/paula-review-a-glorious-celebration-of-paula-yates-the-most-witty-flirty-woman-to-ever-grace-our-tvs | title=Paula review – a glorious celebration of the most witty, flirty woman to ever grace our TVS | newspaper=The Guardian | date=13 March 2023 | last1=Mangan | first1=Lucy }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio/2023/03/14/paula-yates-documentary-is-a-horribly-riveting-study-in-late-20th-century-celebrity/|title=Paula Yates documentary is a horribly riveting study in late 20th-century celebrity|website=The Irish Times|last=Power|first=Ed|date=14 March 2023}}</ref> She had a six-year long affair with actor [[Rupert Everett]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/rupert-everett-paula-yates-affair-piers-morgan-life-stories-b921943.html|title=Rupert Everett discusses affair with Paula Yates in latest episode of Piers Morgan's Life Stories|website=Evening Standard|last=Edmonds|first=Lizzie|date=3 March 2021|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/03/03/rupert-everett-ignored-bob-geldof-while-having-affair-with-paula-yates-14176238/|title=Rupert Everett 'felt no guilt' having six-year affair with Paula Yates during her marriage to Bob Geldof|website=Metro|last=Pearce|first=Tilly|date=3 March 2021|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref> 

In 1985, Yates met [[INXS]] lead singer [[Michael Hutchence]] while interviewing him for [[Channel 4]]'s rock magazine programme ''The Tube''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/relationship-of-michael-hutchence-paula-yates/|title=The star-crossed relationship of Michael Hutchence and Paula Yates|website=Far Out Magazine|last=Satrkey|first=Arun|date=23 March 2022|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref> During this appearance on ''The Tube'', Yates was reportedly asked to leave Hutchence alone by the road manager of INXS when she walked up to him and said, "I'm going to have that boy [Hutchence]". Yates was unmoved by the manager's request and began to show up at INXS gigs everywhere for the next few years, even taking her young daughter Fifi along.{{sfn|Bozza|2005|p=228}} Yates maintained irregular contact with Hutchence during the intervening nine years and their affair had been under way for some months before their ''Big Breakfast'' interview in October 1994.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.ie/woman/celeb-news/the-passions-of-paula-yates-26332697.html | newspaper=Irish Independent | title=The passions of Paula Yates | access-date=13 March 2023 | archive-date=16 February 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216155943/http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/the-passions-of-paula-yates-1222585.html | url-status=live }}</ref> 

Geldof and Yates divorced in May 1996. On 22 July 1996, Yates gave birth to a daughter by Hutchence, [[Tiger Lily Hutchence Geldof|Tiger Lily]].<ref>{{cite web|work=The Independent|location=Ireland|url=https://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/the-saving-of-geldofs-soul-29105411.html|title=The saving of Geldof's soul|access-date=8 April 2018|date=4 March 2013|archive-date=9 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409171322/https://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/the-saving-of-geldofs-soul-29105411.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 22 November 1997, Hutchence was found dead in a hotel room in Sydney. The official verdict into his death said that he killed himself by hanging.<ref>{{cite web|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/michael-hutchence-planned-to-leave-paula-yates-before-death-kirk-pengilly-says-20140224-33b75.html|title=Michael Hutchence planned to leave Paula Yates before death, Kirk Pengilly says|date=24 February 2014|access-date=8 April 2018|archive-date=9 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409171422/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/michael-hutchence-planned-to-leave-paula-yates-before-death-kirk-pengilly-says-20140224-33b75.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Yates wrote in her police statement that Hutchence was "frightened and couldn't stand a minute more without his baby". During their phone conversations on the morning of his suicide, he had said, "I don't know how I'll live without Tiger". Yates also wrote that Geldof had threatened them repeatedly, saying: "Don't forget, I am above the law."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.michaelhutchenceinfo.com/library_section1.htm |title=Michael Hutchence – Official Website – Library – Section 1 |publisher=Michaelhutchenceinfo.com |access-date=25 February 2012 |archive-date=23 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223134555/http://www.michaelhutchenceinfo.com/library_section1.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Yates became distraught, refusing to accept the [[coroner]]'s verdict of suicide and insisting that it was a case of [[auto-erotic asphyxiation]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/suicide-threats-of-paula-yates-drove-hutchence-to-kill-himself-634539.html | work=The Independent | location=London | title=Suicide threats of Paula Yates 'drove Hutchence to kill himself' | first=Martin | last=Evans | date=31 October 2000 | access-date=22 May 2010 | archive-date=10 August 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810033817/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/suicide-threats-of-paula-yates-drove-hutchence-to-kill-himself-634539.html | url-status=live }}</ref> She eventually sought [[psychiatry|psychiatric]] treatment.

