Paul O'Grady said he won't revive his Lily Savage character because her material wouldn't work in the modern day.
Lily was a staple of 1990s television but hung up her heels in 2004 after a 20-year run. Her most memorable appearances include hosting the celebrity game show Blankety Blank and multiple late-night specials including An Evening With Lily Savage.
Throughout his career, the alter ego favoured a tongue-in-cheek banter that often left viewers reeling due to its scandalous nature. Because of the outrageous character, Lily became a British icon and one of the country's most famous drag queens.
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Since hanging up their wigs, the question on long-term fans' lips has been when she will be returning but Paul has consistently said not to get our hopes up. In an interview with the Mirror, he said: "People say to me, ‘Would you do Lily again?’ And I say, ‘Good God no, I wouldn’t last five minutes’.
“It’s just the things that she comes out with. It’s a different time now. They probably wouldn’t like the inference that she was a lady of the night — she’d have to say she was a sex worker or just, ‘Worked in hospitality'."
The presenter has been at the helm of the ITV show For The Love Of Dogs where he visits shelters and dogs in rehabilitation centres. Paul has been open with his love for the series and said it would take a lot for him to leave, especially for a gig like Lily's.
He added: "There’s not enough cash on earth to get me dragged up. God no. It’s always been, ‘Why don’t you be Lily Savage again?’ Well, because one, I’m too old. And two, I couldn’t be bothered. I’ve moved on. At the time I thoroughly enjoyed it but I’ve moved on. Even in panto, I wouldn’t fancy it."
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