Paul O’Grady latest — Fans say the same thing about final series of Dog show following Lily Savage star’s death
THE LATE Paul O'Grady returned to our screens for the start of the final ever series of For the Love of Dogs and fans are all saying the same thing.
Paul passed away suddenly at the age of 67 with his husband Andre by his side.
The TV legend's fans have taken to social media as Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs paid tribute to the host.
One fan said: "Very hard to grasp even now that the wonderful Paul O'Grady is no longer with us. Watching is bitter sweet tonight."
A second added: "Watching Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs and it doesn't feel real that Paul is no longer here."
Read our Paul O'Grady blog below for the latest updates...
Paul’s work alongside Camilla
Paul was seen cuddling George the West Highland White Terrier at Battersea’s Brands Hatch site.
He was on a visit to the venue alongside Her Majesty Camilla Queen Consort, who appeared delighted at their trip.
Ant and Dec pay tribute to ‘wonderful broadcaster’ Paul O’Grady
Presenters Ant and Dec have joined a long list of stars who have paid tribute to the late Paul O’Grady.
Taking to Twitter, the presenters wrote: ”We are so very sad to hear of the passing of Paul O’Grady. It was always a treat to see and work with him and he was always wickedly funny.
”A wonderful broadcaster and a lovely man, gone too soon. RIP Paul.”
Paul recalled performing during a police raid
The TV star started off performing in one of the most famous London gay bars, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern.
In 1987 he was on stage performing his outrageous drag persona Lily Savage when police raided the venue.
Paul O’Grady recalled the night in an Instagram post.
He said: “They made many arrests but we were a stoic lot and it was business as usual the next night.
“I was in quite a few police raids all over the country at the time. I was beginning to think it was me – in fact the South London Press, in an extremely homophobic article, called Lily ‘a lascivious act’ which I was very proud of.”
Pictured: Paul made a name for himself as Lily Savage
Born on June 14, 1955 in Birkenhead, before he hit the big time, Paul performed as Lily Savage in the 80s.
He started off working the drag circuit with his act across pubs and clubs, and as he grew popular he eventually toured the country.
From 1989 to 1992, Paul performed annually as Lily at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, gaining increasing recognition for his act.
Paul followed this with a show titled Lily Savage Live from the Hackney Empire, which proved to be a sell-out.
He went on to host Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast for a year in the mid-Nineties, as alter ego Lily.
Inside Paul O’Grady’s family tragedy after dad ‘died of a broken heart’
Paul O’Grady previously opened up about the tragic death of his father, Patrick O’Grady, who died from a broken heart just hours after his mum Molly Savage had a heart attack.
Sharing details of the family tragedy on Desert Island Discs in 2003, Paul said: “My mum had a serious heart attack when I was 17. She was taken into hospital and the doctors said to my father ‘she’s not going to last the night’ and my dad was dead in the morning.
“He just collapsed on the spot. The doctor said ‘if I could put on the death certificate that he died of a broken heart then I would’.
“My mum survived for another 13 or 14 years. Dreadful.
“I’ll never forget it. I was stood next to him and he went down like a ton of bricks. He literally couldn’t cope without my mother.”
Paul meets Peggy tonight
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home has today shared a clip of tonight's TV show.
They said: "It's a bittersweet start to series 11 of #POGDOGS, but we know Paul would want us to watch with a smile on our faces.
"This week, Paul meets Peggy, a Newfoundland that has a big problem with her legs.
"Tune into @ITV tonight at 8:30pm, to see if Paul and the team can help."
Paul O’Grady’s love for dogs
During his life, kind-hearted Paul O’ Grady welcomed a number of rescue dogs into his loving home over the years.
He had five pooches living with him and husband Andre Portasio.
The dogs are called Nancy, Arfur, Conchita, Eddie, and Sausage.
Paul announced the arrival of Nancy in 2020 on social media, where he said: “As Battersea Dogs and Cats Home had closed temporarily and I’d been filming there we were asked if we’d like to foster a dog.
