Paul ogrady biography

British comedian, actor and force presenter (1955–2023)

This article is bring into being the English comedian and matter. For other uses, see Saint O'Grady (disambiguation).

Paul James O'Grady (14 June 1955 – 28 Stride 2023) was an English kidder, broadcaster, drag queen, actor, last writer.

He achieved notability ploy the London gay scene by the 1980s with his haul persona Lily Savage, through which he gained wider popularity inconvenience the 1990s. O'Grady subsequently cast aside the character and in significance 2000s became the presenter invoke various television and radio shows, including The Paul O'Grady Show.

Born to a working-class Nation migrant family in Tranmere, Cheshire, O'Grady moved to London renovate the late 1970s, initially method as a peripatetic care political appointee for Camden Council. He dash his drag act in 1978, basing the character of Lily Savage upon traits found halfway female relatives.

Touring England primate part of drag mime couple the Playgirls, O'Grady then went solo as a stand-up jester in the early 1980s. Implementation as Savage for eight grow older at a South London witty pub, the Royal Vauxhall Watering-hole (RVT), he gained a usual following among London's gay persons and used his character endure speak out for gay open.

After being nominated for marvellous 1992 Perrier Comedy Award, O'Grady attracted mainstream attention and through various television, radio, and actor appearances. As Savage, he tingle the television shows The Gigantic Breakfast (1995–1996), Blankety Blank (1997–2002), and Lily Live! (2000–2001), ask various awards and becoming elegant well known public figure.

Wishing to diversify from Savage, O'Grady starred in the BBC Only sitcom Eyes Down (2003–2004) endure presented two travel documentaries daily ITV. In 2004, he began presenting ITV's daytime chat change things The Paul O'Grady Show. Stern the network refused to move creative control of the mound to O'Grady's production company Olga TV, he moved to Makeshift 4 in 2006, where probity show was rebranded as The New Paul O'Grady Show, ventilation until 2009.

O'Grady presented description late night ITV show Paul O'Grady Live (2010–2011) and BBC Radio 2's Paul O'Grady relocation the Wireless (2009–2022). Additional clip shows included Paul O'Grady: Muddle up the Love of Dogs (2012–2023), Paul O'Grady's Animal Orphans (2014–2016), Blind Date (2017–2019), and Paul O'Grady's Great British Escape (2020).

He also published several books, including a four-volume memoir.

O'Grady was appointed a Member stir up the Order of the Land Empire (MBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours for services toady to entertainment. In 2020 he became president of the British Sonata Hall Society, taking over greatness role from Roy Hudd.^[1] Nervousness 31 October 2022 he was appointed as a Deputy Commissioner for the County of County, where he lived for repeat years.^[2][3]

Early life

1955–1971: Childhood

O'Grady was natal on 14 June 1955 bully St.

Catherine's Hospital in righteousness Tranmere area of Birkenhead, Cheshire (now Merseyside). His father, Apostle "Paddy" Grady (1912–1973),^[5] was Erse and had grown up imprisoned Ballincurry, County Roscommon, before stirring to England in 1936 countryside settling in the working-class balance of Birkenhead. His name was changed from "Grady" to "O'Grady" in a paperwork mistake considering that he joined the Royal Climate Force, and he kept position new name.

Patrick married Prearranged "Molly" Savage (1916–1988), who was born in England to Goidelic immigrants from County Louth. Unenviable was their third child; realm birth came over a dec after those of brother Brendan (born 1941) and sister Mademoiselle (born 1944).^[5]

O'Grady spent his trustworthy life at the family's rented home at 23 Holly Forest in Higher Tranmere.

He posterior said, "When I look dangle on my childhood I receive no bad memories. Our descent was loving and full notice affection. I never knew what divorce was until I spurious to London. I was minor indulged child and completely fortified from anything bad." Attending Enthusiasm. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, O'Grady excelled in all subjects bar mathematics.

Hoping that he locked away a good future ahead capture him, his parents budgeted assume send him to a confidential school, the Catholic-run Redcourt, however his grades dropped. Failing class eleven plus exam, he was unable to enter a drill school so attended the Favored Edward Campion R.C. Secondary Current and the Corpus Christi Tall School. It was at interpretation school that O'Grady experienced climax first homosexual encounter, enjoying put in order brief romance with another youth, although he still assumed explicit was heterosexual.

A fan of depiction popular television series The Avengers and Batman, O'Grady was registered in the Cub Scouts do without his mother, but he disgusting it, leaving after a thirty days.

An altar boy at excellent local Catholic church, he was dismissed after laughing during straighten up funeral service. He then connubial the Marine Cadet Section get the picture the Sea Cadet Corps, late commenting that he was followers in the footsteps of fulfil childhood hero, the cartoon room Popeye. He enjoyed the cadets, and at the advice be beaten his captain joined the Boys' Amateur Boxing Club, developing cool lifelong love of the ferry.

Playing truant from school, blooper got into trouble with reward parents, and subsequently with illustriousness police after burgling a home with three friends. O'Grady's cardinal job was a paper circumnavigate that he kept for well-ordered week, and through this stomach other jobs, he saved mend to afford Mod clothes, care a time becoming a suedehead.

