Paul O'Grady death: Camilla and Elton John pay tribute

Summary

TV and radio presenter Paul O'Grady has died at the age of 67
His husband Andre Portasio said he died "unexpectedly but peacefully" on Tuesday evening
"He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all those who enjoyed his humour, wit and compassion," Portasio said
Queen Consort Camilla, who knew O'Grady through their support of Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, spoke of his "warm heart and infectious humour"
Singer Sir Elton John thanked him "for all the joy you brought into the world"
O'Grady rose to fame as the acerbic drag queen Lily Savage 1980s and 90s
As O'Grady he went on to present a range of TV and radio programmes including Blankety Blank
Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said O'Grady was a "much admired campaigner for LGBT+ equality and animal rights"

Live Reporting

Edited by Rob Corp

From radical figure to teatime show hostpublished at 09:10 British Summer Time 29 March 2023
Colin Paterson
Entertainment Correspondent, BBC News
Image source, PA Media
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Paul O'Grady's drag queen alter-ego Lily Savage made him a star
What was remarkable about Paul O’Grady was his transformation from a really radical subversive figure - one who in the 1980s was hosting drag nights at gay bars in London.
There was the famous incident at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern where he was presenting in the Lily Savage costume. The venue was raided by the police - at the height of the Aids crisis - and they were wearing rubber gloves. He was on the mic and, quick as a flash, said: "Well, well, looks like we have some help with the washing up"!
Now to go from that to basically making some of the cosiest institutions his own - Sunday afternoons on Radio 2, his teatime chat show on ITV - that shows his versatility.
The skill of being both bitchy and warm at the same time is a very difficult one to pull off.
Boy, did he do that.
BBC Radio 2 pays tribute to its former presenterpublished at 08:58 British Summer Time 29 March 2023
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BBC Radio 2, where O’Grady hosted a Sunday afternoon show for more than a decade, paid tribute to the star.
Lorna Clarke, Director of Music, said "We are all shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Paul O'Grady.”
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He was a much loved presenter to the Radio 2 audience, and his unique sense of humour, charm and warmth touched the hearts of many. Paul will be hugely missed and our thoughts are with his friends and family at this difficult time."
O'Grady left the network last August after 13 years presenting on Sunday afternoons, but his departure was not the happiest period of his career.
A scheduling change saw comedian Rob Beckett take over for 13 weeks each year.
In an Instagram post after announcing his departure from the radio station, O'Grady had said: "The reason I'm leaving is because I wasn't really happy with the 13 weeks on, 13 weeks off business."
Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2 at the time, said she was "sorry to see him go".
Jeremy Vine will devote the first part of his Radio 2 show at 12noon today to Paul O’Grady.
Zoe Ball has also paid tribute to him on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show.
Broadcasters remember O'Gradypublished at 08:42 British Summer Time 29 March 2023
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Fellow broadcasters have been paying tribute to Paul O'Grady.
On Twitter, former BBC Radio 2 colleague Ken Bruce wrote: "Such shocking sad news about Paul O'Grady. A unique and brilliant broadcaster who brightened the nation."
Simon Mayo, formerly of Radio 2 and now on Greatest Hits Radio, wrote on Twitter that O'Grady was "a lovely man, always funny and a radio natural".
Former Big Breakfast host Gaby Roslin, who occasionally sat in for the presenter on his Radio 2 Paul O'Grady show, wrote his death was "unbelievably sad news", adding that the presenter was a "one-off".
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Goodness me we laughed together so much. Our chats lasted for hours and he'll be up there now nattering away and keeping everyone laughing... He was brave and clever and naughty and a dear friend. Sleep tight Savage darling I adored you."
Gaby Roslin
Top Gear and Take Me Out presenter Paddy McGuinness said O'Grady "was always supportive, kind and just great to be around... Paul started in the pubs and working men's clubs but finished as an icon of British TV. I'll miss him very much".
John Barrowman 'shocked and sad' to hear of O'Grady's deathpublished at 08:23 British Summer Time 29 March 2023
Actor John Barrowman said he was "shocked and sad" to hear the news of O'Grady's death.
Sharing on Twitter two pictures of the TV star, he wrote: "I am totally shocked and sad to hear the awful news that Paul O'Grady has died. An awesome talent stretching decades."
O’Grady ‘one of life’s characters’ – friend Pete Pricepublished at 08:10 British Summer Time 29 March 2023
Liverpool broadcaster Pete Price is a friend of Paul O'Grady who worked with him many times and interviewed him over the years.
He says O’Grady’s death is “tragic news” but he hadn’t been well for a long time.
Price described his friend as “one of life’s characters” and a “mega talent”, who “never suffered fools gladly” and whose love for animals was “passionate”.
“I think he loved animals actually more than human beings”.
Price says O’Grady worked incredibly hard on his drag act as Lily Savage and “changed early evening teatime television forever” with his roles in light entertainment.
“He pushed every boundary of comedy without being offensive.”
Price says one thing about O’Grady’s death is that he’ll be with his friends and fellow stars Barbara Windsor and Cilla Black.
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Paul O'Grady with his friend Cilla Black, who died in 2015
Paul O'Grady on his drag queen personapublished at 08:01 British Summer Time 29 March 2023
O'Grady rose to fame in the 1990s as comedy drag act Lily Savage.
In this video from 2002, he talks to TV host Michael Parkinson about his early days as Lily on the club scene in London.
