Paul James O'Grady was a multi-talented English entertainer known for his comedic flair, broadcasting skills, acting, and writing. He rose to fame in the 1980s within the London gay scene as the drag persona Lily Savage, a character that propelled him to broader recognition in the 1990s. O'Grady later shed the persona and became a prominent television and radio personality in the 2000s, hosting shows such as "The Paul O'Grady Show."
Patrick "Paddy" Grady, O'Grady's father, was born in 1912.
Mary "Molly" Savage, O'Grady's mother, was born in 1916.
In 1936, O'Grady's father, Patrick, moved from Ireland to England, eventually settling in Birkenhead.
O'Grady's brother, Brendan, was born in 1941.
O'Grady's sister, Sheila, was born in 1944.
Paul James O'Grady was born in June 1955 in Birkenhead, Cheshire.
Paul James O'Grady was born in June 1955.
Brendan Frank Murphy, O'Grady's long-term partner and business associate, was born in March 1956.
Patrick "Paddy" Grady, O'Grady's father, passed away in 1973.
O'Grady's daughter, Sharon Lee Jansen, was born in May 1974.
In 1974, O'Grady and his friend Diane Jansen welcomed a daughter, Sharon.
To prevent Teresa Fernandes from being deported, O'Grady married her in May 1977.
O'Grady entered into a marriage of convenience with Teresa Fernandes, a Portuguese woman, in 1977. The marriage, which wasn't a romantic relationship, lasted until 2005.
O'Grady debuted his drag character, Lily Savage, at The Black Cap gay pub on October 7, 1978.
In 1978, O'Grady developed his drag persona, Lily Savage, inspired by female relatives.
While performing in Liverpool in 1981, O'Grady and the Playgirls were caught in the midst of the Toxteth riots.
O'Grady's career received a boost in March 1983 when he joined the Equity union, opening doors for more theatrical roles.
In 1984, Paul O'Grady, performing as Lily Savage, started as a barman and drag act compere at the Elephant and Castle pub in Vauxhall. He quickly gained popularity for his insulting humor and moved his act to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern (RVT).
In 1985, O'Grady moved into his own council flat in Vauxhall and began a relationship with Brendan "Murph" Murphy, who became his manager.
In April 1988, O'Grady participated in a march against Section 28, a controversial policy considered homophobic. He used his platform to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and supported related charities, experiencing the personal impact of the crisis.
By 1988, O'Grady was performing at the RVT three times a week and at other venues across the UK. He released a Hi-NRG song, "Tough at the Top," and began performing internationally. He also developed a lifelong friendship with actor Ian McKellen.
O'Grady made his television debut in 1988, playing a transvestite prostitute informant in the ITV police drama "The Bill."
O'Grady's mother, Mary "Molly" Savage, passed away in 1988.
O'Grady made his first appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1989, marking the beginning of his annual performances at the prestigious event.
In 1990, O'Grady appeared in the ITV miniseries "Chimera" and the comedy series "The New Statesman." During this time, his mother passed away.
O'Grady received a nomination for the prestigious Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1991, recognizing his rising success in comedy.
O'Grady's rising popularity earned him a nomination for the prestigious Perrier Award in 1992, marking his breakthrough into mainstream attention.
O'Grady made his film debut in 1993, playing an inmate in "In the Name of the Father," credited as "Paul Savage." He continued to make appearances as Lily on various television shows.
In October 1994, O'Grady appeared on "The Steve Wright People Show." He also had cameos in "Brookside" and an episode of "Pirates."
In 1994, O'Grady gained mainstream recognition with his own Channel 4 series, "Live from the Lilydrome," and a role in the musical "Oliver!" He was nominated for two British Comedy Awards.
In 1994, O'Grady's personal life came under scrutiny when the media revealed the existence of his teenage daughter. He also criticized the media for labeling him solely as a drag queen, highlighting the homophobic implications.
O'Grady, as Lily Savage, started hosting the television show "The Big Breakfast" in 1995.
In April 1996, O'Grady filmed "An Evening with Lily Savage," which became a hit and won an award at the 1997 National Television Awards.
In 1996, O'Grady's time hosting "The Big Breakfast" came to an end.
O'Grady won a National Television Award for "An Evening with Lily Savage." He declined a weekly show offer from ITV to avoid altering his act.
O'Grady took on the role of host for the game show "Blankety Blank" in 1997.
In 1998, Paul O'Grady, as Lily Savage, hosted a six-week BBC series, "The Lily Savage Show," interviewing guests like Elton John. He also appeared on other shows like "Richard and Judy" and "Ready, Steady, Cook." He toured for eight weeks as Lily and starred as Miss Hannigan in a West End revival of "Annie."
