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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Christopher Megrath

Paul O'Grady refuses to watch Blankety Blank because of past 'horrors'

Paul O'Grady said he won't watch Blankety Blank because he experienced the show's "horrors" first-hand.

The former drag queen fronted the show for two years across the BBC and ITV dressed as his alter ego, Lily Savage. His sharp wit and sassy mouth led the show down a chaotically camp route which still holds up comedically to this day.

A revival series is currently airing on the BBC with The Chase's Bradley Walsh at the helm. The show kicked off with rave reviews but is still being compared to the '97 edition. It became one of Paul and Lily's most prominent roles and fans continue to ask when he, if ever, will take it back up again.

READ MORE: ITV pulls This Morning from air for breaking announcement

Sadly, Paul has continuously refused to revive Lily, stating he's too old for the persona. He was also asked to return to Blankety Blank when it was by the BBC in 2016 but he turned them down.

Asked if he’s seen any of the new shows, Paul told the Daily Star: “No. I don’t want the horrors. When you’ve done so many episodes of it… I can’t face it.”

Paul says it’s not just Blankety Blank he’s dodged — because he barely watches any telly these days. The presenter prefers to tune in to repeats of shows from years ago.

He said: "I don’t actually watch a lot of telly. Everybody thinks I do, but I don’t. I watch the news, Father Brown and repeats of The Avengers – and that’s your lot."

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