History of Paul O'Grady in Timeline
Paul O'Grady was a multifaceted English entertainer known for his work as a comedian, broadcaster, actor, and writer. He initially gained fame in the 1980s London gay scene as his drag persona, Lily Savage, achieving mainstream popularity in the 1990s. Later, he transitioned from the Lily Savage character to become a successful television and radio presenter, most notably with 'The Paul O'Grady Show.' His career spanned various entertainment mediums, solidifying his status as a prominent figure in British pop culture.
1912: Birth of Patrick Grady
In 1912, Patrick "Paddy" Grady, Paul O'Grady's father, was born in County Roscommon, Ireland.
1916: Birth of Mary Savage
In 1916, Mary "Molly" Savage, Paul O'Grady's mother, was born in England to Irish immigrants.
1936: Patrick Grady Moves to England
In 1936, Patrick "Paddy" Grady moved from Ireland to England and settled in Birkenhead.
1941: Birth of Brendan
In 1941, Brendan, Paul O'Grady's brother, was born.
June 1955: Birth of Paul O'Grady
In June 1955, Paul James O'Grady was born. He later became a well-known English comedian, broadcaster, drag queen, actor, and writer.
June 1955: Paul O'Grady's birth
In June 1955, Paul O'Grady was born at St. Catherine's Hospital in Birkenhead, Cheshire (now Merseyside).
1973: Death of Patrick Grady
In 1973, Patrick "Paddy" Grady, Paul O'Grady's father, passed away.
May 1974: Birth of Sharon Lee Jansen
In May 1974, Sharon Lee Jansen, Paul O'Grady's daughter, was born.
1974: Birth of daughter
In 1974, Paul O'Grady had a daughter with his friend Diane Jansen.
May 1977: Marriage to Teresa Fernandes
In May 1977, Paul O'Grady married Teresa Fernandes to prevent her deportation.
1977: Marriage to Teresa Fernandes
In 1977, Paul O'Grady entered into a marriage of convenience with Teresa Fernandes.
October 1978: Lily Savage Debut
On the afternoon of October 7, 1978, Paul O'Grady debuted as Lily Savage at The Black Cap gay pub in Camden.
1978: Development of Lily Savage Character
In 1978, Paul O'Grady developed his drag act and created the character of Lily Savage, basing her traits on his female relatives.
1981: Toxteth Riots
In 1981, Paul O'Grady and his friend Vera, performing as the Playgirls, were caught up in the Toxteth riots while performing in Liverpool.
March 1983: Joins Equity Union
In March 1983, Paul O'Grady joined the Equity union, which allowed him to take a role in the theatrical adaptation of If They'd Asked for a Lion Tamer at the Donmar Warehouse.
1984: Ladies Night Compere
In 1984, Paul O'Grady started working as a barman at the Elephant and Castle gay pub in Vauxhall and as Lily, he compered "Ladies Night" each Tuesday.
1985: Relationship with Brendan Murphy
In 1985, Paul O'Grady entered a relationship with Brendan "Murph" Murphy, who became his manager.
April 1988: March Against Section 28
In April 1988, Paul O'Grady participated in a march against Section 28, speaking out on issues affecting the gay community.
1988: Death of Mary Savage
In 1988, Mary "Molly" Savage, Paul O'Grady's mother, passed away.
1988: Performance at Glasgow Mayfest
In 1988, Paul O'Grady performed as Madame in The Scythe of Reason and appeared at the Glasgow Mayfest, where he developed a lifelong friendship with Ian McKellen.
1988: The Bill appearance
In 1988, Paul O'Grady played Roxanne, a transvestite prostitute informant, in The Bill.
1989: Performs Annually as Lily at the Edinburgh Fringe
From 1989, Paul O'Grady performed annually as Lily Savage at the Edinburgh Fringe, gaining increasing recognition.
1990: Mother's Death and Role in Chimera
In 1990, just before filming an episode of The Bill, Paul O'Grady's mother died. He also appeared in the ITV miniseries Chimera as a social worker in 1990.