In 1999, with growing earnings, O'Grady bought a house in Aldington, Kent, from comedian Vic Reeves, decorating it in art nouveau style.
A new television show, "Lily Live!", premiered in 2000 with O'Grady at the helm.
In 2000, O'Grady, as Lily Savage, hosted the revived "Blankety Blank" quiz show, which was a ratings success. He also starred in the comedy series "Lily Live!" These successes earned him nominations at the British Comedy Awards.
In 2001, O'Grady began transitioning away from his drag persona, Lily Savage. He appeared as himself in an ad campaign and presented two travelogue series, "Paul O'Grady's Orient" and "Paul O'Grady's America." He also performed at the Royal Variety Performance.
The final episode of "Lily Live!" aired in 2001.
In April 2002, O'Grady experienced a heart attack. After recovery, he starred in stage productions of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" and "Snow White." He also received the television personality of the year award at the Heritage Foundation Awards.
O'Grady had his first heart attack in 2002.
O'Grady's time as the host of "Blankety Blank" concluded in 2002.
In 2003, O'Grady appeared in "Celebrity Driving School" and starred in the BBC series "Eyes Down." He also presented two pilot episodes for a revival of "The Generation Game" and ended the year in pantomime.
In 2003, O'Grady took on a starring role in the sitcom "Eyes Down," marking a departure from his drag persona.
"The Paul O'Grady Show" premiered in October 2004, featuring celebrity guests and a mix of humor and entertainment. The show was a hit, gaining a devoted following.
In 2004, O'Grady's show's popularity sparked a rivalry with "Richard & Judy," dubbed the "Chat Wars" by tabloids. He also starred in the pantomime "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."
In 2004, the BBC renewed "Eyes Down" for a second series.
O'Grady embarked on a new chapter in his career in 2004, hosting the daytime talk show, "The Paul O'Grady Show".
In March 2005, "The Paul O'Grady Show" won Best Daytime Programme at the Royal Television Society Awards. O'Grady won Best Entertainment Performance at the BAFTAs. A controversy arose later in the year involving a staff member's inappropriate comments about child reporters.
Following the death of his manager, Brendan Murphy, in June 2005, O'Grady moved his show to Channel 4, renaming it "The New Paul O'Grady Show." The move sparked some controversy over salary negotiations.
Brendan Frank Murphy passed away in June 2005.
O'Grady's marriage of convenience with Teresa Fernandes concluded in 2005.
Liverpool John Moores University recognized O'Grady's contributions to entertainment in 2005 by awarding him an honorary fellowship.
In 2005, O'Grady and Teresa Fernandes legally divorced.
In June 2006, O'Grady had a second heart attack and underwent angioplasty. He returned to his show, which reached new heights in viewership. He also won the Ten Years at the Top award at the TV Quick and TV Choice Awards.
O'Grady became a grandfather in December 2006 with the birth of his grandson, Abel.
Following a dispute over creative control, "The Paul O'Grady Show" moved to Channel 4 in 2006 and was rebranded as "The New Paul O'Grady Show".
In 2006, O'Grady faced tabloid rumors of rivalry with other daytime shows and discovered that his phone had been hacked. On a positive note, he began a relationship with André Portasio, a ballet dancer.
In a 2006 interview with the Daily Mirror, O'Grady acknowledged that his long-term habit of smoking heavily (forty cigarettes a day for several decades) had contributed to his two heart attacks.
O'Grady experienced his second heart attack in 2006.
During 2008 and 2009, O'Grady occasionally filled in for Elaine Paige on her BBC Radio 2 show, "Elaine Paige on Sunday."
In 2008, O'Grady aligned himself with Save the Children, becoming an ambassador for the organization.
In recognition of his contributions to entertainment, O'Grady was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2008.
Paul O'Grady made a cameo appearance as himself in the Doctor Who episode "The Stolen Earth" and participated in "Ghost Hunting with Paul O'Grady and Friends" in Sicily. 2008 also marked the release of his first memoir, "At My Mother's Knee… And Other Low Joints."
There are no notable events for this date.
In April 2009, O'Grady began presenting his own two-hour radio program on BBC Radio 2, "Paul O'Grady on the Wireless," airing Sundays from 5 pm to 7 pm.
O'Grady ended "The New Paul O'Grady Show" after budget disagreements with Channel 4. He then signed an £8 million contract with ITV to host a new Friday prime-time chat show.
Buster Elvis Savage, a beloved rescue dog owned by O'Grady, was euthanized in November 2009 due to cancer. Buster, a Shih Tzu/Bichon Frise cross, had become a familiar face to the British public through appearances on "The Paul O'Grady Show."
