Southampton: Theatre bosses pay tribute to 'hilarious' Paul O' Grady
The star died "unexpectedly but peacefully" on Tuesday evening
Last updated 29th Mar 2023
Theatre bosses in Southampton have paid tribute to Paul O' Grady as a "superb, hilarious performer and entertainer of the highest level" following his death at the age of 67.
His husband Andre Portasio said the comedian and presenter died "unexpectedly but peacefully" on Tuesday evening.
O' Grady was due to play Miss Hannigan in the hit musical Annie at Mayflower Theatre in Southampton in April.
A statement posted on Mayflower Theatre's website said: "All of us at Mayflower Theatre are devastated to hear the news that Paul O’Grady has died.
"He was a superb, hilarious performer and entertainer of the highest level.
"Paul appeared at Mayflower Theatre in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 2000 and brought back his alter ego, Lily Savage, as Widow Twankey in Aladdin in 2010.
"He was a true gentleman off-stage and wonderful to work with, always having time for a chat and a giggle with any of our staff, no matter which department.
"We were looking forward to welcoming Paul back to Mayflower Theatre in Annie and will update with more information once we have all had time to process this sad news."
During his career, O' Grady hosted The Paul O'Grady Show, Blind Date and Blankety Blank, as well as ITV's multi-award-winning For The Love Of Dogs.
He also hosted ITV celebrity game show, Paul O'Grady's Saturday Night Line Up.
O'Grady took over the reins from Blind Date's long-running presenter and his close friend Cilla Black, who died in 2015, as he hosted the Channel 5 reboot of the show in 2017.
Last year he was joined by the Queen Consort in a special one-off episode of For The Love Of Dogs to mark 160 years of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, an organisation for which he was an ambassador.
Born in Birkenhead, on the Wirral, Merseyside, O'Grady's mother's maiden name was Savage - which is believed to have inspired his famous drag alter ego.
He began his career performing as Lily Savage in the 1970s whilst working as a peripatetic care officer for Camden Council, going on to tour northern England as part of drag duo the Playgirls.
He later settled into a solo show as Savage that ran for eight years at London's Royal Vauxhall Tavern, and made a name for himself speaking out about LGBT issues.
O'Grady's career as Savage took off with TV and radio appearances in character and he was eventually asked to take over from Paula Yates as The Big Breakfast presenter as Savage from 1995 to 1996.