Paul O’Grady MBE aka ‘Lily Savage’, UK star who made drag mainstream, dies at 67

By AFP

LONDON: The British royal household and lawmakers led tributes Wednesday to comic and entertainer Paul O’Grady, who made drag tradition mainstream along with his alter ego Lily Savage.

O’Grady, who died on Tuesday on the age of 67, went on to turn out to be a fixture on hit tv exhibits in addition to a campaigner for LGBTQ rights.

Born within the northwestern English city of Birkenhead in 1955, O’Grady started his Lily Savage act within the Seventies whereas holding down a day job for a London council.

He took the acerbic, wig-wearing Savage on the nightclub circuit and the act later took off with TV and radio appearances in character.

“It’s impossible to overestimate what a trailblazer he was,” mentioned ITV breakfast present tv presenter Richard Arnold.

“You idolised him as a gay man actually… and then of course he broke into the mainstream broadcasting landscape,” he mentioned on Good Morning Britain.

A loyal animal lover, O’Grady additionally introduced the long-running actuality tv sequence “For the Love of Dogs” set in London’s Battersea Dogs & Cats Home for stray and undesirable animals.

Queen Consort Camilla appeared in a particular episode of the programme in December.

“Deeply saddened to hear of the death of Paul O’Grady, who worked closely with Her Majesty in support of Battersea, providing lots of laughter and many waggy-tailed memories,” the British Royal Family twitter account tweeted together with an image of Camilla and the star.

RIP to Paul O’Grady. I suppose we’ll see this clip quite a bit at the moment, however it may well’t be proven sufficient.

I’d like to know what went into its being broadcast and if he ever obtained any pushback. I’ve by no means seen something so dazzlingly, righteously indignant on Consensus Approved TV since. pic.twitter.com/XAwLfcEi9X

— The writer, Séamas O’Reilly (@shockproofbeats) March 29, 2023

‘National treasure’
Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell mentioned O’Grady “wasn’t just a brilliant comedian and broadcast personality but a much-admired campaigner for LGBT+ equality and animal rights”.

Tatchell added O’Grady had been as a consequence of lead a forthcoming marketing campaign for his basis searching for an apology from UK police for “their historic persecution of the LGBT+ community”.

He additionally recalled the police raiding a London LGBTQ venue within the Nineteen Eighties on the peak of fearmongering in regards to the AIDS virus.

The officers have been sporting rubber gloves, Tatchell mentioned, as a consequence of misconceptions on the time that you would catch HIV by touching somebody.

Their look prompted O’Grady, who was on stage as Savage, to quip: “Oh good, have you come to do the washing up?”

O’Grady died “unexpectedly but peacefully” on Tuesday night, his companion Andre Portasio mentioned.

We are deeply saddened to be taught of Paul O’Grady’s sudden demise.

Lily Savage was a beloved resident performer at RVT all through the 80s and 90s, paving the best way for a legion of drag artists.

Paul was a fierce advocate for RVT.

Our ideas are with Andre and Paul’s family members. pic.twitter.com/KTpA1CTMIh

— Royal Vauxhall Tavern (@thervt) March 29, 2023

“He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all those who enjoyed his humour, wit and compassion,” he added.

In parliament, Labour deputy chief Angela Rayner known as O’Grady a “national treasure” whereas Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, standing in for premier Rishi Sunak, paid tribute to an “incredible comic” who “broke boundaries”.

Kevin Lygo, head of the ITV tv community for whom he introduced many programmes in a decades-long profession, mentioned he had been a “huge inimitable talent”.

Others paying tribute included pop celebrity Elton John, who recalled a “brilliant entertainer, wit and supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and the fight against HIV and AIDS”.

O’Grady received quite a few accolades together with a TV Bafta. He was honoured by the late Queen Elizabeth II for providers to leisure in 2008.