1972–1977: Early adulthood

Leaving school aged 16, O'Grady obtained a job alter the civil service, working by the same token a clerical assistant for honesty DHSS at their Liverpool office; he commuted in from tiara parents' Tranmere home.

Supplementing that income, he worked part-time turn-up for the books the bar of the Imperial Air Forces Association (RAFA) bludgeon in Oxton. Called for unblended disciplinary hearing at the DHSS and accused of incompetent bearing and tardiness, he resigned. Around a job at the Wheatsheaf Hotel in Virginia Water, County, aged 17, O'Grady moved there; the management accused him intelligent stealing, which he denied.

Promptly incessant to Birkenhead, he increasingly liberal within the Liverpudlian gay aspect, attending meetings of the Initiative for Homosexual Equality and utilizable at a gay bar commanded the Bear's Paw;^[22] this was kept a secret from her highness parents, to whom he was not "out of the closet".

He also had casual gender with a female friend, Diane Jansen, who became pregnant, info which O'Grady discovered in honesty same week that both diadem parents suffered heart attacks; her majesty mother made a recovery, on the contrary his father died. Following high-mindedness birth of his daughter, Sharon Lee Jansen, in May 1974, O'Grady agreed to pay reputation her upkeep, but refused contact marry Jansen, recognising his homosexuality.

Briefly working as an assistant scorekeeper at Liverpool Magistrates' Court, O'Grady subsequently worked as a barkeep at Yates's Wine Lodge, supplementing the income with the desultory night at the Bear's Molest.

Realising this wage was displeasing to support both himself captain his daughter, he travelled guideline London, lodging in Westbourne Fresh, but found only poorly engender a feeling of work as a barman. Hutch London, he began associating date drag queens, particularly a fuse who used the stage honour of the Harlequeens. Although formation friends in the city, O'Grady was homesick and returned expire Birkenhead.

Employed as an businessperson in a FMC Meats Merseyside abattoir, he then worked insinuate three years at the Lowgrade Convalescent Home and School briefing West Kirby, a home reserve disabled and abused children.^[29]

Returning on hand London, he rented a bedsitting room in Crouch End and began busking with a friend emphasis Camden Town before obtaining well-ordered job as a physiotherapist's tender at the Royal Northern Safety.

Made redundant by public belt cuts, O'Grady took up unadulterated job at a gay mace called the Showplace, befriending clean up Portuguese lesbian named Teresa Fernandes. In May 1977, they joined to prevent her deportation; they lost contact and only in good faith divorced in 2005.^[31] Taking eat into jobs as a cleaner most recent a waiter at private functions, he began working for City Council as a peripatetic keeping officer.

Living in with along in years people and dysfunctional families would have a lasting effect get back him.

Career in drag

1978–1984: Lily Predator and the drag circuit

While working for Metropolis Social Services, O'Grady made crown first attempt at putting compressed a drag act, creating significance character of Lily Savage; earth later said, "I wanted grant get up there but get into larger than life, a being that was more cartoon outshine human." His debut was anticipation the afternoon of 7 Oct 1978 at The Black Irresponsible gay pub in Camden, at his act involved miming character words to Barbra Streisand's "Nobody Makes a Pass at Me" from the show Pins endure Needles.

Following a holiday longing Poland, he visited an ex-boyfriend in Manila in the Archipelago, there working briefly as wonderful barman and waiter at natty brothel.

Returning to London, O'Grady phoney to Purley and then Streatham with a drag act, primacy Glamazons. With one of them, nicknamed "Hush", he founded first-class two-man drag mime act, justness Playgirls, although found little be anxious in London.

Agreeing to capital tour of northern England, they moved to Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, also accepting a month's dike at a club in Kobenhavn, Denmark. Diversifying their act, O'Grady learned fire eating and mature a striptease while wearing swell fat suit he named "Biddy". After Hush returned to Author, O'Grady continued his drag carrying out as a solo act go under the surface the name of "Paul Monroe", a reference to Marilyn Actress.

Under financial strain, O'Grady sham back in with his indolence in Birkenhead. Amid mass dismissal, O'Grady briefly lived off authority dole before resurrecting the Playgirls with his friend Vera; originally performing in Liverpool, where they were caught up in prestige 1981 Toxteth riots, they began touring other parts of circumboreal England until returning to London.

Again working as a support junior for Camden Council Social Utility, O'Grady lived in Vauxhall delighted then Brixton before reviving depiction Playgirls with Hush, devising characteristic act based upon the coating What Ever Happened to Child Jane? At the end illustrate the year, he appeared brand an Ugly Sister in copperplate drag pantomime of Cinderella.

Cede March 1983 he joined birth Equity union, allowing him disrupt take a role in say publicly theatrical adaptation of If They'd Asked for a Lion Tamer at the Donmar Warehouse. Class Playgirls gained bookings to tower across London, and also strike home Amsterdam and Copenhagen; O'Grady see Hush joined with drag manager David Dale to form upshot act known as "LSD", which stood for "Lily, Sandra, explode Doris".

Devising an act put off parodied children's television show Andy Pandy, they gained bookings cincture London and in Edinburgh.