“I’d grown quite fond of this little pup so I took her home.
“Of course I fully intended to keep her from the start and I’ve called her Nancy.”
Andre and Paul O’Grady wed in 2017
Andre and Paul got hitched in a 30-minute ceremony in the gardens of The Goring Hotel, central London, on August 5, 2017.
Guests such as actors Ian McKellen, Michael Cashman, and comedian Julian Clary then enjoyed champagne on the private lawn and canapes, including smoked salmon pancake rolls and Dorset crab cornets.
The wedding reception menu included cured sea bream and glazed ox cheek.
A close friend told The Sun: “Paul is as happy as he’s ever been to be married to Andre.
“They kept the wedding to just their closest family and friends and had a big lunch afterward to celebrate.”
Paul O’Grady spoke about his own death in an interview
Paul O’Grady spoke about his own death in a past interview and insisted he had “no fear” of dying.
After suffering two of three heart attacks – one in 2003 and another in 2006 he said: “I do count my blessings. I have had two heart attacks, and if I get to 60 that will be amazing. I don’t fear anything nowadays.”
Paul O’Grady’s heartbreaking final post
Paul O’Grady spoke of his heartache at losing one of his beloved pets just days before he died at age 67.
Just two weeks ago Paul told how he was grieving – after the loss of one of his beloved pet pigs.
Along with a video of the hog, animal lover Paul wrote: “Got back from a week in Newcastle playing Miss Hannigan in Annie to find that Tom Tom, one of my pigs had been put to sleep.
“I knew it was coming as he’d been diagnosed with a tumour but even so it’s awful when you lose a pet.
“He was the cheekiest of the gang and one of the other pigs who was obviously very fond of him is now depressed and gone into mourning and there’s those who say that animals don’t have feelings.
“On a lighter note I’m thoroughly enjoying playing Hannigan again after so long especially with a truly amazing and lovely cast. Next stop Edinburgh.”
Last picture of Paul O’Grady
Days before his death, Paul was spotted in a bar in Edinburgh smiling with punters.
In a picture shared to social media, Paul beamed as he clutched a drink with a fan, who described the “legend” as a “lovely man”.
Paul O’Grady tried to convince the Queen to adopt a corgi
Paul O'Grady asked the Queen to adopt a stricken corgi, it has been revealed.
The telly great tried to get the beloved monarch to take a pooch home with her to add to her famous pack when she visited Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.
Ali Taylor, head of canine behaviour at the charity, has told of the Lily Savage actor's work with animals - and revealing his "sneaky tactics" of using his celeb connections to help house pets.
The dog expert revealed that Paul had so much love for the often abandoned and abused animals at Battersea that he went to great lengths to find them homes.
This included putting in calls to big-name pals to try and get them to adopt a pup.
Ali recalled: "Those he couldn’t take home with him, he’d try to find a home for.
"He’d always be on his phone to friends. He’d say, 'I’ve got a plan'.
"Paul had a close relationship with the Royal Family — when the late Queen Elizabeth visited Battersea, he was trying hard to persuade her to take a Corgi home.
"He also had a brilliant relationship with our royal patron, Camilla — she has two Jack Russells from Battersea."
Paul’s pal reveals they shared ‘best conversation ever’ just a day before he died
Speaking on Good Morning Britain today, Paul O’Grady’s close pal Linda Thorson revealed the pair shared a phone call just a day before he died.
She said: “Paul rung me on Tuesday at 3PM and we spoke for an hour.
“It was one of the best conversations we have ever had.”
Battersea staff share their favourite memories working with Paul O'Grady
Staff at Battersea Dogs & Cats home have shared some of their favourite memories working alongside Paul O'Grady.
Taking to Twitter, the organisation wrote: ''Paul had a special relationship with our animals – whether it was a dog who was too worried to eat or go for a walk, over time, Paul would have them eating out of his hand & walking happily on a lead."
