Friends of the late Paul O'Grady say the star presenter and comedian "didn't listen" to concerns about his health. The death of Mr O'Grady, aged 67, was announced on March 28 and tributes from those who knew him have been flooding in ever since.
Christopher Biggins, the panto actor and I'm A Celebrity star who was a close friend of Paul O'Grady, has now spoken about how unconcerned he was with health issues, the Birmingham Mail reports. Mr Biggins, speaking to The Sun, said: "About 15 years ago we were staying with Cilla in Spain.
"Paul had his heart problems already and had been told not to smoke or indulge in alcohol too much. She told me to go upstairs and tell him to stop.
Are you a true Nottinghamian? Take our quiz here to find out.
"I felt like the matron from the Carry On films when I went into his bedroom and said: ‘Paul, you’re smoking.’ He looked at me and said: ‘No I’m not.'
"I know for a fact he was still smoking last week. What a wonderful way to go — peacefully in your sleep." Another one of those paying tribute to Paul O'Grady has been the actress Linda Thorson, who said last week: "Paul rang me on Tuesday, the day before yesterday, at three o'clock and we spoke for an hour. It must be one of the best conversations we've ever had."
"I can't believe it... just to hang up the phone and hours later for someone to die who was so happy, full of life... He brought energy into the room. He was very magical and he was just... he was an entertainer.
"He was generous to a fault. I will never, ever meet anyone like him. He was just a friend. He actually cared about me... I felt that and you don't feel that often."
Read next:
- Teenager brandished machete in knife fight outside Nottingham College
- Loud screech and sirens heard by neighbours after seriously injured man walked into garage
- Air ambulance called to scene of medical emergency in town
- Heartfelt tributes pour in for Nottingham Rock City 'legend'
- Jeremy Clarkson suffers sleepless nights after difficult 'goodbye' on Diddly Squat Farm
