Paul O’Grady, star of Lily Savage and Blind Date, died at the age of 67.
According to a statement released with the PA news agency by a spokesperson, the Paul O’Grady’s Saturday Night Line Up presenter died ‘unexpectedly but painlessly’ on Tuesday evening.
Tributes from the entertainment industry have started flooding in, with Carol Vorderman and Lorraine Kelly among the first to express their regards.
His partner Andre Portasi said: ‘It is with great sadness that I inform you that Paul has passed away unexpectedly but peacefully yesterday evening.
‘We ask, at this difficult time, that whilst you celebrate his life you also respect our privacy as we come to terms with this loss.
‘He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all those who enjoyed his humour, wit and compassion.
‘I know that he would want me to thank you for all the love you have shown him over the years.’
O’Grady had just revealed that he was joining Boom Radio after leaving Radio 2 in August, revealing that he was ‘unhappy’ at the time.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk last month about his intention to leave Radio 2, Paul stated the station is no longer what it used to be, claiming: ‘They’re trying for a much younger audience, which doesn’t make sense.’
He said that he will be hosting a ‘special TeamPOG programme on Easter Sunday’ with the BBC’s ‘rival’ station.
O’Grady was also set to portray Miss Hannigan in a touring production of Annie, joking that he would play her in a role “where she has no tolerance for kids – all she wants to do is listen to her radio and get drunk.” Don’t we all?
The TV star and comedian rose to prominence on stage doing his famous drag act before taking over the character on The Big Breakfast from 1995 to 1996 from the late Paula Yates.
After establishing himself on television, the comedian and presenter went on to host programmes such as The Paul O’Grady Show, Blind Date, and Blankety Blank, as well as ITV’s multi-award-winning For The Love Of Dogs.
Ballet dancer Portasio and O’Grady married in a low-key ceremony at London’s Goring Hotel in 2017, with attendees rumoured to include names such as Sir Ian McKellen and Julian Clary.
O’Grady took over as host of the Channel 5 revival of Blind Date from the show’s long-running presenter and close friend Cilla Black, who died in 2015.
Last year, he was joined by the Queen Consort in a special one-off episode of For The Love Of Dogs to commemorate the 160th anniversary of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, for which he served as an ambassador.
O’Grady was well-known for his love of animals, and he and Portasio shared a farmhouse in Kent with a zoo of animals that included four dogs, goats, lambs, chickens, and barn owls.
During the coronavirus quarantine, he authored Eddie Albert And The Amazing Animal Gang, which was released in September 2021.
He broadcast his final BBC Radio 2 episode in August 2022, after hosting the Sunday afternoon show for over 14 years.
O’Grady was scheduled to return to the airwaves next month for a one-time Easter Sunday radio broadcast on Boom Radio.
Tributes for O’Grady have flooded in, with Lorraine Kelly praising him as a “really special man” in an online tribute.
‘Such sad news. Paul O’Grady – funny, fearless, brave, kind and wise. Will be sorely missed. A really special man.’
Carol Vorderman wrote: ‘Paul O’Grady Already giving them raucous, ripping up the rulebook, mischief making, calling it out, loving hell in heaven Paul, what are we meant to do without you?’
O’Grady was born in Birkenhead, Merseyside, and his mother’s maiden name was Savage, which is thought to have inspired his renowned drag alter persona.
He began his career as Lily Savage in the 1970s while working as a peripatetic care worker for Camden Council, and went on to tour northern England with drag pair the Playgirls.
He then settled into a solo performance as Savage, which he performed at London’s Royal Vauxhall Tavern for eight years, and built a reputation for himself by speaking out about LGBT concerns.
With TV and radio appearances in character, O’Grady’s career as Savage took off, and he was finally chosen to take over from Paula Yates as The Big Breakfast host as Savage from 1995 to 1996.
He hosted the BBC chat programme The Lily Savage programme for a brief time in 1997, and later that year he was successful as the host of a resurrected edition of gameshow Blankety Blank, which aired until 2002.
From 2004 to 2005, his self-titled teatime show The Paul O’Grady Show ran on ITV, before relocating to Channel 4 as The New Paul O’Grady Show.
O’Grady received multiple awards over his career, including a TV Bafta, a British Comedy Award, and a National Television Award for The Paul O’Grady Show.
In the 2008 Queen’s Birthday Honours, he was awarded an MBE for services to entertainment.
He was joined during the ceremony by his daughter Sharyn Mousley.
Source My Celebrity Life.