In December 1997, a few weeks after Hutchence's death and while Yates was fighting for custody of her daughter with Hutchence, Yates suffered another blow when a DNA test result confirmed tabloid media reports that Jess Yates, who had died in April 1993, was not her biological father. A [[DNA paternity testing|paternity test]] proved that the talent show host [[Hughie Green]], who had died six months before Hutchence, was her biological father.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/hughiegreenmostsincerely |title=Drama – Hughie Green, Most Sincerely |publisher=BBC |access-date=25 February 2012 |archive-date=11 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111143228/http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/hughiegreenmostsincerely/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 1998, Geldof won full custody of the couple's three daughters after Yates attempted suicide.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/929725.stm | work=BBC News | title=Yates' turbulent loves | date=17 September 2000 | access-date=22 May 2010 | archive-date=12 March 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312170652/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/929725.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> She met Kingsley O'Keke during her stay in treatment, but the pair broke up after a six-week romance. O'Keke later sold his story to a tabloid newspaper.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/203182.stm | work=BBC News | title=Yates loses custody battle | date=28 October 1998 | access-date=22 May 2010 | archive-date=25 February 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225055612/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/203182.stm | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/geldof-blames-decision-of-family-courts-for-daughters-pain-30689924.html|title=Geldof blames decision of family courts for daughters' pain|first=Denise |last=Calnan |website=Irish Independent|date=24 October 2014|access-date=13 January 2020|archive-date=13 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113075137/https://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/geldof-blames-decision-of-family-courts-for-daughters-pain-30689924.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Death==
On 17 September 2000, on Pixie's 10th birthday, Yates died at her home in [[Notting Hill]] at the age of 41 of a [[opioid overdose|heroin overdose]]. The coroner ruled that it was not a suicide, but a result of "foolish and incautious" behaviour.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/nov/09/drugsandalcohol.taniabranigan |newspaper=The Guardian |title=TV star killed by heroin 'binge' |first=Tania |last=Branigan |date=9 November 2000 |access-date=25 June 2020 |archive-date=13 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413132225/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/nov/09/drugsandalcohol.taniabranigan |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1013404.stm | work=BBC News | title=Heroin overdose killed Yates | date=8 November 2000 | access-date=22 May 2010 | archive-date=5 March 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305110040/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1013404.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> Yates was discovered in the presence of her then-four-year-old daughter, Tiger Lily.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/04/11/peaches-geldof-died-next-to-her-baby/|title=Peaches Geldof died next to her baby|first=Tony|last=Hicks|work=The Mercury News|date=11 April 2014|access-date=13 January 2020|archive-date=13 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113075533/https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/04/11/peaches-geldof-died-next-to-her-baby/|url-status=live}}</ref> A friend disclosed during the inquest that Yates had not taken illegal drugs for nearly two years,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/03/13/what-happened-to-paula-yates-inside-the-tube-stars-tragic-death-18436518/|title=What happened to Paula Yates? Inside The Tube star's tragic death|website=Metro|last=Yeates|first=Cydney|date=13 March 2023|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref> and the coroner, [[Paul Knapman]], concluded that although the amount Yates had taken would not have killed an addict, "an unsophisticated taker of heroin" like Yates had no tolerance for the drug.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/nov/09/drugsandalcohol.taniabranigan|title=TV star killed by heroin 'binge'|last=Branigan|first=Tania|date=9 November 2000|work=The Guardian|access-date=11 April 2014|archive-date=13 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413132225/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/nov/09/drugsandalcohol.taniabranigan|url-status=live}}</ref>