1991: Perrier Award Nomination
In 1991, Paul O'Grady was nominated for the Perrier Award alongside Jack Dee, Eddie Izzard, and Frank Skinner.
1992: Australian Tour and Los Angeles riots
In 1992, Paul O'Grady embarked on an Australian tour and proceeded to Los Angeles, where he witnessed the 1992 riots.
1992: Perrier Comedy Award Nomination
In 1992, Paul O'Grady was nominated for the Perrier Comedy Award as Lily Savage, which brought him mainstream attention.
1993: Role in "In the Name of the Father"
In 1993, Paul O'Grady appeared in the film "In the Name of the Father," credited as "Paul Savage."
October 1994: Appearance on The Steve Wright People Show
In October 1994, Paul O'Grady appeared as Lily Savage on an episode of BBC series The Steve Wright People Show.
1994: Stonewall Equality Show and Comedy Award Nominations
In 1994, Paul O'Grady headlined Stonewall's Equality Show, played Nancy in Oliver! and was nominated for two British Comedy Awards.
1994: Media Scandal over Daughter's Existence
In 1994, the Daily Mirror treated the existence of O'Grady's teenage daughter as a headline scandal. O'Grady criticized the media for referring to him solely as a drag queen, highlighting the homophobia in the industry.
1995: Hosting The Big Breakfast
In 1995, Paul O'Grady, as Lily Savage, started presenting the television show The Big Breakfast.
April 1996: Filmed An Evening with Lily Savage
In April 1996, O'Grady filmed a performance at the LWT Tower as An Evening with Lily Savage, broadcast on ITV in November.
1996: Continued Hosting The Big Breakfast
In 1996, Paul O'Grady continued presenting the television show The Big Breakfast as Lily Savage.
1997: Won Best Entertainment Program
In 1997, An Evening with Lily Savage was awarded Best Entertainment Program at the National Television Awards.
1997: Hosting Blankety Blank
In 1997, Paul O'Grady, as Lily Savage, began hosting the television show Blankety Blank.
1998: The Lily Savage Show
In 1998, the BBC produced a six-week Sunday series titled The Lily Savage Show, during which he interviewed guests like Elton John, Alan Yentob, and Anthea Turner.
1999: Purchased a House in Kent
In 1999, O'Grady purchased a house in Aldington, Kent from comedian Vic Reeves, decorating it in an art nouveau style and establishing a smallholding.
2000: Comedy Award Nominations
In 2000, O'Grady earned nominations for both Best Comedy Entertainment Personality and Programme at the British Comedy Awards for Lily Live!.
2000: Hosting Lily Live!
In 2000, Paul O'Grady, as Lily Savage, started presenting the television show Lily Live!
2001: Royal Variety Performance
In 2001, O'Grady performed alongside Cilla Black and Barbara Windsor in a burlesque rendition of "You Gotta Get a Gimmick" at the Royal Variety Performance.
2001: Continued Hosting Lily Live!
In 2001, Paul O'Grady, as Lily Savage, continued hosting the television show Lily Live!
April 2002: Heart Attack
In April 2002, O'Grady had a heart attack attributed to a combination of congenital heart problems, stress, smoking, and caffeine.
2002: First heart attack
In 2002, Paul O'Grady suffered his first heart attack.
2002: Continued Hosting Blankety Blank
In 2002, Paul O'Grady, as Lily Savage, continued hosting the television show Blankety Blank.
2003: Celebrity Driving School and Eyes Down
In 2003, O'Grady appeared in Celebrity Driving School and agreed to play the manager of a bingo hall in the BBC series Eyes Down.
2003: Starring in Eyes Down
In 2003, Paul O'Grady starred in the BBC One sitcom Eyes Down.
October 2004: The Paul O'Grady Show Aired
In October 2004, The Paul O'Grady Show first aired, featuring celebrity interviews and unscripted banter, quickly becoming a hit with viewers.
2004: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
At Christmas 2004, O'Grady starred in a pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London's West End.
2004: Start of The Paul O'Grady Show on ITV
In 2004, Paul O'Grady began presenting his daytime chat show, The Paul O'Grady Show, on ITV.