O'Grady's family expanded further in December 2009 with the arrival of his granddaughter.
In 2009, "The New Paul O'Grady Show" aired its final episode.
The inaugural season of O'Grady's new ITV show, "Paul O'Grady Live," concluded in November 2010.
De Montfort University in Leicester bestowed an honorary Doctor of Arts degree upon O'Grady in 2010, acknowledging his significant contributions to television, radio, and stage performance.
In 2010, O'Grady released his second memoir, "The Devil Rides Out: The Second Coming."
O'Grady added another hosting gig to his repertoire in 2010 with the late night show, "Paul O'Grady Live".
The second series of "Paul O'Grady Live" concluded in July. ITV canceled the show, despite O'Grady being offered a third season, as he felt he'd had enough of the format. He also performed in the play "Drama at Inish" at the Finborough Theatre in Earl's Court.
"Paul O'Grady Live" concluded in 2011.
O'Grady appeared on the ITV special "The One and Only Des O'Connor," which celebrated the life and career of Des O'Connor.
O'Grady's third memoir, "Still Standing: The Savage Years," was published. He also made a cameo appearance as Lily Savage in "Paul O'Grady's Little Cracker." He expressed criticism of the show "RuPaul's Drag Race," suggesting its focus on aesthetics over comedy differed from his generation's approach to drag.
O'Grady began presenting the heartwarming show "For the Love of Dogs" in 2012.
O'Grady's connection with Battersea Dogs and Cats Home deepened in 2012 when he became an ambassador following his work on the series "For the Love of Dogs," which was filmed at the shelter.
O'Grady's documentary series, "Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs," premiered. The show, focused on Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, led him to become an ambassador for the center. He also adopted a dog, Eddy, from Battersea.
Paul O'Grady on the death of Brendan Murphy, 2012
O'Grady presented a documentary on burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee for ITV's "Perspectives" series and hosted the British Animal Honours award ceremony.
O'Grady provided narration for "Me and My Guide Dog," an ITV documentary about the work of Guide Dogs.
O'Grady guest starred in the BBC medical drama "Holby City" and filmed an unbroadcast pilot for a sitcom with Cilla Black. He also presented "The One and Only Cilla Black," a tribute to her 50 years in show business.
In 2013, O'Grady publicly expressed his support for the Labour Party, endorsing Ed Miliband over David Cameron for UK Prime Minister. He criticized the ruling Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government, accusing them of being out of touch with working-class people. He later also expressed support for Miliband's successor, Jeremy Corbyn.
ITV brought back "The Paul O'Grady Show." However, O'Grady experienced an angina attack and underwent heart surgery.
In 2013, O'Grady joined forces with Amanda Holden for Pedigree's "Feeding Brighter Futures" campaign, aiming to provide a million meals to rescue dogs across the country.
In 2013, Olga underwent chemotherapy for cancer.
O'Grady received a National Television Award nomination for his documentary series "Paul O'Grady's Working Britain."
O'Grady participated in a special "Gogglebox" episode for Stand Up to Cancer and appeared in "Rita & Me," an ITV documentary celebrating Barbara Knox's 50 years as Rita Tanner in "Coronation Street."
In 2014, O'Grady lent his support to the Dementia Friends campaign, appearing in a television advertisement to increase awareness about the condition.
O'Grady had his third heart attack in 2014.
Viewers were introduced to "Paul O'Grady's Animal Orphans" in 2014.
Following Cilla Black's death, ITV re-aired "The One and Only Cilla Black." O'Grady introduced the program with a heartfelt tribute to his late friend.
O'Grady's fourth book, "Open the Cage, Murphy!: Further Savage Adventures," hit the shelves. He also presented "Bob Monkhouse: The Million Joke Man," a three-part series for Gold, delving into the life of comedian Bob Monkhouse.
O'Grady's commitment to animal welfare continued in October 2015 when he took on the role of patron for Orangutan Appeal UK, following his work on "Animal Orphans."
O'Grady appeared in "Our Cilla," a program honoring the life of Cilla Black.
In 2015, O'Grady made a guest appearance on Kate Thornton's show "Paper Cuts."
In 2015, O'Grady spoke about maintaining a working-class mindset despite his wealth. Raised Roman Catholic, he shared in his autobiography that he had drifted away from the faith after his mother's death but remained interested in alternative religions, particularly Wicca. He also mentioned seeing unexplained lights near his Kent home, pondering the possibility of extraterrestrial observation.
The second series of "Paul O'Grady's Animal Orphans" aired, maintaining a strong viewership with an average of 2.75 million.