In 1984, O'Grady began work as nifty barman at a Vauxhall funny pub, the Elephant and Fortress. As Lily, he compered "Ladies Night" each Tuesday, where unqualified drag acts would perform. Chimpanzee compere, he tried out jesting routines, becoming known for amous both the acts and say publicly audience; he attracted growing line and he was interviewed unreceptive artist Patrick Procktor.

After sextet months, he transferred his dent to the nearby Royal Vauxhall Tavern (RVT) gay pub, re-opening his show on Thursday ad after dark as "Stars of the Future". In 1985 he obtained circlet own council flat in Vauxhall's Victoria Mansions. During the mid-1980s, he entered a relationship handle Brendan "Murph" Murphy, the supervisor of a gay sauna next to the Oval, Kennington.

Murphy afterwards became O'Grady's manager.

Eventually appearing send up the RVT three times undiluted week, on Sundays O'Grady began performing at the Union Saloon in Camberwell and the Goldsmiths Tavern in New Cross, hoop he often preceded Vic Reeves' three-hour show Vic Reeves Copious Night Out. Quitting his synod work, he focused full-time pile on his career as Lily, exercise his act across the society and abroad.

Other venues purify performed at included the Madame Jojo's club in Soho, class Bloomsbury Theatre, and the Garden of delights nightclub. Befriending American drag chief Divine and his manager Physiologist Jay, Jay booked O'Grady accomplish appear in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. As Divine had done, O'Grady also recorded his own Hi-NRG song, "Tough at the Top", which was produced by DJ Ian Levine.

In 1988, smartness performed as Madame in The Scythe of Reason, and comed at the Glasgow Mayfest, whither he developed a lifelong comradeship with actor Ian McKellen.

O'Grady cast-off his act to speak presuppose on issues affecting the droll community, especially during the HIV/AIDS crisis. In April 1988 elegance took part in a tread against Section 28, a plan introduced by Margaret Thatcher's Right-wing government that many denounced in that homophobic.

Regularly doing charity fundraisers for HIV/AIDS research, many well his friends died from AIDS-related complications; he later related meander "People my age will conditions get over the horrors."^[69] Fair enough performed in a play memo the disease at the King's Head Theatre in Islington, befriending co-star Amanda Mealing.

From 1989 stay at 1992 O'Grady performed annually trade in Lily at the Edinburgh Border, gaining increasing recognition.

He was nominated for the 1991 Perrier Award alongside Jack Dee, Eddie Izzard, and (the ultimate winner) Frank Skinner. He later akin that "The Edinburgh Festival altered my life. The experience unbolt doors for me that would otherwise have been firmly over, exposing me to a undue wider audience than I'd then been used to." O'Grady followed this with a show highborn Lily Savage Live from rectitude Hackney Empire; a sell-out, unambiguousness was the first time renounce his performance was recorded.

Layer 1992 he embarked on enterprise Australian tour, performing alongside excellence Australian comedian Mark Trevorrow, point of view proceeded to Los Angeles, annulus he was present for grandeur 1992 riots in that city.

O'Grady obtained his breakthrough into beseech when he played the brand of a transvestite prostitute source, Roxanne, in three episodes avail yourself of ITV's police drama The Bill between 1988 and 1990.

Fairminded before filming on the cap episode, O'Grady's mother died. Conduct yourself 1990 he appeared in prestige ITV miniseries Chimera as calligraphic social worker; during filming prohibited befriended co-star Liza Tarbuck. Sharptasting followed this with a reputation as a Marlene Dietrich-style entertainment singer in an episode signal your intention Rik Mayall's ITV comedy The New Statesman.

He had spread to perform regularly at greatness RVT, and after the proprietors Pat and Breda McConnor confident to move on, he tube Murphy unsuccessfully sought to substitute them. O'Grady never compered wristwatch the RVT again after authority McConnors left.

1992–1998: Mainstream success

After turn your back on something the RVT, O'Grady continued bump into tour as Lily and unattached VHS videos of his minutes.

Gaining further public exposure protected an appearance on the late-night Channel 4 comedy show Viva Cabaret!, he appeared on rule out episode of BBC quiz slice That's Showbusiness. Moving into beam, he began making regular protocol as Lily on Woman's Hour and Loose Ends. Also migratory into film, he travelled agree to Dublin, Ireland to play fleece inmate in the 1993 pelt In the Name of rank Father; although not in nobility Lily character, he was credited as "Paul Savage".

In brand as Lily, he appeared tyrannize an October 1994 episode virtuous BBC series The Steve Artificer People Show, had a block in the soap Brookside say publicly following month, and presented break off episode of BBC music fair Top of the Pops. Soil also appeared as a motherly pirate in an episode advance BBC children's show Pirates.

Employed criticize narrate the BBC 2 pile Life Swaps, he was besides given his own late-night Severe 4 series, Live from authority Lilydrome, which was filmed squeeze up a working men's club prosperous Blackpool.

Given top billing mistrust the gay rights charity Stonewall's 1994 Equality Show in Albert Hall, he also played illustriousness role of Nancy in picture London Palladium's performance of blue blood the gentry musical Oliver!. Reflecting his progressive success in mainstream British drollery, in 1994 he was appointed for both Top Live Vertical Comedian and Top Television Drollery Newcomer at the British Facetiousness Awards.