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Paul O'Grady on his alter ego Lily Savage
'We were all lucky to have Paul in our lives'published at 07:48 British Summer Time 29 March 2023
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Image caption,
Malcolm Prince and Paul O'Grady
Malcolm Prince, the long-standing producer of O'Grady's Radio 2 and Boom Radio shows, wrote: "I'm devastated. Yesterday afternoon, I popped round to Paul's for a good old catch-up."
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Surrounded by his beloved dogs, he was laughing, smiling, and full of life. He was so proud of [stage musical] Annie, so happy to be back on Boom Radio, and he was looking forward to so many new projects.
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And now he's gone. I can't believe it. We have lost a unique talent - and I've lost a dear friend. We were all lucky to have Paul in our lives."
O’Grady was a trailblazer, says drag artist Danny Beardpublished at 07:34 British Summer Time 29 March 2023
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UK drag artist Danny Beard
Danny Beard, who won the latest UK season of the hit international show Ru Paul’s Drag Race, says Paul O’Grady was a “trailblazer” in the drag scene.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Beard says O’Grady was the most important cultural icon for drag and the “queer community”.
“I don’t think there’s anyone who does the job that I do who doesn’t class Paul as an icon," Beard says.
“This is a really sad loss”.
On a personal level, Beard says their life and career has followed a similar trajectory as O'Grady and has performed in the same London clubs and also moved into TV.
Beard says people like O’Grady “have set the way for so many of us”.
“I didn’t know what a drag queen was until I saw Paul on television.”
O'Grady's husband says he will be greatly missedpublished at 07:25 British Summer Time 29 March 2023
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The news of Paul O'Grady's death came during the night from his husband Andre Portasio.
In a statement he said the TV star "died unexpectedly but peacefully":
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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.
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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."
Funny, fearless, brave - Lorraine Kellypublished at 07:21 British Summer Time 29 March 2023
ITV presenter Lorraine Kelly paid tribute to O'Grady on Twitter, writing: "Such sad news. Paul O'Grady - funny, fearless, brave, kind and wise. Will be sorely missed. A really special man."
Replying to another Twitter user, she added: "I always think dogs are the best judge of character and they ADORED him."
Image source, Getty Images
'A devoted animal lover with the biggest heart'published at 07:10 British Summer Time 29 March 2023
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Paul O'Grady and the Queen Consort in 2022
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home has paid tribute to Paul O'Grady, saying he was a "devoted animal lover with the biggest heart, who fell head over heels in love with every dog he met at our centres".
"Battersea will forever remember Paul as a devoted animal lover with the biggest heart, who fell head over heels in love with every dog he met at our centres," Battersea chief executive Peter Laurie said.
Last year O'Grady was joined by Camilla, the Queen Consort, in a special one-off episode of his long-running TV show Paul O'Grady: For The Love of Dogs to mark 160 years of the organisation.
In pictures: The life and career of Paul O'Gradypublished at 07:08 British Summer Time 29 March 2023
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O'Grady began his career using his scouse drag act Lily Savage, pictured here in 1993 alongside fellow comedian Mark Thomas in Soho, central London
Image source, Getty Images
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He hosted the Paul O'Grady Show on ITV and Channel 4 between 2004 and 2015
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The plaudits kept coming for O'Grady, who was awarded an MBE in 2008. He celebrated the honour alongside his partner Andre Portasio (left), sister Sheila Rudd and daughter Sharyn Mousley
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Here he is seen with the late Queen for the opening of new dog kennels at London's Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in 2015
Image source, Getty Images
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O'Grady with his husband Andre Portasio at the 2019 National Television Awards
You can see more images here: Paul O'Grady's life in pictures.
Paul O'Grady: From Lily Savage to Anniepublished at 07:00 British Summer Time 29 March 2023
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Paul O'Grady was born in Birkenhead, on the Wirral, in 1955.
He rose to fame after performing as drag queen Lily Savage in the 1970’s.
His mother’s maiden name was Savage - which is believed to have inspired his famous drag act. He also spoke out about LGBT issues.
In 1997, he moved to TV and hosted The Lily Savage Show for the BBC for a short run.
Throughout his career O'Grady won a TV Bafta, British Comedy Award and a National Television Award for The Paul O'Grady Show.
In 2008, he was made an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to entertainment.
The TV star had a daughter with his friend Diane Jansen in 1974. He married his husband Andre Portasio at a ceremony in London in 2017.
He had recently been on tour playing Miss Hannigan in the musical Annie.
A sad morningpublished at 06:55 British Summer Time 29 March 2023
Kathryn Armstrong
News reporter
Image source, PA Media
Thanks for joining us as we bring you tributes to presenter and comedian Paul O'Grady who has died at the age of 67.
O’Grady rose to fame in the 1980s with his iconic Scouse drag queen persona Lily Savage, after the act became a huge success in the London gay scene.
He also went on to host the popular British game show Blankety Blank and other entertainment programmes, finishing his 14-year stint on BBC Radio 2 last year.
We will be bringing you tributes and looking back at his long career in entertainment.
Rob Corp is editing, with updates brought to you by me, Laura Gozzi and Ece Goksedef.