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Paula Elizabeth Yates (1959–2000) was a British television presenter and writer, widely recognized for her roles on Channel 4's "The Tube" and "The Big Breakfast." Her life was marked by significant media attention, largely due to her high-profile relationships with musicians Bob Geldof and Michael Hutchence. Born in Wales to English parents, Yates's upbringing was within a show business family, though she described it as lonely. Her early career began in music journalism, leading to her television breakthrough in the 1980s.

Yates's personal life was often scrutinized, including her marriages to Geldof and her relationship with Hutchence, with whom she had a daughter. The tragic deaths of both Hutchence and, later, her daughter Peaches, deeply impacted her. Her final, unfinished book, "Sex and Death," was inspired by the events surrounding Hutchence's passing. Yates died in 2000 at the age of 41 from a heroin overdose.

Paula Yates was born in Colwyn Bay, Wales, on April 24, 1959. Her parents were English, and she grew up in a household involved in show business. Her mother, Elaine Smith, also wrote under the pseudonym Helene Thornton. For many years, Yates believed her father to be Jess Yates, a host of the religious program "Stars on Sunday." However, a DNA test in 1997 revealed her biological father was actually Hughie Green, a game show host. Yates recalled her childhood as isolated, with her mother frequently absent. She attended several schools, including Penrhos College and Ysgol Aberconwy, and her family briefly managed the Deganwy Castle Hotel.

Yates launched her career in 1979 as a music journalist with the "Natural Blonde" column for "Record Mirror," following a stint posing for "Penthouse" magazine. She gained significant public recognition in the 1980s as a co-presenter, alongside Jools Holland, on Channel 4's pop music show "The Tube." During this period, she also released a cover of Nancy Sinatra's hit song "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'." Yates later became known for her distinctive "on the bed" interviews on "The Big Breakfast," a program produced by her then-husband, Bob Geldof. In addition to her television work, she continued her rock journalism and authored books, including two focused on motherhood.

Yates's relationships attracted considerable media attention. She began a relationship with Bob Geldof in 1976, and they married in 1986 after having their first daughter, Fifi, in 1983. They had two more daughters, Peaches and Pixie. While married to Geldof, Yates had affairs with Terence Trent D'Arby and Rupert Everett. Her connection with Michael Hutchence, the lead singer of INXS, began in 1985. This relationship led to the birth of their daughter, Tiger Lily, after Yates and Geldof separated in 1995. Hutchence's death in 1997, ruled a suicide, deeply affected Yates. The subsequent years involved legal battles over custody of Tiger Lily and a personal struggle that culminated in her death.

Following Michael Hutchence's death in 1997, Yates faced intense personal turmoil, including a custody battle for their daughter, Tiger Lily. A DNA test confirmed Hughie Green as her biological father shortly after Hutchence's death. In 1998, Bob Geldof was granted full custody of their three daughters after Yates attempted suicide. Yates died on September 17, 2000, her daughter Pixie's tenth birthday, from a heroin overdose at her home in Notting Hill. The coroner concluded her death was accidental, resulting from incautious behavior rather than suicide. Bob Geldof subsequently became the foster parent of Tiger Lily, later adopting her.