Paul O’Grady dies aged 67: TV presenter, DJ and comedian passed away ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’ last night, his partner reveals
TV presenter and comedian Paul O’Grady has died at the age of 67, his partner Andre Portasio has said.
The TV star, also known for his drag queen persona Lily Savage, died ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’ on Tuesday evening, a statement shared with the PA news agency via a representative said.
Mr Portasio said in his statement: ‘It is with great sadness that I inform you that Paul has passed away unexpectedly but peacefully yesterday evening.’
‘We ask, at this difficult time, that whilst you celebrate his life you also respect our privacy as we come to terms with this loss.
‘He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all those who enjoyed his humour, wit and compassion.
TV star Paul O’Grady died ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’ on Tuesday evening, his partner said
‘I know that he would want me to thank you for all the love you have shown him over the years.’
During his career, he 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.
In August of 2022 he presented his final BBC Radio 2 show having hosted the Sunday afternoon programme for nearly 14 years.
The star’s cause of death was not revealed, but he had previously spoken of surviving heart attacks in 2002, 2006 and 2014, as well as kidney failure.
He said: ‘My cardiologist says I have the constitution of an ox. Three days after my last heart attack, I was back fire-eating with McFly.
‘The heart is a muscle so you have two choices: Sit on the sofa and count your tablets all day, or get on with it and get moving — swimming and walking, gentle exercise.’
