The news of Paul O'Grady 's death has led to an outpouring of tributes to the late comedian and a number of people have noted that he had been a devoted campaigner.
It was announced this morning, in a statement issued by his husband Andre Portasio, that Paul had died "unexpectedly but peacefully", aged 67, yesterday evening.
Tributes have since been issued by fans, with him remembered for his drag persona Lily Savage and various TV projects, but also for his work with charities and fronting campaigns.
Among the causes that Paul had supported over the course of his career were animal rights, human rights and children's charities. Here are some examples of the causes that he helped support and raise awareness of.
Animal charities
Paul is most associated with charity Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. He had been an ambassador for the animal rescue centre - now known simply as Battersea - since 2012.
Over the course of his time as an ambassador, Paul fronted campaigns, showcased the rescue centre on TV and he even rehomed some residents himself.
He has supported the rescue centre through ITV series Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs. The show saw him meet staff and follow the journeys of rescued dogs.
Most recently, he adopted wire-haired dachshund last year, as she joined his previously rescued dogs Nancy, Arfur, Eddie and Conchita.
Paul - who had previously adopted other dogs from the charity - even teased a decade ago that he had a self-imposed clause in his contract at one point which prevented him from rehoming any more dogs while filming his show.
It isn't the only animal charity he has supported, as Paul was patron of Orangutan Appeal UK since around 2015. It works to support orangutans and provide "a sustainable future" for them.
The presenter once said: "I am delighted to be a patron of Orangutan Appeal UK to help raise awareness of the plight of this beautiful endangered ape and promote the work the charity are doing to conserve them."
Human rights and LGBTQ+ causes
Paul was also a patron of the Peter Tatchell Foundation, which "seeks to promote and protect the human rights of individuals, communities and nations" in the UK and abroad.
Peter Tatchell said following Paul's death: "Paul wasn't just a brilliant comedian and broadcast personality but a much admired campaigner for LGBT+ equality and animal rights."
He added that the late presenter had been planning to lead a forthcoming campaign around the historic persecution of the LGBTQ+ community.
"He supported my work for decades & was a valued patron of the Peter Tatchell Foundation. Paul was due to lead our campaign for a police apology for past homophobia," Peter added.
Additionally, his campaigning previously saw him take part in a campaign for the Albert Kennedy Trust charity, for example, which aimed to raise awareness of issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community.
Children's charities
Paul had also been a "long-standing ambassador" for charity Save the Children, which aims to "make [the] world a better place" for children across the globe.
The charity states on its website of Paul's work: "As well as helping highlight our work with orphaned children living with HIV in South Africa, Paul has also championed what we do to support families in the UK."
Paul's work with the charity has included supporting various campaigns, including helping to raise awareness of the challenges faced by families in deprived parts of the UK.
The charity adds that he "championed [its] phenomenally successful 'Knit one, Save one' campaign, encouraging people to knit woolly hats to protect babies around the world from the cold."
And he has worked to raise funds for the charity over the years, including during the Covid pandemic.
He supported the Mirror's Christmas appeal for the charity in 2020, for example, which was aimed at raising funds to provide gifts to children and offer meals to hard-up families.
Paul also raised awareness of Great Ormond Street Hospital. It featured in his show Paul O'Grady's Little Heroes and he reportedly hoped the series would raise funds for the hospital.