In September 2016, O'Grady's commitment to animal welfare earned him the Outstanding Contribution to Animal Welfare award at the RSPCA's Animal Hero Awards.
In September 2016, O'Grady's dedication to animal welfare was formally acknowledged when he received the Outstanding Contribution to Animal Welfare award at the RSPCA's Animal Hero Awards.
O'Grady presented a diverse range of documentaries, including "Paul O'Grady: The Sally Army & Me" for BBC One, "Paul O'Grady's 100 Years of Movie Musicals" for Channel 4, and "Paul O'Grady's Favourite Fairy Tales" for ITV. He also participated in ITV's "Hilda Ogden's Last Ta-ra," a tribute to the late "Coronation Street" actress Jean Alexander.
The third series of "Paul O'Grady's Animal Orphans" was broadcast.
"Paul O'Grady's Animal Orphans" ended in 2016.
Paul O'Grady and André Portasio were married in London at the Goring Hotel.
In September 2017, O'Grady presented a two-part documentary for BBC Radio 2 titled "The Story of the Light," celebrating the 50th anniversary of Radio 2 by revisiting the BBC Light Programme.
Channel 5 relaunched the dating show "Blind Date" with O'Grady as host. He also presented the two-part ITV series "Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Animals – India," the three-part Channel 4 series "Paul O'Grady's Hollywood," and published his fifth book, "Paul O'Grady's Country Life." Channel 5 also aired a documentary about his life, "The Paul O'Grady Story."
O'Grady married André Portasio in 2017.
O'Grady stepped into the role of host for the revived dating show, "Blind Date," in 2017.
Filming commenced for the third series of "Blind Date."
Olga, a Cairn Terrier also owned by O'Grady, was euthanized in April 2018 due to kidney failure. Olga, like Buster before her, had gained recognition from appearances on O'Grady's show.
O'Grady's time hosting "Blind Date" ended in 2019.
In 2020, "Paul O'Grady's Great British Escape," a travel series, premiered with O'Grady showcasing his homeland.
O'Grady began hosting "Paul O'Grady's Great British Escape," a six-part ITV series showcasing various locations in Kent.
O'Grady took on the role of president of the British Music Hall Society in 2020, succeeding Roy Hudd.
O'Grady added another hosting role to his repertoire with the premiere of "Paul O'Grady's Saturday Night Line-Up."
In August 2022, O'Grady announced his departure from BBC Radio 2, expressing dissatisfaction with having to share his time slot with Rob Beckett. His final show aired later that month.
In October 2022, O'Grady's contributions were further recognized when he was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Kent.
In 2022, O'Grady filmed his final season of "For The Love of Dogs" and the documentary series "Paul O'Grady's Great Elephant Adventure."
In 2022, O'Grady's affection for Kent, where he resided for two decades and enthusiastically promoted, led him to accept the unpaid position of Deputy Lieutenant of Kent.
After a successful run, "Paul O'Grady on the Wireless" came to an end in 2022.
Paul O'Grady died unexpectedly but peacefully at his Kent home on March 28, 2023, at the age of 67. The cause of death was sudden cardiac arrhythmia. O'Grady had a history of heart problems, having experienced heart attacks in 2002, 2006, and 2014. His husband, André Portasio, announced his passing, leading to an outpouring of tributes from celebrities and public figures worldwide, including Queen Camilla, Lorraine Kelly, and Peter Tatchell. Many hailed O'Grady as a national treasure.
Paul O'Grady passed away in March 2023.
O'Grady's final performance, just days before his death, was as Miss Hannigan in "Annie" at the Edinburgh Playhouse. His funeral took place on April 20, 2023, at the Church of St Rumwold in Bonnington, Kent. Following the service, he was laid to rest in the churchyard next to his late partner, Brendan Murphy.
In his final televised appearance before his passing, O'Grady appeared in a pre-recorded segment for the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 semi-final in Liverpool, alongside notable figures such as Paul Hollywood and King Charles and Queen Camilla.
O'Grady was slated to officially begin his permanent role at Boom Radio in May 2023.
In September 2023, the final series of "For The Love of Dogs" that O'Grady had recorded in 2022 finished airing on ITV.
In October 2023, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home announced that a new veterinary hospital would be named after O'Grady. They also established a tribute fund in his name to support life-saving and advanced medical procedures for animals requiring specialized care.
The final episode of "For the Love of Dogs" with Paul O'Grady aired in 2023.
On January 30, 2024, it was announced that "For The Love of Dogs" would continue with a new presenter, Alison Hammond.
On March 31 and April 7, 2024, a two-part documentary series filmed in 2022, "Paul O'Grady's Great Elephant Adventure," aired on ITV.