Scousers across the city paid their tributes to TV legend Paul O’Grady after he died on Tuesday.
The Birkenhead TV star died "unexpected but peacefully" aged 67 as his husband, Andre Portasio, issued a statement confirming his "great loss."
Mr Portasio, who married Paul during a low-key wedding ceremony in 2017, said in his statement: "It is with great sadness that I inform you that Paul has passed away unexpectedly but peacefully yesterday evening.
READ MORE: Paul O'Grady was 'surrounded by dogs' and 'full of life' day before his death
"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."
Today, people in Liverpool city centre were shocked and saddened to hear of his death and spoke to The ECHO.
One man said: “I thought they were talking about somebody else. When I first got up, I thought one of his mates had died and he was coming out to talk about them. Until I made a cup of tea and came back and it said it was him that had passed away and I thought, 'Oh, that's sad.'”
He added: “It's just he was an icon for Liverpool. Even when he was Paul O'Grady, he was like, OK, Lily Savage- brilliant. There's nothing you can say bad about the man.”
One fan was all set to go and see Paul O’Grady in his run as Miss Hannigan in Annie the Musical at the Liverpool Empire.
In disbelief about the news, he said: “I looked on the news and it was true. So I told all my mates and they were all upset about it. We were gonna go see him in Annie and it's devastating because he was a great entertainer. And a really great soul and everything. So he's gonna be sadly missed.”
The man, who said he was a lifetime fan added: “I remember when he used to be dressed up in drag and did Blankety Blank and Blind Date and all that, so it's... It was like a childhood memory gone. I've watched him since I was a kid. I think some locals and the people around here have probably seen him a lot more than I have. But it's gonna be sad that he's gone. I feel sorry for his family.”
Two fans shared a similar view, and one said: “You probably won't see the likes of him come round again.”
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