PAUL O’Grady is a national treasure thanks to alter ego Lily Savage, and also shows like For The Love Of Dogs.
The showbiz legend has enjoyed an incredible career both on the screen and stage.
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Who is Paul O’Grady?
Born on June 14, 1955 in Birkenhead, before he hit the big time, TV star Paul O’ Grady performed as Lily Savage in the 80s.
He started off working the drag circuit with his act across pubs and clubs, and as he grew popular he eventually toured the country.
From 1989 to 1992, Paul performed annually as Lily at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, gaining increasing recognition for his act.
Paul followed this with a show titled Lily Savage Live from the Hackney Empire, which proved to be a sell-out.
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Once he had gained national success, Paul was then asked to bring his act to mainstream TV.
He made guest appearances on TV programmes like The Bill and Brookside.
But it was when he took over from the late Paula Yates on The Big Breakfast from 1995 to 96 that he really hit the big time.
But he packed it in after one year saying that the early mornings “didn’t agree” with him.
As Lily he also hosted a reboot of hit BBC quiz show Blankety Blank.
Paul and Cilla Black were firm friends right up until she died back in 2015.
He even delivered the eulogy at Cilla’s funeral.
Is Paul O’Grady married?
In August 2017, The Sun exclusively revealed how the Paul had secretly wed his ballet dancer partner Andre Portasio.
The pair began seeing each other in 2007 and got hitched during a 30-minute ceremony at the prestigious Goring Hotel in central London.
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This is Paul’s second marriage – he was married to Teresa Fernandes from 1977 to 2005.
This was a ‘marriage of convenience’ and he says he was ‘not in a relationship’ with her.
Does Paul have any children?
In 1974 Paul had a daughter, Sharon, with his friend Diane Jansen.
Paul has a good relationship with his only child and even gave her away at her wedding when she married her childhood friend Philip Moseley.
He also has a grandson called Abel and granddaughter called Halo.
Does Paul O’Grady still perform as Lily Savage?
Paul no longer appears as Lily.
He said he wouldn’t bring back his iconic drag alter-ego Lily Savage in 2021 for fear of being cancelled.
Speaking to The Sun, Paul explained: “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.”
The 66-year-old added: “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”.
What are Paul O’Grady’s biggest shows?
Paul has enjoyed enormous success over the last 20 years, and has become a household name.
He has fronted numerous TV shows including The Paul O’Grady Show, The New Paul O’Grady Show, and Paul O’Grady Live.
More recently he is known for his love of animals, and fronted Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs, Paul O’Grady’s Animal Orphans and Paul O’Grady’s Little Heroes.
He was presented with the Special Recognition Award at the 2018 NTAs after his stint on For the Love of Dogs.
He’s also been delving into the history of cinema with Paul O’Grady’s Hollywood on Channel 4.
He returned to the London Palladium in Goldilocks and the Three bears to play The Evil Ringmaster for a five-week run early December 2019 until January 12 2020.
In 2022 Paul returned to TV for a Christmas special of For The Love Of Dogs.
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