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British presenter and comedian Paul O’Grady has died. He was 67.
O’Grady’s death was confirmed to the BBC by his partner Andre Portasio, who said the popular TV presenter died “unexpectedly but peacefully” on Tuesday night.
Known for his drag queen persona Lily Savage, O’Grady appeared as Miss Hannigan (a role he first played 25 years ago) in the touring musical “Annie,” which premieres March 21 Week long at the Edinburgh Playhouse ran until 25. (The show is due to travel to Southampton in April.)
On his official Instagram page on March 13, O’Grady wrote that he was “really enjoying playing Hannigan again after such a long time, especially with a truly amazing and lovely cast.”
A UK television fixture, he has also hosted ITV’s daytime chat show ‘The Paul O’Grady Show’ and Channel 5’s ‘Blind Date’ reboot. O’Grady, a well-known animal lover, presented ITV’s ‘For the Love of Dogs’ and has been a vocal supporter of the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.
Portasio said in a statement: “It is with great sadness that I have to inform you that Paul passed away unexpectedly but peacefully last night… He will be greatly missed by loved ones, friends, family, animals and all who enjoyed his humor. wit and compassion.
“I know he wants me to thank you for all the love you’ve shown him over the years,” Portasio continued.
O’Grady was born in Tranmere, Cheshire, in 1955 to a working-class Irish immigrant family. In the late 1970s he moved to London and worked in various bars, in the civil service and for social services. In 1978, he developed his drag alter-ego, Lily Savage, based on O’Grady’s experiences with various female relatives.
He performed as Savage throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including an acclaimed eight-year stint at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern in south London, where O’Grady used the platform to campaign for gay rights.
Under the Savage persona, he also hosted light entertainment shows such as The Big Breakfast, Blankety Blank, and Lily Live!.
O’Grady eventually began presenting shows as himself, hosting ITV travelogues and “The Paul O’Grady Show”. In 2017, Channel 5 made waves when it announced its “Blind Date” reboot, starring O’Grady – a longtime friend of original presenter Cilla Black – as host. He managed the show until it ended in 2019.
A compassionate animal warrior, O’Grady also hosted For the Love of Dogs, which he has directed since 2012. The show was due to return to ITV for its final season in early 2023.