2004: Renewed for Second Series of Eyes Down
In 2004, the BBC series Eyes Down, in which O'Grady played a role, was renewed for a second series, showing its popularity with viewers.
March 2005: Awarded Best Daytime Programme
In March 2005, The Paul O'Grady Show was awarded Best Daytime Programme by the Royal Television Society, and O'Grady won Best Entertainment Performance at the BAFTAs.
June 2005: Death of Brendan Frank Murphy
Brendan Frank Murphy, Paul O'Grady's long-term lover and business partner, died on 9 June 2005.
2005: Honorary Fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University
In 2005, Liverpool John Moores University awarded Paul O'Grady an honorary fellowship for services to entertainment.
2005: Divorce from Teresa Fernandes
In 2005, Paul O'Grady legally divorced Teresa Fernandes.
2005: End of marriage to Teresa Fernandes
In 2005, Paul O'Grady's marriage of convenience with Teresa Fernandes ended.
June 2006: Second Heart Attack
In June 2006, O'Grady suffered a second heart attack and underwent an angioplasty.
2006: Admission of smoking contributing to heart attacks
In 2006, Paul O'Grady admitted in an interview that smoking contributed to his two heart attacks.
2006: Move to Channel 4
In 2006, Paul O'Grady moved his show to Channel 4, where it was rebranded as The New Paul O'Grady Show.
2006: Second heart attack
In 2006, Paul O'Grady suffered his second heart attack.
2006: Relationship with André Portasio began
In 2006, Paul O'Grady's relationship with his future-husband André Portasio, a ballet dancer, began.
2008: Ambassador for Save the Children
From 2008 onwards, Paul O'Grady was an ambassador for Save the Children.
2008: Doctor Who Cameo and Ghost Hunting
In 2008, O'Grady had a cameo in Doctor Who and appeared in Ghosthunting with Paul O'Grady and Friends.
2008: Sitting in for Elaine Paige on BBC Radio 2
In 2008, Paul O'Grady occasionally sat in for Elaine Paige on her BBC Radio 2 show Elaine Paige on Sunday.
2008: Appointment as MBE
In 2008, Paul O'Grady was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to entertainment.
April 2009: Debut of Paul O'Grady on the Wireless
From April 2009, Paul O'Grady presented his own two-hour long programme on BBC Radio 2 called Paul O'Grady on the Wireless, broadcast on Sundays.
October 2009: Deal with ITV
In October 2009, O'Grady agreed to an £8 million deal with ITV to host Paul O'Grady Live, a prime-time chat show.
November 2009: Death of Buster
In November 2009, Paul O'Grady's dog Buster was euthanised due to cancer.
2009: End of The New Paul O'Grady Show on Channel 4
In 2009, The New Paul O'Grady Show concluded its run on Channel 4 and Paul O'Grady presented BBC Radio 2's Paul O'Grady on the Wireless.
November 2010: Controversy and Complaints
In November 2010, O'Grady attracted media attention after calling the government "bastards" on his show and voicing support for student protesters, leading to Ofcom receiving complaints.
2010: Honorary Doctor of Arts from De Montfort University
In 2010, Paul O'Grady received an honorary Doctor of Arts from De Montfort University.
2010: Paul O'Grady Live
In 2010, Paul O'Grady started presenting the late-night ITV show Paul O'Grady Live.
2010: Second Volume of Memoirs Published
In 2010, the second volume of O'Grady's memoirs, The Devil Rides Out: The Second Coming, was published.
July 2011: Paul O'Grady Live ended
In July 2011, the second series of Paul O'Grady Live ended. O'Grady stated that ITV had asked him to return for a third series, but that he had refused.
2011: Continued Paul O'Grady Live
In 2011, Paul O'Grady continued presenting the late-night ITV show Paul O'Grady Live.
April 2012: Appearance on The One and Only Des O'Connor
In April 2012, O'Grady appeared on The One and Only Des O'Connor, a one-off special for ITV which looked back on the life of Des O'Connor.
October 2012: Memoir Released
In October 2012, the third volume of his memoirs, Still Standing: The Savage Years, was released.
