Paul O'Grady had audiences in stitches for more than three decades and firmly positioned himself as not only a Merseyside legend - but one of our national treasures.
Born Paul James O'Grady on June 14, 1955 in what was once Tranmere Workhouse, Paul was the youngest son of Irish parents Patrick and Mary, known as Molly. In his autobiography, At My Mother's Knee...and Other Low Joints, Paul wrote how he would spend hours at his garden fence watching Cunard liners sailing up the Mersey, the Mirror previously reported.
In his early adulthood, Paul held various jobs in the region, first working as a clerical assistant for the DHSS at their Liverpool office, before becoming an assistant clerk at Liverpool Magistrates' Court. He later worked as a barman at Yates' Wine Lodge, an accountant in an FMC Meats Merseyside abattoir before spending three years at Children's Convalescent Home and School in West Kirkby.
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When he first started work in Steers House, Paul would often spend his lunchtimes at Cousins Corner above Radio Rentals. In later years, the Birkenhead native achieved notability in the London gay scene - which kickstarted his successful career in showbusiness.
After spending years learning and executing his craft on the stand-up circuit in the pubs in and around Liverpool, Paul made his first appearance as Lily Savage at a gay pub in Camden back in 1978. The ECHO previously reported how as part of a two-man drag mime act, the Playgirls, Paul toured around the North of England before moving to London in 1984 and presenting shows as Lily Savage at the Elephant and Castle pub.
When Paul got his own flat, he quit his work and began focusing on his career as Lily full time, taking her across the country and abroad. Lily began to release VHS videos of her performances and at one stage - it was hard to escape her.
Soon after, TV came calling for Paul O'Grady and his huge talents. In the early 1990s, Paul began appearing on a host of television programmes including late-night Channel 4 comedy show Viva Cabaret!, Channel 4's Brookside and he even presented an episode of the BBC's Top of the Pops.
The comedian made a name for himself speaking out about LGBT issues and picked up a mainstream following after being nominated for a Perrier Award in 1991. O’Grady’s career as Savage took off with TV and radio appearances in character and he was eventually asked to take over from Paula Yates as The Big Breakfast presenter as Savage from 1995 to 1996.
He took on chat show The Lily Savage Show for the BBC for a short run in 1997 and later that year had success as the host of a revived version of gameshow Blankety Blank, which ran until 2002. Lily’s career ended on a high note having added advert appearances for Ford Escort, Pretty Polly Tights and the soft drink Oasis.
Paul retired Lily back in 2004, but her legacy lives on as one of the UK's most iconic drag queens. That same year, Paul O'Grady was introduced a whole new audience as the host of The Paul O’Grady Show which aired in a teatime slot on ITV before moving onto Channel 4 where the programme ran over two periods, split by a return to ITV, until 2015. Throughout his career he picked up various accolades including a TV Bafta, a British Comedy Award, and a National Television Award for The Paul O’Grady Show.
Paul is also remembered for his close bond with fellow Merseyside star Cilla Black. Cilla first met telly favourite Paul on chat show Parkinson in 1998 and the pair immediately hit it off.
In 2001, as part of six-part series Paul O'Grady's America, Paul and Cilla shared a stretch limo in New York and enjoyed lunch at Nello's. That same year, Paul, Cilla and the late Barbara Windsor performed ‘Gotta have a Gimmick’ from the musical Gypsy at the Royal Variety Performance.
.In 2006, Cilla was a guest host on The Paul O’Grady show and in 2010 she appeared on Paul O'Grady's Christmas, were the pair sang a duet of Baby It's Cold Outside. And of course, Paul was only one person who could host the 2013 ITV show to mark Cilla’s 50 years in showbiz.
On stage, Paul appeared in various stage productions including versions of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Annie, and starred in the BBC bingo hall sitcom Eyes Down from 2003 to 2004. But he also endured huge health battles in recent years.
He had heart attacks which occurred in 2002, 2006 and 2014 were brought on by the star’s extravagant partying lifestyle fuelled with booze, drugs and chain smoking 40 a day, but later admitted he changed his lifestyle after what he called "health issues," the Daily Star reported.
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In his personal life, it was previously reported how Paul once found himself in a 'marriage of convenience'. After the TV star took up a job at a gay club called the Showplace in 1976, he befriend a Portuguese lesbian named Teresa Fernandes.
In May 1977, they married to prevent her deportation, but afterward, they lost contact and only legally divorced in 2005. Although the pair were married for 28 years, Paul admitted that he was never in a relationship with Teresa.
Although Paul never had children with Teresa, he did welcome a daughter - and two grandchildren - with another woman. Back in 1974, Paul welcomed his daughter, Sharon, with his dear friend Diane Jansen.
Paul's former partner Brendan Murphy died from a brain tumour in 2005. Paul married ballet dancer Andre Portasio in 2017.
In his career, he hosted ITV celebrity game show, Paul O’Grady’s Saturday Night Line Up, and last year signed off from his final BBC Radio 2 show having hosted the Sunday afternoon programme for nearly 14 years. In 2008 he was made an MBE in the 2008 Birthday Honours for services to entertainment and last year was appointed as a deputy lieutenant of Kent.
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But Paul's love of animals has seen him branch out into presenting different styles of programme, among them Paul O’Grady’s Animal Orphans which aired between 2014 and 2016 and saw him visit Africa to meet baby animals. In recent years, he's been loved for hosting ITV’s multi-award-winning For The Love Of Dogs.
Following the success of the show, filmed at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, he became an ambassador for the organisation and last year was joined by the Queen Consort in a special one-off episode of For The Love Of Dogs to mark 160 years of the home.
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In September 2016, he was also recognised for his work with animals when he won the award for Outstanding Contribution to Animal Welfare at the RSPCA’s Animal Hero Awards From 2017 to 2019, Paul himself took over the reigns of Blind Date - something Cilla's family convinced him to pursue.
The Birkenhead-born TV and radio star was due to appear as Miss Hannigan in Annie at the Empire this June. He had played the role in the stage production as it toured the UK, most recently appearing in Edinburgh.
Tributes have since been flooding in following the news thatPaul O'Grady has died aged 67. His partner, Andre Portasio, said in his statement: "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." Most recently, Paul O'Grady has been travelling up and down the country to play Miss Hannigan in the touring stage version of Annie."
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