Paul O’Grady has left an astonishing £775,000 of his £15.5million fortune to charities close to his heart.
The much-loved TV presenter willed £500,000 of his fortune to Battersea Dogs Home, which featured in his popular ITV show For the Love of Dogs.
He also left over £50,000 to the Salvation Army, of whom he had been a lifelong fan and featured them in his 2016 TV programme The Sally Army and Me with Paul O’Grady.
O’Grady has also set aside £125,000 to look after his dogs – Nancy, Arfur, Conchita, Eddie, and Sausage – with specific instructions written out for them by the comedian in his will.
The animal lover, who passed away aged 67 in March last year, also gave generous donations of £50,000 to elephant and orangutan charities.
Proud: Andre added: ‘It gives me some comfort to know that through the hard work and commitment of Battersea and other charities Paul’s legacy will live on’
Paul O’Grady and his dog Conchita, who was willed £25,000 of the comedian’s fortune
A friend close to O’Grady, famous for his drag alter ego Lily Savage, said the will was ‘typical of Paul as he put his money where his mouth was’.
He told The Sun: ‘This is typical of Paul as he put his money where his mouth was by leaving cash to charities that had special meaning to him.
‘And though £125,000 seems like a lot of money to spend on his dogs, they also meant the world to him and he wanted to ensure they always receive the best love and care.’
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home announced in October last year that it had named its building after the much-loved presenter following his decade long work with the veterinary hospital.
After being left the astonishing £500,000 in O’Grady’s will, the chief executive of the charity, Peter Laurie, said that Battersea ‘will forever be indebted to Paul for all that he did’.
He also vowed to carry on O’Grady’s legacy in helping dogs and ‘going the extra mile’.
The comedian also gave a total of £100,000 to be divided between two foreign wildlife organisations – the Indian Wildlife Trust, called Wildlife SOS, and the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Borneo.
Paul O’Grady with rescue dogs Razor a German Shepherd, Moose a Rottweiler and Dodger a Terrier at London’s Battersea Park on May 7, 2013
Camilla speaks with television presenter Paul O’Grady during a visit to Battersea Dog and Cats Home on December 12, 2012 in London, England
The presenter has left £775,000 to charities such as Battersea Dogs Home, which featured in his popular ITV show For the Love of Dogs
The comedian focused on the Salvation Army in his programme The Sally Army and Me in 2016
Paul O’Grady has shared his £15.5million fortune with charities close to his heart, after passing away at the age of 67 last year
The TV sensation has been honoured with the name of the animal charity building
Paul O’Grady with Battersea Rescue Boxer Dog ‘Carmine’ in his TV series For the Love of Dogs
The rest of O’Grady’s estate is expected to be divided between his widower, Andre Portasio, his daughter Sharon Mousley and his sister Sheila Rudd.
His agent Joan Marshrons will now take over the responsibility of each of O’Grady’s five dogs, with the presenter writing in his will: ‘The legacy shall mean £25,000 in respect of each animal.
‘I direct that Joan shall take over the responsibility of each animal….to use each legacy for the upkeep and maintenance of each Animal until its death.’
The will, written in 2017, will also see nine other recipients including O’Grady’s godchildren Milo and Otis Sainsbury.
O’Grady’s admiration for the Salvation Army was a result of them helping those in need in his native Liverpool when he was growing up.
He once said in an interview: ‘They saved kids near my street when I was a boy with food kitchens, helped me when I was a care worker and supported people I know over the years.’
The comedian also featured the charity in his show called The Sally Army and Me, where he worked as a volunteer alongside Major Jo Moir.
She said that the charity is ‘so grateful’ for O’Grady’s donation and that his support has gone a long way over the years. She added that the gift left to the Salvation Army in his will ‘will help to change lives for good’.
The figure of £15.5million left in O’Grady’s will is more than double what was predicted shortly after his death on March 28, as a result of cardiac arrhythmia.
He volunteered at the Salvation Army and said the charity was doing a lot in his native Liverpool
Paul O’Grady attended the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home Collars and Coats Ball, at Battersea Evolution in London, with a fluffy companion
The rest of O’Grady’s estate is expected to be divided between his widower, Andre Portasio (pictured), his daughter Sharon Mousley and his sister Sheila Rudd
Paul O’Grady with Princess, a gorgeous 11-year-old Chihuahua with no end of ailments
Paul O’Grady was an ambassador for Battersea Dogs Home and showed up-for-adoption pooches in his TV show
Camilla, patron of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and Battersea Ambassador Paul O’Grady on a brief woodland walk with a rescue dog which is yet to be re-homed, during her visit to Battersea Brand Hatch Centre on February 2, 2022 in Ash, England
He was said to have been smoking a cannabis joint when he died peacefully at his home.
After his death, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home set up a tribute fund in O’Grady’s name and donations soared past £150,000 within a few weeks.
The charity said back then that Paul, who was an ambassador for them, will ‘always be associated’ with Battersea.
In a statement, they said: ‘Battersea joins the nation in mourning the loss of Paul O’Grady – an entertainment legend and much-loved Ambassador to our charity.
‘We’d like to extend our deepest sympathies to Paul’s family and friends. To millions Paul O’Grady is the popular TV and radio presenter and comedian who lit up their screens with his razor-sharp humour and perpetual generosity and warmth.
‘Battersea will forever remember Paul as a devoted animal lover with the biggest heart, who fell in love with every dog he met at our centres.
‘Paul will always be associated with Battersea, and we are truly saddened to have lost such a true friend and huge part of our charity.
‘Paul loved Battersea so much and we cannot thank him enough for everything he did for our charity and for rescue animals worldwide.
‘We will forever be indebted to him for his endless generosity and support.’