Soon after Yates's death, Geldof assumed foster custody of Tiger Lily so that she could be brought up with her three older half-sisters, Fifi, Peaches, and Pixie. Her aunt, Tina Hutchence, the sister of Michael Hutchence, was denied permission by the judge to apply for Tiger Lily to live with her in California.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1078627.stm | work=BBC News | title=Tiger Lily to live with Sir Bob | date=19 December 2000 | access-date=22 May 2010 | archive-date=13 January 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113081810/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1078627.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> In 2007, Geldof adopted Tiger Lily and changed her surname to Geldof;<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 November 2007 |title=Geldof to rename daughter of Hutchence |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/geldof-to-rename-daughter-of-hutchence-20071112-gdrkmn.html |website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> as of 2019, Tiger's legal name was Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily Hutchence Geldof.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-au/entertainment/celebrity/michael-hutchences-daughter-tiger-lily-22-has-been-ignored-by-the-rock-stars-estate-as-she-is-discovered-living-in-a-london-squat-after-receiving-a-dollar900-inheritance/ar-AADODxc|title=Michael Hutchence's daughter Tiger Lily, 22, has been 'ignored' by the rock star's estate – as she is discovered 'living in a London squat after receiving a $900 inheritance'|publisher=MSN|access-date=13 January 2020|archive-date=13 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113080424/https://www.msn.com/en-au/entertainment/celebrity/michael-hutchences-daughter-tiger-lily-22-has-been-ignored-by-the-rock-stars-estate-as-she-is-discovered-living-in-a-london-squat-after-receiving-a-dollar900-inheritance/ar-AADODxc|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 7 April 2014, Yates's second-oldest daughter, Peaches, also died of a heroin overdose, aged 25. One day before her death, she uploaded a picture to her [[Instagram]] of herself as a young girl and her mother under the caption "Me and my Mum."<ref>{{cite web|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26931337|title=Peaches Geldof: Writer and TV presenter dies aged 25|date=7 April 2014|access-date=9 April 2018|archive-date=5 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505235642/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26931337|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Legacy==
On 14 March 2023, Yates was the subject of a two-part [[Channel 4]] documentary, entitled ''Paula'', which looked at her life and career. The documentary highlighted the intense media surrounding Yates and the often negative coverage in the British press.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2023/03/13/paula-channel-4-review-paula-yates-charismatic-irreverent-sexy/|title=Paula Yates was charismatic, irreverent, sexy and smart – so why did the tabloids hound her?|website=The Telegraph|last=Singh|first=Anita|date=13 March 2023|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref> ''Paula'' included interviews with her friends and social commentators including best friend [[Belinda Brewin]], [[Nicky Clarke]], [[Robbie Williams]], [[Vanessa Feltz]] and [[Grace Dent]], and used archive footage of Yates and previously unheard recorded interviews, conducted shortly after the death of Hutchence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/paula-yates-channel-4-documentary-life-death-relationship-michael-hutchence-2206048|title=Paula Yates: How Channel 4 documentary explores her life, death, and relationship with Michael Hutchence|website=iNews|last=Clinton|first=Jane|date=13 March 2023|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/paula-yates-documentary-channel-4-michael-hutchence-b1066120.html|title=Paula on Channel 4 review: The sad, but familiar, tale of how a unique talent lost her way|website=Evening Standard|last=Ramsdale|first=Suzannah|date=13 March 2023|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref> Brewin revealed that she and Yates had been shopping on the [[Fulham Road]] in London, when they met [[Diana, Princess of Wales]], who told Yates: "I love it when you're on the front page of the papers, because it means I got the day off".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1050635-heres-what-princess-diana-told-paula-yates-in-a-heart-breaking-confession-about-life-in-spotlight|title=Here's what Princess Diana told Paula Yates in a heart-breaking confession about life in spotlight|website=International News|date=March 16, 2023|access-date=March 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/15/paula-yates-diana-press-documentary-tabloids-woman|title=It's a good time to think again about Paula Yates. She was the other Diana: hounded by the press for being herself|website=The Guardian|last=Williams|first=Zoe|date=15 March 2023|access-date=21 March 2023}}</ref> 

In a review for ''Paula'', Lucy Mangan, writing for ''The Guardian'', hailed the documentary as "a glorious celebration of the most witty, flirty woman to ever grace our TVs" and gave the show 4/5 stars. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/mar/13/paula-review-a-glorious-celebration-of-paula-yates-the-most-witty-flirty-woman-to-ever-grace-our-tvs|title=Paula review – a glorious celebration of the most witty, flirty woman to ever grace our TVs|website=The Guardian|last=Mangan|first=Lucy|date=13 March 2023|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2023/03/12/paula-yates-untold-story-woman-who-knew-best/|title=Paula Yates: the untold story by the woman who knew her best|website=The Telegraph|last=Silverman|first=Rosa|date=13 March 2023|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref> Carol Midgeley, writing for ''The Times'', also gave the documentary 4/5 stars, opining that Yates was a "fizzling force of nature".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/paula-review-a-textured-tribute-to-a-rock-star-tv-presenter-vtnsd08dg|title=Paula review — a textured tribute to a rock star TV presenter|website=The Times|last=Midgeley|first=Carol|date=13 March 2023|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref> Gerard Gilbert, writing for the newspaper ''[[I (British newspaper)|I]]'', rated the documentary 3/5 stars, adding that he "was left with a tragic sense that Yates's untimely death robbed us of an intriguing second act".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/paula-channel-4-review-documentary-should-dug-deeper-old-tv-clips-2204833|title=Paula, Channel 4, review: This documentary should have dug deeper than old TV clips|website=I|last=Gilbert|first=Gerard|date=13 March 2023|access-date=21 March 2023}}</ref>

