TV presenter and comedian Paul O’Grady, also known for his drag queen persona Lily Savage, has died at the age of 67, his husband Andre Portasio said.
“It is with great sadness that I inform you that Paul has passed away unexpectedly but peacefully yesterday evening,” Mr Portasio said in a statement.
“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.”
Carol Vorderman and Lorraine Kelly are among the host of celebrities who have paid tribute to the entertainer who began his showbiz career performing as his drag queen alter ego Lily Savage in the 1970s.
His solo show as Lily Savage ran for eight years at London’s Royal Vauxhall Tavern.
During his career, he hosted Blind Date and Blankety Blank, and later The Paul O’Grady Show, which aired on ITV from 2004-05 before moving to Channel 4 under the title of The New Paul O’Grady Show.
O’Grady, who used his platform to speak out about LGBT issues, was also a well known dog lover who presented ITV’s multi-award-winning programme For The Love of Dogs.
He also hosted ITV celebrity game show, Paul O’Grady’s Saturday Night Line Up.
O’Grady hosted the reboot of the show Blind Date on Channel 5 in 2017, taking over from the programme’s long-running presenter and his close friend, Cilla Black, following her death in 2015.
Last year, he was joined by the Queen Consort in a special one-off episode of For The Love Of Dogs to mark 160 years of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, an organisation for which he was an ambassador.
In August last year, he presented his final BBC Radio 2 show, which he had hosted for nearly 14 years.
He was due to return to the airwaves next month to host a one-off Easter Sunday show on Boom Radio.
Paying tribute to O’Grady on Twitter, Carol Vorderman wrote: “Paul O’Grady. Already giving them raucous, ripping up the rulebook, mischief making, calling it out, loving hell in heaven.”
“Paul, what are we meant to do without you?”
ITV presenter Lorraine Kelly described O’Grady as “a really special man” in an online tribute.
Kelly said: “Such sad news. Paul O’Grady – funny, fearless, brave, kind and wise. Will be sorely missed. A really special man.”
Replying to another Twitter user, she added: “I always think dogs are the best judge of character and they ADORED him.”
O’Grady was well known for his passion for animals.
He lived in a farmhouse in Kent with Mr Portasio where the pair owned various animals including four dogs, goats, sheep, chickens and barn owls.
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home paid tribute to O’Grady, who was an ambassador for the charity, as a “devoted animal lover” and a champion for the underdog”.
In a statement shared with the PA news agency, Battersea chief executive, Peter Laurie, described O’Grady as a “hands-on” ambassador and champion for the underdog who would do anything to ensure all animals live a healthy and happy life.
Mr Laurie said: “Battersea will forever remember Paul as a devoted animal lover with the biggest heart, who fell head over heels in love with every dog he met at our centres.
“Paul will always be associated with Battersea and we are truly saddened to have lost such a true friend and huge part of our charity.”
Malcolm Prince, who produced O’Grady’s radio show, said he was “devastated” by the death of his friend.
Mr Prince said in a statement: “He was looking forward to so many new projects. And now he’s gone. I can’t believe it.
“We have lost a unique talent – and I’ve lost a dear friend. We were all lucky to have Paul in our lives.”
Money Saving Expert founder and TV presenter, Martin Lewis, said: “Quite shocked and saddened to wake up to the news of Paul O’Grady passing. A funny man, with incredibly quick wit, who made millions laugh.”
Before finding fame, O’Grady worked as a care officer for Camden Council.
Throughout his entertainment career he won numerous accolades including a TV Bafta, a British Comedy Award, and a National Television Award for The Paul O’Grady Show.
He was made an MBE in the 2008 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to entertainment.