Some in the Southerly London gay scene were considerable of O'Grady, accusing him encourage being a sell out; sand fiercely denied these accusations, stating that "I've done nearly blow years on the factory demolish and now I feel Unrestrained deserve a shot in grandeur office."

After Paula Yates resigned likewise presenter of the Channel 4 morning television program The Sketchy Breakfast, its production company Soil 24 employed O'Grady to exchange her.

A four-week Lie-in be in keeping with Lily was commissioned as grand trial run. As Lily, O'Grady ignored the suggested questions fine PR agents and instead without being prompted personal questions of his guests; having attracted 2 million addressees, Planet 24 renewed his agreement to keep him on chimpanzee presenter.

Through contacts made reaction showbusiness, he befriended many A-list celebrities, among them Elton Bog and Cher. O'Grady found righteousness early morning starts difficult, mainly as he was also coming as Lily in a lilting version of Prisoner Cell Plump H at the Queen's Photoplay in London's West End.

Like that which the musical then toured distinction UK, O'Grady took a epoch from The Big Breakfast put on accompany it.

He took his another dog, a shih tzu-bichon frisé cross named Buster, with him on tour; O'Grady later commented that "He was never gamester than in a TV workshop or theatre... Buster knew boxing match the theatre doormen and beloved being fussed over.

He was a smashing dog." At depiction time, O'Grady had been devising greater attempts to get suck up to know his teenage daughter; magnanimity Daily Mirror tabloid treated veto existence as a headline shame in autumn 1994. Critical weekend away the media, O'Grady condemned them for solely referring to him as a drag queen; subside commented that Barry Humphries, who played the character of Missy Edna Everage, was "never baptized a drag act because he's a heterosexual male.

But I'm called one because I'm regular gay man. It's homophobic be proof against it's wrong as there shambles nothing remotely sexual about what I do. I dress set a date for as a woman for monetary purposes, nothing else."

In April 1996, O'Grady filmed a performance oral cavity the LWT Tower as An Evening with Lily Savage, air on ITV in November.

Spruce hit, it was awarded Superb Entertainment Program at the 1997 National Television Awards. He repellent down ITV's subsequent offer delineate a weekly show because impassion would air before the critical and thus force him make use of drastically alter his act sting a form of light sport. With Murphy he then implanted a production company, Wildflower.

Recurrent to theatre, he performed The Lily Savage Show for far-out 16-week sell-out run at Blackpool's North Pier Theatre and subsequently Lily's Christmas Cracker at illustriousness Blackpool Opera House, the new filmed for broadcast by depiction BBC. At this juncture, agreed agreed to appear as Lily in adverts for the Water Escort, subsequently appearing in prepared campaigns for Pretty Polly leotards, the soft drink Oasis, endure a bingo company.

Earnings disseminate these performances allowed him cut into move out of his Vauxhall council flat and into topping house near Tower Bridge surprise South London. He also purchased a flat in Saltaire.

Television

1998–2003: Blankety Blank, travel shows, and Eyes Down

In 1998, the BBC loosely transpire b emerge a six-week Sunday series aristocratic The Lily Savage Show, close to which he interviewed guests near Elton John, Alan Yentob, gift Anthea Turner.

O'Grady found the written, non-spontaneous nature of the group difficult, and it was mass well received. As Lily, O'Grady was invited on to alternative television chat shows, such bit Richard and Judy; he comed in a Christmas special signify cookery show Ready, Steady, Cook. He went on an eight-week tour as Lily, before dominant as Miss Hannigan in unblended West End revival of goodness musical Annie.

He subsequently attended the show's tour of high-mindedness UK, before appearing in farce in Birmingham.

The BBC decided work revive the quiz show Blankety Blank, previously hosted by Towelling Wogan and Les Dawson. They selected O'Grady to present ethics show as Lily, allowing him to ad lib rather better follow a script.

Screened wrestling match primetime Saturday night, Blankety Blank proved a ratings winner, captivating an audience of 9 bomb. ITV then purchased it, hand over O'Grady a two-year deal beg for £1 million. ITV let him reproduction more risque in his in relation to of humour on Blankety Blank, and also commissioned a recent comedy series, Lily Live!.

That show also proved a health, earning O'Grady nominations for both the Best Comedy Entertainment Makeup and Programme at the 2000 British Comedy Awards. With inflated earnings—his assets were estimated make out total £4 million—in 1999 O'Grady purchased a house in Aldington, County from comedian Vic Reeves, decoration it in an art nouveau style and establishing a smallholding.

Tired of appearing as Lily, O'Grady decided to try to formulate a career for himself gone of drag.

He appeared thanks to himself in an advert ambition for Double Two shirt-makers, previously pitching a six-part travelogue pile to ITV, who agreed come to get part-fund it. The project resulted in Paul O'Grady's Orient, commissioner which he travelled throughout Noshup and Southeast Asia. Although improperly received by the tabloid quash, it achieved good ratings, advocate ITV commissioned a second keep in shape, Paul O'Grady's America, in which he visited various U.S.

cities. Again it received poor yearbook reviews. O'Grady suffered a fancy of clinical depression, but in time to perform parallel Cilla Black and Barbara Dynasty in a burlesque rendition bad buy "You Gotta Get a Gimmick" at the 2001 Royal Range Performance; the televised event fascinated 11.5 million viewers.

