DEACON SUE ON RADIO TWO!
DEACON Sue Peat, the former Methodist Minister in Weardale is making a name for herself in the
world of broadcasting.
She served the Dale for eight years, beginning her term in 2010 and leaving in 2018 for a new
Ministry in Gloucestershire. She is doing very well there and has even become something of a
celebrity with her appearances on Radio 2’s Breakfast Show hosted DJ, Scott Mills and listened to by
millions of people around the world.
Sue first came to the notice of DJ Scott in December 2023 when her application was successful at
being on his show’s ‘Birthday Game’ when he was the afternoon show DJ on Radio 2.
“It was a lot of fun, and I had a really great bit of chat with Scott,” she said. “I made him laugh! He
was also really interested in the work I do as a retail chaplain in Gloucester city centre.”
At the end of the Birthday game, off air, the DJ told Sue she had done really well and he said he
would like to include her on his show again, talking about the work she does in Gloucester.
“I said I would love to do that,” said Sue.
The following week, she received a message from one of Scott’s radio team explaining that he
was having a feature that week – the week before Christmas- for shop workers. Sue was asked to
compose a poem to be used during one of his shows.
“I said of course I would,” laughed Sue. But I didn’t tell them that I’m rubbish at poetry.”
Nevertheless, Sue managed to write a little ditty using the poem ‘Twas the night before
Christmas’ as a starting point.
“I wrote a Christmas poem for shop workers and they loved it!”
Scott’s team contacted Sue again a few months later asking if she would do a greeting voice note
for Scott and his partner Sam when they got married.
“He loved that too,” laughed Sue. “He said ‘Friend of the show, Deacon Sue, has sent in a
message’. It was so lovely.”
When it was his last show in the afternoon slot before taking over from Zoe Ball on the breakfast
show, the team again contacted Sue to record a farewell message for him. When that show aired, he
played the message then said ‘Deacon Sue, don’t be a stranger in the New Year.’
“That was a bit cryptic, I thought”, mused Sue.
What happened next was very exciting because in early January this year, Sue received a call
from someone who is at the top of his tree with religious broadcasting on the radio. He told Sue that
in a meeting about the new Breakfast Show with Scott Mills, the DJ had mentioned that he would
like Deaon Sue Peat from Gloucester to give the ‘Pause for Thought’ section.
And the result of this is that Sue is now a regular contributor to the ‘Religious Spot’ on Scott’s
breakfast show. She travels to London the night before and with the help of the Methodist
Connection, is able to stay in a hotel so she can be at the BBC studios in time for her 7:15am slot.
“I love it! exclaimed Sue. “Scott is the most lovely person; he is genuinely interested in people and
is so warm and welcoming. I will be doing the ‘Pause for Thought’ every Tuesday through April.”
Sue is no stranger to media exposure, having appeared on TV game shows in the past – The Chase
and Tipping Point.
She made a plea to Dalefolk regarding her radio appearances: “Please listen if you’re up early, or
go to the BBC sounds app and do a search for Pause for Thought.
“I hope my old friends in Weardale can tune in – it would be so nice to know they are listening…”