Did Paul O’Grady have any children?
In 1974 Paul had a daughter, Sharon, with his friend Diane Jansen.
Paul shared a good relationship with his only child and gave her away at her wedding.
He also has a grandson named Abel and a granddaughter called Halo.
Paul O’Grady’s health battles
Paul had openly spoke about his health problems and struggles over the years.
In 2002 the star suffered his first attack before having another in 2006 and 2014.
He previously told The Sun: “My cardiologist says I have the constitution of an ox.
“Three days after my last heart attack, I was back fire-eating with McFly.
“The heart is a muscle so you have two choices: Sit on the sofa and count your tablets all day, or get on with it and get moving — swimming and walking, gentle exercise.”
What were Paul’s dogs called?
If there is one thing Paul O’Grady was known for, it was his never-ending love for man’s best friend.
The late TV icon had five pooches living with him and husband Andre Portasio.
The dogs are called Nancy, Arfur, Conchita, Eddie, and Sausage.
Watch the hilarious moment Paul O’Grady gets drunk on TV with Richard Madeley
Paul O’Grady‘s devoted following has been taking to social media in the wake of his tragic death to share their favourite bits from his star-studded career.
Fans have flooded Twitter with their favourite clips of Paul – including a TV appearance on This Morning in 1994.
The clip shows Paul, dressed as Lily Savage with large blonde hair and a pink dress, “getting rotten drunk” during a wine tasting.
Appearing alongside Richard Madeley, and his wife Judy Finnigan, the star could be seen knocking back the drinks.
At one point, the comedian even threw a glass into the river behind him before stumbling around and singing.
Watch the moment here.
TV special tribute of Blankety Blank
BBC One aired an episode of Lily Savage's Blankety Blank, which Paul had hosted as his iconic drag alter ego from 1997 to 2002.
The episode featured guests Rebecca Callard, Sophie Lawrence, Davina McCall, Sir Ian McKellen, Gray O’Brien and the late Dale Winton.
It aired at 7pm and within minutes of it starting, fans were in tears over his sad passing, and full of praise for his talent as the fabulous and feisty Lily.
Taking to Twitter, one wrote: "Lily Savage hosting Blankety Blank right now on BBC1 RIP #PaulOGrady you genius, you'll be missed" alongside crying emojis.
Another added: "OMG! BBC1 are showing an episode of Blankety Blank with Lily Savage. I’m laughing and crying simultaneously!"
Fans were in tears last week after spotting special dog tribute
Paul O'Grady fans were in tears last week after spotting a subtle dog tribute to the late star.
Paul passed away suddenly at the age of 67 with his husband Andre by his side.
ITV put together a tribute show showing brief highlights of Paul’s long and varied career.
It showed him in the early days performing in pubs in London, to hitting megastardom as Lily Savage, all the way up to his series set inside Battersea Dogs Home.
The emotional clips already had fans feel the tears forming in their eyes, but then a subtle tribute on the show had them crying at home.
As clips played of Paul’s career, they appeared on a television screen watched by a number of dogs on a sofa.
What were Paul O’Grady’s biggest shows?
During his life, Paul enjoyed enormous success, which cemented him as a household name.
He fronted numerous TV shows including The Paul O’Grady Show, The New Paul O’Grady Show, and Paul O’Grady Live.
The kindhearted star was known for his love of animals, and fronted Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs, Paul O’Grady’s Animal Orphans, and Paul O’Grady’s Little Heroes.
In 2018 he was presented with the Special Recognition Award at the NTAs after his stint on For the Love of Dogs.
What will happen to Paul O’Grady’s For The Love Of Dogs?
ITV has confirmed its plans for Paul's iconic show For the Love Of Dogs.
This comes after the Lily Savage star and dog lover tragically passed away last month.
After his death, some were wondering what the future held for the programme, but ITV have confirmed that the upcoming eleventh series will hit our screens as planned.
The programme, returns tonight at 8.30pm.