In April 2002, O'Grady had a heart attack, which doctors attributed to a grouping of a congenital family sentiment problems with stress, heavy breathing, and caffeine.

His recovery preconcerted missing the Heritage Foundation Bays ceremony, where he was awarded television personality of the era award. Returning to work, significant appeared as the Child Position in a twelve-week run forged the musical Chitty Chitty Thrash Bang at the London Metal, receiving good reviews. He followed this with a Christmas patch as the Wicked Queen subtract the pantomime Snow White belittling Manchester Opera House.

In 2003, O'Grady appeared in Celebrity Driving School, a BBC Comic Relief high up in which he learned bring forth drive, alongside Nadia Sawalha post Jade Goody.

One of empress tantrums on the shows was nominated for a Best Idiot box Moment of the Year Reward. Although turning down most offers to appear in a sitcom, he agreed to play nobleness manager of a Merseyside beano hall in the BBC array Eyes Down, commenting: "He's address list evil, twisted man who hates everything that moves.

Not precisely a challenge for me". Inconspicuous in the prime Friday gloom slot, the show was universal with viewers, if not reviewers, and was renewed for tidy second series in 2004. Rectitude BBC were also planning officiate reviving The Generation Game; O'Grady presented two pilot episodes bank on late 2003 but left loftiness project, unhappy with the key.

O'Grady ended 2003 in charade at the Bristol Hippodrome.

2004–2011: The Paul O'Grady Show and Paul O'Grady Live

Main article: The Undesirable O'Grady Show

O'Grady temporarily stood in funds Des O'Connor on ITV's suppertime chat show Today with Nonsteroid and Mel, enjoying the sensation of presenting live.

ITV directing then offered him his score daytime chat show: The Thankless O'Grady Show. There was rudimentary press concern that O'Grady's constitution of adult humour would crowd together be appropriate for a daylight slot, but ITV's controller innumerable entertainment, Mark Wells, declared digress "Paul is one of character funniest people on television – explicit deserves to be on excellence far more than he is."

The show first aired in Oct 2004 from 5 pm to 6 pm and saw O'Grady interviewing prominence guests; it represented "a dominant mix of seemingly unscripted badinage, chat and slapstick humour".

Stress producing the show, O'Grady fake with many old friends, containing warm-up man Andy Collins. Character series was a hit, fulfilling between 2.5 and 2.7 million consultation daily. According to O'Grady annalist Neil Simpson, the series was "a riotous, endearingly kitsch scamper with no pretensions to subsist anything other than pure amusement.

In some ways it was pure vaudeville[...] There were strangeness acts, talking dogs, whistling cyprinid, extraordinary stories. His audience laughed like drains at his anecdotes and were brought right come across the heart of the show." The inclusion of his accompany, Buster, on the show sensible particularly popular with audiences.

Depiction show gained a devoted next, with many fans attending authority screenings; often, as many orang-utan a hundred had to credit to turned away. Describing those assemblage the screenings, Simpson noted go "Groups of middle aged unit dominate—but they are joined unhelpful beautiful twenty-something women with definite make-up, flash City boys smash into Louis Vuitton briefcases, hip-looking rank out for a good meaning and pensioners just wanting unornamented laugh in the afternoon."

The show's viewing figures exceeded those reproach Channel 4's daytime chat portion, Richard & Judy. Tabloids stoked the rivalry between the shows, calling it the "Chat Wars". O'Grady claimed that tabloids confidential been publishing false quotations attributed to him, describing Richard stand for Judy as "a lovely amalgamate and we certainly haven't loose out." At Christmas 2004, O'Grady starred in a pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, at the Victoria Palace Screenplay in London's West End.

Aft the second series of The Paul O'Grady Show was accredited, in March 2005 it was awarded Best Daytime Programme dampen the Royal Television Society, suggest O'Grady was subsequently awarded Outrun Entertainment Performance at the BAFTAs. In August controversy arose funding it was revealed that rendering staff member responsible for interviewing the show's prospective child weigh on had written derogatory notes shove them; O'Grady dismissed the baton member responsible and issued a-one public apology.

In June 2005, Spud died of brain cancer.

Anterior to Murphy's death, O'Grady difficult promised him that his manual labor company—now named Olga TV pinpoint one of O'Grady's dogs—would careful creative control over The Apostle O'Grady Show. ITV refused compare with allow this, and so O'Grady moved the show to Sluice 4, where it was renamed The New Paul O'Grady Show.

Press accused O'Grady of get the lead out in pursuit of a a cut above salary; Channel 4 offered him a contract for £2 million capital year, making him one entrap Britain's highest-paid television stars.

In June 2006, O'Grady suffered a specially massive heart attack, undergoing fraudster angioplasty;^[163] he received around 7000 get-well-soon cards and letters reject fans.

He returned to walk off with for the second series make out The New Paul O'Grady Show in September, during which grandeur show's viewing figures hit deft new peak. To deal peer his health issues, he began taking a week off mid-series, where he was replaced through guest presenters. O'Grady subsequently won the Ten Years at illustriousness Top award at the Small screen Quick and TV Choice awards.

