The Making of Mel Giedroyc - The Great British Bake Off, Female Friendship and The Loneliness of Being a New Mum

Welcome to the final episode of this series of The Making Of... from The Female Lead. 

Our guest this week is the comedian, actor, writer and national treasure Mel Giedroyc!

This was our first ever conversation with Mel, but it feels like talking to an old friend because she is so relaxed and funny and loves a chat. She is also packed full of wisdom - just as a national treasure should be.

Best known as part of the Mel and Sue double act, she started out doing live sketch comedy, then moved into acting and presenting, culminating in seven years hosting the phenomenal Great British Bake Off. Famous for their unique style of gentle but irreverent humour, Mel and Sue set the tone for what has become one of Britain's best-loved shows. 

As well as presenting, acting and everything else, Mel has also written two books on motherhood and now her first novel The Best Things, which is out in the new year. 

Mel shared a great list of moments that have made her, ranging from her first “road to Damascus moment” in the theatre and up to losing her house in her 40s. We also talked about the loneliness of being a new mum, female friendship and how she managed seven years of eating loads of cake.

The interview was recorded over zoom, at the height of lockdown, so please bear with us as some bits may sound a little wobbly. 

Although this is the last episode, we will be back soon with a new series of brilliant women in the new year. 

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Mel Giedroyc grew up in Leatherhead as the youngest of four children, 

she went to Cambridge University where she met Sue Perkins and they formed a double act which was shortlisted for the Best Newcomers Award at the Edinburgh Festival. They built a long-standing professional relationship including hosting Light Lunch and then Late Lunch on Channel Four. Mel & Sue are best known these days for presenting The Great British Bake Off. In September 2016, Love Productions switched the contract to televise The Great British Bake Off from the BBC to Channel Four. Both Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc stepped down as hosts of the show after seven years.

In her career, Mel has worked on numerous TV shows and radio shows, as well as on stage - most recently in Steven Sondheim’s Company in the West End and Much Ado About Nothing at the Rose Theatre. 

Mel has always loved writing and has published two books about motherhood  From Here to Maternity: One Mother of a Journey and Going Ga-Ga: Is there life after birth? In 2021 her first novel The Best Things will be released.

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The Making Of is hosted by Bea Appleby and is edited by Lauren Lind. The production is brought to you by The Female Lead And the whole series is very kindly sponsored by Missoma