The first episode of the documentary garnered 970,000 viewers, beating that night's BBC2 and Channel 5 offerings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/channel-overview/paula-yates-doc-informs-970k/5180536.article|title=Paula Yates doc informs 970k|website=Broadcast|date=24 March 2023|access-date=12 May 2023}}</ref>

==Filmography==
===Selected credits===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1982–1987
| ''[[The Tube (1982 TV series)|The Tube]]''
| Presenter
| 122 episodes
|-
| 1982–1992
| ''[[Wogan]]''
|rowspan="3"| Herself
| 6 episodes
|-
| 1985
| ''Fashion Aid''
| 
|-
| 1988
| ''[[French and Saunders]]''
| Episode: Christmas Special
|-
| 1992–1995
| ''[[The Big Breakfast]]''
| Herself/ On the Bed Interviewer
| 
|-
| 1995
| ''Sex with Paula''
| Presenter
|
|-
| 2000
| ''Friday Night's All Wright''
| Herself
| Episode dated 18 February 2000
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Mystify: Michael Hutchence]]''
|rowspan="2"| Herself
| Feature documentary; archive footage
|-
| 2023
| ''Paula''
| 2-part Channel 4 documentary
|-
|}

==Bibliography== 
Yates was the author of several books, including:
*''Rock Stars in Their Underpants'' (1980) <ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2016/03/rock-stars-in-their-underpants-may-be-the-most-important-book-ever-published/|title=Rock Stars in their Underpants may be the most important book ever published|website=Consequence|last=Geslani|first=Michelle|date=28 March 2016|access-date=14 March 2023}}</ref>
*''A Tail of Two Kitties'' (1983)
*''Blondes'' (1983)
*''Sex with Paula Yates'' (1986)
*''The Fun Starts Here'' (1990)
*''The Fun Don't Stop: Loads of Rip-roaring Activities for You and Your Toddler'' (1991)
*''And the Fun Goes On: A Practical Guide to Playing and Learning with Your Pre-school Child'' (1991)
*''Village People'' (1993)
*''The Autobiography'' (1995)
*''Sex & Death'' (2000 Unpublished)

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Works cited==
*{{cite book|last=Agar|first=Gerry|title=Paula, Michael and Bob: Everything You Know Is Wrong|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fFJtAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT83|year=2014|publisher=Michael O'Mara Books|isbn=978-1-78243-315-6}}
*{{cite book|last=Bozza|first=Anthony|title=INXS Story To Story: The Official Autobiography|publisher=Bantam Books|year=2005|isbn=978-0-593-05517-5}}
*{{Cite book|last=Green|first=Christopher|author2=Clerk, Carol |title=Hughie and Paula: The Tangled Lives of Hughie Green and Paula Yates|year=2003|publisher=Robson|location=London|isbn=1-86105-609-5}}
*{{Cite book|last=Rojek|first=Chris|title=Celebrity|year=2001|publisher=Reaktion Books|location=London|isbn=1-86189-104-0|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/celebrity0000roje}}

==External links==
*[http://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person.php?LinkID=mp63071 National Portrait Gallery holdings with sitter Paula Yates]
*{{IMDb name|0946809}}

{{Bob Geldof}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yates, Paula}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:2000 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century British women writers]]
[[Category:20th-century British writers]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in London]]
[[Category:British people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:British people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:British television presenters]]
[[Category:British women writers]]
[[Category:Deaths by heroin overdose in England]]
[[Category:Drug-related deaths in London]]
[[Category:People educated at Rydal Penrhos]]
[[Category:People educated at Ysgol Aberconwy]]
[[Category:People from Colwyn Bay]]