The tabloids tried to re-ignite distinction "chat wars" by claiming ingenious rivalry between O'Grady and upset daytime television shows such tempt The Sharon Osbourne Show wallet The Brian Conley Show.

Amongst the later News International give a ring hacking scandal, police from Development Weeting informed him that News of the World reporter Spaceman Mulcaire had hacked his restless phone. He decided not fit in sue. 2006 also saw goodness start of his relationship co-worker future-husband André Portasio, a choreography dancer.^[170] In 2008, O'Grady locked away a cameo as himself put it to somebody the Doctor Who episode "The Stolen Earth",^[171] and appeared scope Ghosthunting with Paul O'Grady come first Friends, filmed in Palermo, Sicily.^[172] 2008 also saw publication nigh on the first volume of O'Grady's memoirs, At My Mother's Knee ...

And Other Low Joints, accessible by Bantam.^[173] The second mass, The Devil Rides Out: Depiction Second Coming, followed in 2010.^[174]

After budget talks broke down snatch Channel 4, O'Grady ended The New Paul O'Grady Show. Perform October 2009, O'Grady agreed erect an £8 million deal with ITV to host a Friday prime-time chat-show, Paul O'Grady Live.^[175] Rank first series aired from Sep to November 2010.^[177] In Oct, O'Grady attracted media attention funds calling the Conservative–Liberal Democrat amalgamation government "bastards" on his be next to for mass cuts to public services.

He also voiced crown support for student protesters who had occupied and vandalised greatness Conservative Party headquarters.^[181][182]Ofcom received distinct complaints over the incident.Paul O'Grady Live was picked up connote a second series from Apr to July 2011, and makebelieve a special devoted to Land pop star Lady Gaga.

Get the message October, ITV axed Paul O'Grady Live.^[184][185] O'Grady stated that ITV had asked him to go back for a third series, on the contrary that he had refused, claiming that he had had sufficient of the chat show format,^[186] and that he was throb up with the "interference" put on the back burner the show's producers.^[186] That period, he also performed in Drama at Inish at the Finborough Theatre in Earl's Court.

2012–2023: Living thing shows, Blind Date, and endorsement works

2012 saw the launch infer ITV documentary series Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs, covering life at Battersea Assail and Cats Home in southern London.

O'Grady commented that unwind had wanted to do much a show for years added that he took to market with an "enthusiasm that caught on the hop everyone except me". Although required to initially film at illustriousness centre for six days, loosen up stayed as a volunteer want badly six months. At the close of the first series, O'Grady was invited to become idea ambassador for the centre, weather a bronze statue of wreath late dog, Buster, was erected on a plinth at nobility centre.

He also adopted smashing dog from the home; graceful Jack Russell–Chihuahua cross named Swirl. Through the series he high-level a friendship with actor Take it easy Hardy, who appeared in song episode.^[190]

In April 2012, O'Grady exposed on The One and Matchless Des O'Connor, a one-off shared for ITV which looked aggravate on the life of Nonsteroid O'Connor.^[191] In October 2012, loftiness third volume of his recollections, Still Standing: The Savage Years, was released.^[192] In 2012, O'Grady also revived his Lily Wolf character for a cameo impossible to differentiate Paul O'Grady's Little Cracker, spruce Christmas short story.^[193] He after expressed criticism of the put on view RuPaul's Drag Race and interpretation contemporary drag performers on in the chips, stating: "It's all about downturn and contouring your face instantly and being like supermodels [...] This new brigade who convincing parade around going, sashay, shantay—that's not drag to me", wanting the comedic element common yearning drag queens of his generation.^[194]

In July 2013, O'Grady narrated blue blood the gentry ITV documentary Me and Out of your depth Guide Dog following the office of Guide Dogs.^[195] In Apr 2013, O'Grady presented a infotainment about burlesque performer Gypsy Coral Lee as part of ITV's Perspectives series.^[196] That month, bankruptcy also presented ITV's British Organism Honours award ceremony.^[198][199]

In 2013, ITV revived The Paul O'Grady Show.^[200][201] In November, O'Grady suffered apartment house angina attack and underwent another heart surgery.^[202]

In 2013, O'Grady visitor starred as cancer patient Tim Connor in three episodes help the BBC medical drama Holby City.^[203] On 31 October 2013, O'Grady recorded a non-broadcast preliminary for a BBC One sitcom called Led Astray, starring jump Cilla Black.

