Paul O’Grady was remembered as a “force for good” by his famous friends, including Carol Vorderman, Julian Clary and Michael Cashman, during a TV tribute. Celebrities paid tribute to the drag queen, who became a TV and radio star on Sunday night on ITV1, following his death last month aged 67.
TV personality Vorderman, 62, remembered O’Grady for his activism, saying, “Not only was he a brilliant entertainer, he was a force for good.”
Former Labor Party leader Ed Miliband added: “He was not just a fighter for the underdogs, someone who was willing to use his platform to speak up for people who had no platform, who had no voice, but he could do it in an absolutely convincing way, much more convincing than any politician.”
Commenting on a clip of O’Grady discussing conservative politicians on TV, Cashman, a 72-year-old actor, politician and activist for LGBT rights, said: “He rails about injustice, names the politicians and that was brave . He could have been taken out of the air, but you couldn’t separate him from his principles.”
Actress Linda Thorson said the late Queen loved Paul O’Grady’s sense of humor when they discussed animals(Image: Boom Radio)
O’Grady, who started out as a social worker while performing in London nightclubs as the bitter platinum-wigged Lily Savage, died March 28 “unexpectedly but peacefully,” his partner Andre Portasio said in a statement.
For The Love Of Paul O’Grady, those who knew O’Grady also remembered his compassion for animals, with actor Tony Maudsley recalling how “he used to feed sheep at the breakfast table,” while actress Amanda Mealing recalled it , “having seen a cow eating leftover birthday cake in the kitchen”.
Throughout his career, O’Grady worked extensively to support the animal rescue center Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in south London – both on and off screen – and was known for his love of animals.
Elsewhere in the special, actress Linda Thorson told viewers about O’Grady’s unique experience with the late Queen Elizabeth II. “I know the Queen was very, very comfortable with him,” the 75-year-old said. “And he had tea with her, and the reason the Queen liked to talk to Paul was because so few people knew how to talk to her. Paul could talk to anyone.”
Carol Vorderman was among the many celebrities who remembered Paul O’Grady in the TV special(Image: ITV)
Cashman added: “The Queen loved him. And of course they only talked about animals and farming and she loved his sense of humor.”
Chat show host Jonathan Ross, actress Sally Lindsay and TV presenter Gaby Roslin also appeared to share their memories of O’Grady during the show. Roslin, 58, who rose to fame as the co-host of The Big Breakfast, which also starred O’Grady’s drag personality Lily Savage, commented: “There’s nobody who’s ever going to be like Paul and Lily, ever and ever. “
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Following clips of O’Grady interviewing Lady Gaga, Simon Cowell and Cilla Black, Coronation Street star Lindsay, 49, said: “He was never a philanthropist, he didn’t give a damn about who you were, everyone was treated the same. All.”
O’Grady’s friends from his hometown of Birkenhead and staff at the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home were also there. As the show wrapped, a message from former professional ballet dancer Portasio, whom O’Grady married in 2017, appeared on screen, reading: “On behalf of Paul O’Grady, his husband Andre Portasio would like to thank everyone for watching the took the time to express their condolences.
“The family is overwhelmed by everyone’s kindness and generosity.”
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