2012: Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs Launched
In 2012, ITV documentary series Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs, covering life at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in south London was launched.
2012: Ambassador for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
In 2012, Paul O'Grady became an ambassador for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home following his series For the Love of Dogs.
2012: For the Love of Dogs
In 2012, Paul O'Grady began presenting Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs.
April 2013: Hosted British Animal Honours
In April 2013, O'Grady presented a documentary about burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee and presented ITV's British Animal Honours award ceremony.
July 2013: Narrated Me and My Guide Dog
In July 2013, O'Grady narrated the ITV documentary Me and My Guide Dog following the work of Guide Dogs.
October 2013: Guest star in Holby City and pilot recording for Led Astray
In October 2013, Paul O'Grady guest-starred in three episodes of Holby City as a cancer patient and recorded a pilot for a BBC One sitcom called Led Astray with Cilla Black.
2013: The Paul O'Grady Show Revived and Heart Surgery
In 2013, ITV revived The Paul O'Grady Show and in November, O'Grady suffered an angina attack and underwent further heart surgery.
2013: Support for the Labour Party
In 2013, Paul O'Grady expressed his support for the Labour Party and criticized the Cameron-Clegg coalition government.
2013: Participation in Pedigree Feeding Brighter Futures campaign
In 2013, Paul O'Grady participated in the Pedigree Feeding Brighter Futures campaign with Amanda Holden.
2013: Olga's cancer diagnosis
In 2013, it was revealed that Paul O'Grady's dog Olga was undergoing chemotherapy due to cancer.
January 2014: Nomination for National Television Award
In January 2014, Paul O'Grady's Working Britain, a two-part BBC documentary series, was nominated for a National Television Award.
December 2014: Appearance in Rita & Me documentary
In December 2014, Paul O'Grady appeared in ITV's documentary Rita & Me, celebrating Barbara Knox's fifty years as Rita Tanner in Coronation Street.
2014: Animal Orphans
In 2014, Paul O'Grady began presenting Paul O'Grady's Animal Orphans.
2014: Co-starring in Dementia Friends TV advertisement campaign
In 2014, Paul O'Grady co-starred in a Dementia Friends TV advertisement campaign to raise awareness about the disease.
2014: Third heart attack
In 2014, Paul O'Grady suffered his third heart attack.
August 2015: Tribute to Cilla Black
In August 2015, following Cilla Black's death, Paul O'Grady presented a short tribute to her to introduce a repeat of The One and Only Cilla Black show.
September 2015: Release of Open the Cage, Murphy!: Further Savage Adventures
In September 2015, Paul O'Grady's fourth book, Open the Cage, Murphy!: Further Savage Adventures, was released.
October 2015: Patron of Orangutan Appeal UK
In October 2015, Paul O'Grady became a patron of Orangutan Appeal UK.
December 2015: Appearance in Our Cilla
In December 2015, Paul O'Grady appeared in Our Cilla, a one-off program about the life of Cilla Black.
2015: Feeling Working-Class
In 2015, Paul O'Grady stated that despite his wealth, he still felt "very much" working-class.
2015: Guest on Kate Thornton's Paper Cuts
In 2015, Paul O'Grady was a guest on Kate Thornton's Paper Cuts.
2015: Second Series of Paul O'Grady's Animal Orphans
In 2015, the second series of Paul O'Grady's Animal Orphans was screened, averaging 2.75 million viewers.
September 2016: Award for Outstanding Contribution to Animal Welfare
In September 2016, Paul O'Grady was recognized for his work with animals, winning the award for Outstanding Contribution to Animal Welfare at the RSPCA's Animal Hero Awards.
2016: Animal Orphans
In 2016, Paul O'Grady continued presenting Paul O'Grady's Animal Orphans.
2016: Presentation of documentary series and specials
In 2016, Paul O'Grady presented Paul O'Grady: The Sally Army & Me, Paul O'Grady's 100 Years of Movie Musicals, Paul O'Grady's Favourite Fairy Tales and appeared in Hilda Ogden's Last Ta-ra.