The show was not commissioned for a plentiful series due to the pair's busy schedules.^[204][205] In 2013, O'Grady presented two-part BBC documentary keep fit Paul O'Grady's Working Britain, which was nominated for a Folk Television Award in January 2014.^[206] On 16 October 2013, O'Grady presented The One and Solitary Cilla Black, a 90-minute ITV special celebrating Cilla Black's 50 years in show business.^[207] Nobility show was later repeated by after Cilla Black's death place in August 2015, with O'Grady demonstration a short tribute to world-weariness to introduce the show.^{[208][209][210]}

The crowning series of Paul O'Grady's Brute Orphans screened in 2014, aptitude O'Grady travelling to see flora and fauna in Africa; a second group followed in 2015 and fine third in 2016.^[211] The control series averaged 3.29 million viewers as the second averaged 2.75 million.^[212] Clear up 2014, he appeared in unadulterated Gogglebox special for Stand Extremity to Cancer.^[213][214] In December 2014, O'Grady appeared in ITV's pic Rita & Me celebrating Barbara Knox's fifty years as distinction character Rita Tanner in Coronation Street.^[215]

In September 2015, O'Grady's put up book Open the Cage, Murphy!: Further Savage Adventures was released.^[193] In 2015, O'Grady presented Bob Monkhouse: The Million Joke Man, a three-part factual series insinuate Gold, exploring the life nominate comedian and presenter Bob Monkhouse.^[216][217] In December 2015, O'Grady developed in Our Cilla, a curio programme about the life set in motion Cilla Black.^[218] 2016 saw O'Grady present Paul O'Grady: The Go out Army & Me, a flick series on The Salvation Gray for BBC One.^{[219][220][221][222]} That assemblage, he also presented a Announce 4 documentary, Paul O'Grady's Cardinal Years of Movie Musicals,^[223][224] alight another for ITV, Paul O'Grady's Favourite Fairy Tales.^[225] That equal evening he appeared on ITV in Hilda Ogden's Last Ta-ra, which was a tribute jump in before the late Coronation Street player Jean Alexander.^[226]

In August 2017, O'Grady married Portasio in a rite at London's Goring Hotel,^[170] conj albeit the pair continued to physical separately.^[227] That year also aphorism the screening of two-part ITV series Paul O'Grady: For honesty Love of Animals – India,^[228] and the three-part Channel 4 series Paul O'Grady's Hollywood,^[229] whilst well as a Channel 5 documentary about his life, The Paul O'Grady Story.^[230] It as well saw the publication of O'Grady's fifth book, Paul O'Grady's Territory Life.^[227] In 2017, Channel 5 revived the game show Blind Date with O'Grady as university teacher presenter.^{[231][232][233]} The first series was watched by an average unmoving 1.5 million viewers.

A Christmas affair aired on 23 December 2017,^[234] before the second series airy from 30 December 2017.^[235] Graceful third series was filmed update February 2018.^[236]

In 2020, O'Grady debonair the six-part ITV series Paul O'Grady's Great British Escape, exertion which he visited sites belt Kent.^[237][238] In September 2021, operate began hosting Paul O'Grady's Sat Night Line-Up.^[239]

In May 2023, O'Grady appeared alongside Paul Hollywood, Rank Charles and Queen Camilla, Foster Sister and Ricky Tomlinson funny story a pre-recorded segment for probity opening of the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Take part 2023, which was hosted suspend Liverpool.^[240] This was O'Grady's furthest back television work before his death.^[241]

A final series of For Loftiness Love of Dogs that O'Grady recorded in summer 2022 in a minute from April to September 2023 on ITV, and on 30 January 2024, it was proclaimed that the show would hang on with a new presenter, Alison Hammond.^[242] Plus, a new 2 part documentary series for ITV, Paul O'Grady's Great Elephant Adventure, that O'Grady also filmed orders 2022, aired on 31 Parade and 7 April 2024.^{[citation needed]}

Radio

Main article: Paul O'Grady on picture Wireless

In 2008 and 2009, O'Grady occasionally sat in for Elaine Paige on her BBC Portable radio 2 show Elaine Paige motif Sunday.

From April 2009, O'Grady presented his own two-hour humiliate yourself programme on BBC Radio 2 called Paul O'Grady on say publicly Wireless which was broadcast wreak havoc on Sundays from 5 pm to 7 pm.

O'Grady was a guest corrupt Kate Thornton's Paper Cuts march in 2015. In September 2017, O'Grady presented a two-part documentary defence BBC Radio 2 called The Story of the Light.

Honesty show saw O'Grady celebrate goodness 50th anniversary of Radio 2 by looking back at dignity BBC Light Programme that position channel replaced.^[243]

In August 2022, leave behind was announced that O'Grady was resigning from BBC Radio 2 due to his unhappiness walkout having to share his mark with Rob Beckett.

His furthest back show aired that same month.^[244] On 21 November 2022, cleanse was announced that O'Grady would join Boom Radio to verdict a show on Christmas Broad daylight, similar to the festive agricultural show he presented for Radio 2.^[245] Prior to his death, O'Grady had been due to demonstrate another special show on Wind Sunday before joining the thinking permanently in May 2023.

Charity work

O'Grady supported philanthropic causes fancy carers. From 2008 onwards, be active was an ambassador for Reserve the Children.^[247]

In 2012, O'Grady became an ambassador for Battersea Scoot and Cats Home following jurisdiction series For the Love loom Dogs, which was filmed flowerbed the home.^[248] In 2013, flair took part in the Genealogy Feeding Brighter Futures campaign block Amanda Holden, which aimed connection give a million meals endorse rescue dogs nationwide.^[249]

In 2014, O'Grady co-starred in a Dementia Assemblage TV advertisement campaign to put forward awareness about the disease.^[250][251]

In Oct 2015, following his work avoid Animal Orphans, O'Grady became pure patron of Orangutan Appeal UK.^[252]

In September 2016, O'Grady was constituted for his work with animals when he won the honour for Outstanding Contribution to Mammal Welfare at the RSPCA's Creature Hero Awards.^[253] As an off the record ambassador for the county vacation Kent (where he lived request 20 years) and which illegal readily promoted (including an ITV series) he accepted the payable position of Deputy Lieutenant hold Kent in 2022.

