Paul O’Grady, a cherished TV personality and comedian who rose to fame with his drag act character Lily Savage, has passed away at the age of 67, as confirmed by his partner Andre Portasio. O’Grady’s death was unexpected and occurred on Tuesday night. Portasio requested privacy for the family and expressed appreciation for the love and support given to O’Grady throughout his career. O’Grady was born in Tranmere, Cheshire, in 1955 and moved to London in his twenties, where he worked as a social worker. He created his drag act Lily Savage in 1978, which gained recognition in 1991 when he was nominated for the Perrier award. Following this, he began appearing on radio and television as himself, retiring Lily Savage in 2004. Throughout his career, O’Grady hosted a variety of popular TV shows such as The Paul O’Grady Show, Blankety Blank, Paul O’Grady’s Saturday Night Line Up, and the revived version of Blind Date. He was an ardent animal lover and presented the acclaimed show For The Love Of Dogs. O’Grady was also a vocal advocate for social justice issues, animal welfare, and care workers. Peter Tatchell, a campaigner for LGBTQ+ rights, hailed O’Grady as a respected advocate for animal rights and equality, as well as a beloved comedian and broadcaster. O’Grady is survived by his husband, daughter, and two grandchildren.
Paul O’Grady, the television moderator and comedian, kicks the bucket matured 67