2016: Third series of Paul O'Grady's Animal Orphans
In 2016, the third series of Paul O'Grady's Animal Orphans was screened.
August 2017: Marriage to Portasio
In August 2017, Paul O'Grady married André Portasio in a ceremony at London's Goring Hotel.
September 2017: Presentation of The Story of the Light
In September 2017, Paul O'Grady presented a two-part documentary for BBC Radio 2 called The Story of the Light, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Radio 2.
December 2017: Christmas episode of Blind Date
A Christmas episode of Blind Date, presented by Paul O'Grady, aired on 23 December 2017, before the second series aired from 30 December 2017.
2017: Marriage to André Portasio
In 2017, Paul O'Grady married André Portasio.
February 2018: Filming of Blind Date series three
In February 2018, Paul O'Grady filmed the third series of Blind Date.
April 2018: Death of Olga
In April 2018, Paul O'Grady's dog Olga was euthanised after suffering from kidney failure.
2020: President of British Music Hall Society
In 2020, Paul O'Grady became president of the British Music Hall Society, succeeding Roy Hudd.
2020: Great British Escape
In 2020, Paul O'Grady presented Paul O'Grady's Great British Escape.
2020: Presentation of Paul O'Grady's Great British Escape
In 2020, Paul O'Grady presented the six-part ITV series Paul O'Grady's Great British Escape.
September 2021: Hosting Paul O'Grady's Saturday Night Line-Up
In September 2021, Paul O'Grady began hosting Paul O'Grady's Saturday Night Line-Up.
August 2022: Resignation from BBC Radio 2
In August 2022, Paul O'Grady resigned from BBC Radio 2 due to unhappiness with having to share his slot. His final show aired that month.
October 2022: Appointment as Deputy Lieutenant
In October 2022, Paul O'Grady was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Kent.
November 2022: Joining Boom Radio
On 21 November 2022, Paul O'Grady announced he would join Boom Radio to present a show on Christmas Day.
2022: Deputy Lieutenant of Kent
In 2022, Paul O'Grady accepted the unpaid position of Deputy Lieutenant of Kent.
2022: Paul O'Grady on the Wireless
In 2022, Paul O'Grady continued presenting BBC Radio 2's Paul O'Grady on the Wireless.
2022: Filming of For The Love of Dogs and Great Elephant Adventure
In 2022, Paul O'Grady filmed the final series of For The Love of Dogs and the documentary Paul O'Grady's Great Elephant Adventure.
March 2023: Death of Paul O'Grady
In March 2023, Paul O'Grady, the English comedian, broadcaster, drag queen, actor, and writer, passed away.
March 2023: Death from cardiac arrhythmia
Paul O'Grady died at his home in Kent on 28 March 2023, aged 67, from sudden cardiac arrhythmia.
April 2023: Funeral and Burial
In April 2023, Paul O'Grady's funeral was held at the Church of St Rumwold, Bonnington, Kent, and he was buried there.
May 2023: Appearance at Eurovision Song Contest 2023
In May 2023, Paul O'Grady appeared in a pre-recorded segment for the opening of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool.
May 2023: Planned permanent show on Boom Radio
Prior to his death, Paul O'Grady was scheduled to start a permanent show on Boom Radio in May 2023.
September 2023: Airing of final series of For The Love of Dogs
From April to September 2023, Paul O'Grady's final series of For The Love of Dogs, recorded in summer 2022, aired on ITV.
October 2023: Naming of Veterinary Hospital in O'Grady's Honor
In October 2023, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home announced they would be naming a new veterinary hospital after Paul O'Grady.
2023: For the Love of Dogs
In 2023, Paul O'Grady continued presenting Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs.
January 2024: Announcement of Alison Hammond as new host of For The Love of Dogs
On 30 January 2024, it was announced that Alison Hammond would be the new presenter of For The Love of Dogs, following Paul O'Grady's passing.
April 2024: Airing of Paul O'Grady's Great Elephant Adventure
On 31 March and 7 April 2024, Paul O'Grady's Great Elephant Adventure, a two-part documentary series filmed in 2022, aired on ITV.