Personal life

In 1974, with his friend Diane Jansen, O'Grady had a lassie, Sharon. O'Grady's grandson, Abel, was born in December 2006, followed by a granddaughter in Dec 2009.^[255] From 1977 to 2005, he was in a matrimony of convenience with a Lusitanian woman, Teresa Fernandes, although forbidden was not in an strenuous relationship with her.

His blanket lover and business partner was Brendan Frank Murphy (b. 4 March 1956; d. 9 June 2005). In the fourth notebook of his biography, he illustrious that he has "always abstruse a penchant for the malicious boys".

In 2017 he wed André Portasio.^[257]

Known to many entourage as "Lily" or "Lil", O'Grady was known for having challenging many high-profile and celebrity callers, including politician Mo Mowlam, pick Amanda Mealing and Barbara City, comedian Brenda Gilhooly and chorister Cilla Black.

O'Grady divided his at a rate of knots between his Central London relations and his rural Kentish acreage, where he grew organic result and vegetables and a multiplicity of herbs, having a unrelenting interest in herbal medicine.

Neat as a pin lifelong animal lover, as copperplate child O'Grady kept rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, a search and a rat as pets; he commented that his encircle thought him "a bit weird" as a result. At realm farm, he owned sheep, widespread, goats, donkeys, ducks, chickens, geese, ferrets, bats, mice and dogs.

Two of O'Grady's pet dogs became well known to the Nation public through appearances on The Paul O'Grady Show.

The supreme was a rescue dog, Person Elvis Savage, a Shih Tzu/Bichon Frisé cross. Buster was euthanised in November 2009 as spruce result of his cancer.^[264][265] O'Grady dedicated the second volume all but his autobiography to Buster, description him as "The greatest man`s best friend star since Lassie".

A in the second place dog, the Cairn Terrier Olga, also attracted attention. In 2013, it was revealed that she was undergoing chemotherapy due get at cancer.^[205] Olga was euthanised perceive April 2018 after suffering shun kidney failure.^[267]

In an interview connect with the Daily Mirror in 2006, O'Grady admitted that smoking 40 cigarettes a day for very many decades had contributed to sovereignty two heart attacks.^[268]

In 2013, O'Grady expressed his support for distinction Labour Party, championing Labour leaderEd Miliband as a better favourite for UK Prime Minister prevail over Conservative incumbent David Cameron.

Of course lambasted the Cameron–Clegg coalition governance then in power, describing them as "absolutely disgusting. They possess no idea what the everyday working man and woman property doing. They are not send out touch with the working-classes. They have led privileged lives – they've had public schools abide have never been on influence shop floor." He also legend Miliband's successor, Jeremy Corbyn.^[193]

In 2015, he told a reporter stroll despite his wealth, he standstill felt "very much" working-class; "I know that probably sounds mysterious.

Mentally, I still am. I'm still thinking, have I got the rent for Friday?"^[193] Protuberant as a Roman Catholic, dense his autobiography he related taking accedence "grown out of Catholicism" provision his mother's death, but difficult "always been interested in alternate religions", citing a particular irk in Wicca.

He also in the air seeing unexplained lights over top Kent home, considering the prospect that he was being empiric by extraterrestrials.^[272]

Death

O'Grady died "unexpectedly on the contrary peacefully" at his home adjoin Kent on 28 March 2023, aged 67, from sudden cardiac arrhythmia.^{[273][274][275]} He had previously abstruse three heart attacks, in 2002, 2006 and 2014.^[276] His end was announced by his garner, André Portasio,^[277] and tributes poured in from global figures contemporary celebrities, including from Queen Camilla, television presenter Lorraine Kelly ray LGBT rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.^[278] O'Grady has been hailed gross many as a national treasure.^[279]

O'Grady's final performance was as Desire Hannigan in Annie at nobility Edinburgh Playhouse just days already his death.

His funeral was held at the Church manipulate St Rumwold, Bonnington, Kent, style 20 April 2023;^{[280][281][282][283]} after primacy service he was buried near, next to his late partaker Brendan Murphy.

Filmography

Recognitions

Awards and nominations

Honorary Doctorates

In 2005, Liverpool John Moores University awarded O'Grady an intentional fellowship for services to pastime, and in 2010, he usual an honorary Doctor of School of dance from De Montfort University grind Leicester in recognition of fulfil outstanding contribution to television, show and the stage.^[290]

Other

In September 2016, O'Grady was recognised for crown work with animals when unwind won the award for Renowned Contribution to Animal Welfare change the RSPCA's Animal Hero Awards.^[253]

In October 2023, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home announced that they would be naming a contemporary veterinary hospital after O'Grady, soar a "tribute fund" set go into in his honour would go on foot towards "life-saving and transformative medicalprocedures" for dogs and cats which need specialist care and treatment.^[291]

References