Paul O'Grady
- Profession: Comedian and TV Host
- Place/Date of Birth: Birkenhead, Wirral Peninsula, 14 June 2020
aka Lily Savage
O'Grady: I'd quit if my show conned viewers - Oct 25 2007
TV star Paul O'Grady believes the presenters of shows found guilty of phone-in cons should quit.
Ant and Dec programmes Saturday Night Takeaway and Gameshow Marathon were recently found to have fleeced viewers.
The presenters - Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly - have denied any knowledge of the scandal despite being credited as executive producers.
But Channel 4 chat show host O'Grady told The Sun: "If it was my show, I'd probably leave. If you were running a pub and your name was over the door and someone was selling drugs in there then you'd be liable.
"If your name is connected to a show but you don't know what's going on with it, you need to take more notice."
His comments could also be applied to fellow Channel 4 presenters Richard and Judy, whose You Say We Pay competition was the first to be exposed over viewer rip-offs.
O'Grady said: "I think it's good this stuff has been exposed. If it wasn't for the viewers we wouldn't be here, and if they're being ripped off then it needs to stop."
Gangster role for Paul - June 26 2007
Paul O’Grady is heading back to The Bill, where he’ll reportedly be playing a gangster.
The performer made his first appearance in the show in 1989, as a prostitute called Roxanne.
But his new role, which will apparently last for three months, will be something quite different - and the star can’t wait.
"My first acting part was in The Bill - but I can’t come back as that character because they were killed off," he told The Mirror.
"I’d like to play someone who is incredibly evil."
It’s believed the 52-year-old will film his scenes for The Bill while his Channel 4 programme is off-air, during Richard and Judy’s run.
Paul signed a deal with the channel last year which will keep his tea-time chat show on air for some time to come.
The Bill has a long tradition of signing big-name stars. Its most recent coups include snapping up ex-EastEnders actress Louisa Lytton and former Hollyoaks star Ali Bastian.
Paul offered Sky One deal? - Mar 20 2007
Sky One has refused to comment on reports that Paul O’Grady has been offered a whopping £16 million to move to the channel.
It seems the TV presenter’s contract with Channel 4 runs out at the end of the year - and Sky are so keen to snap up the TV favourite that they have already put their offer in, according to The Sun.
He told the paper: "I’m flattered, gobsmacked, amazed. I can’t believe people are interested in me."
The 51-year-old is still on track to make two series of his show by the end of the year.
However Sky’s deal, for just 24 episodes would also see him produce the show that he presents, the paper reports - which would make the camp star the third highest-paid TV star behind Simon Cowell and Jonathan Ross.
A Channel 4 source added: "We’ve been hearing rumours about this. Paul’s people will make a decision in the summer, but Paul does work well in the 5pm slot on Channel 4, so we’ll see whether he wants the move."
Paul to be ’glamorous grandad’ - Dec 20 2006
TV host Paul O’Grady is to become a grandfather, he has revealed.
The 51-year-old comic star shared the happy news with viewers on his Channel 4 chat show.
"I’m going to be a glamorous granddad," he said.
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In 1977 Paul worked in Manila at Gussy’s Bar, a well known brothel where he picked up the idea for his own drag act, Lily Savage. He took his creation back to London playing gay pubs and clubs all over the UK with great success. In addition he toured Europe in a number of actsand took on an eight year residency at the Vauxhall Tavern in London.
Nominated for a Perrier Award, in the mid nineties Paul (as Lily) found himself on television, notably taking a guest spot on The Big Breakfast and later presenting Blankety Blank and Lily Live! He also appeared on the West End stage as, among other Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’s Child Catcher and Annie’s Miss Hannigan.
In 2000 Paul began to shed the Lily Savage character, appearing on television out of drag, first in Paul O’Grady’s Orient and Paul O’Grady’s America then in Celebrity Driving School and his own sitcom Eyes Down. The Paul O’Grady Show saw the now established presenter running against good friends Richard and Judy and was instrumental in winning him a number of comedy and TV awards. Paul meanwhile claims that Lily Savage has ’seen the light and packed off to a convent in France’.
Paul suffered a well publicised heart attack which forced him to give up his forty a day habit in 2002. However, following the death of his long term partner Brendan Murphy he reportedly took up smoking again despite doctor’s orders.
He lives on a 200 acre farm in Ashford, Kent with his three dogs Buster, Louie and Olga. He will become a grandfather over Christmas 2006.
updated December 2006
October 2007