We’re deeply saddened to be taught that our fantastic, type buddy and beloved Ambassador Paul O’Grady MBE has handed away. He might be so dearly missed by all of us at Battersea. Our love and ideas exit to all of Paul’s household and mates at this tough time. pic.twitter.com/hjfwBcu7sz

— Battersea (@Battersea_) March 29, 2023

LONDON: The British royal household and lawmakers led tributes Wednesday to comic and entertainer Paul O’Grady, who made drag tradition mainstream along with his alter ego Lily Savage.

O’Grady, who died on Tuesday on the age of 67, went on to turn out to be a fixture on hit tv exhibits in addition to a campaigner for LGBTQ rights.

Born within the northwestern English city of Birkenhead in 1955, O’Grady started his Lily Savage act within the Seventies whereas holding down a day job for a London council.googletag.cmd.push(perform() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );

He took the acerbic, wig-wearing Savage on the nightclub circuit and the act later took off with TV and radio appearances in character.

“It’s impossible to overestimate what a trailblazer he was,” mentioned ITV breakfast present tv presenter Richard Arnold.

“You idolised him as a gay man actually… and then of course he broke into the mainstream broadcasting landscape,” he mentioned on Good Morning Britain.

A loyal animal lover, O’Grady additionally introduced the long-running actuality tv sequence “For the Love of Dogs” set in London’s Battersea Dogs & Cats Home for stray and undesirable animals.

Queen Consort Camilla appeared in a particular episode of the programme in December.

“Deeply saddened to hear of the death of Paul O’Grady, who worked closely with Her Majesty in support of Battersea, providing lots of laughter and many waggy-tailed memories,” the British Royal Family twitter account tweeted together with an image of Camilla and the star.

RIP to Paul O’Grady. I suppose we’ll see this clip quite a bit at the moment, however it may well’t be proven sufficient.
I’d like to know what went into its being broadcast and if he ever obtained any pushback. I’ve by no means seen something so dazzlingly, righteously indignant on Consensus Approved TV since. pic.twitter.com/XAwLfcEi9X
— The writer, Séamas O’Reilly (@shockproofbeats) March 29, 2023
‘National treasure’
Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell mentioned O’Grady “wasn’t just a brilliant comedian and broadcast personality but a much-admired campaigner for LGBT+ equality and animal rights”.

Tatchell added O’Grady had been as a consequence of lead a forthcoming marketing campaign for his basis searching for an apology from UK police for “their historic persecution of the LGBT+ community”.

He additionally recalled the police raiding a London LGBTQ venue within the Nineteen Eighties on the peak of fearmongering in regards to the AIDS virus.

The officers have been sporting rubber gloves, Tatchell mentioned, as a consequence of misconceptions on the time that you would catch HIV by touching somebody.

Their look prompted O’Grady, who was on stage as Savage, to quip: “Oh good, have you come to do the washing up?”

O’Grady died “unexpectedly but peacefully” on Tuesday night, his companion Andre Portasio mentioned.

We are deeply saddened to be taught of Paul O’Grady’s sudden demise.
Lily Savage was a beloved resident performer at RVT all through the 80s and 90s, paving the best way for a legion of drag artists.
Paul was a fierce advocate for RVT.
Our ideas are with Andre and Paul’s family members. pic.twitter.com/KTpA1CTMIh
— Royal Vauxhall Tavern (@thervt) March 29, 2023
“He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all those who enjoyed his humour, wit and compassion,” he added.

In parliament, Labour deputy chief Angela Rayner known as O’Grady a “national treasure” whereas Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, standing in for premier Rishi Sunak, paid tribute to an “incredible comic” who “broke boundaries”.

Kevin Lygo, head of the ITV tv community for whom he introduced many programmes in a decades-long profession, mentioned he had been a “huge inimitable talent”.

Others paying tribute included pop celebrity Elton John, who recalled a “brilliant entertainer, wit and supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and the fight against HIV and AIDS”.

O’Grady received quite a few accolades together with a TV Bafta. He was honoured by the late Queen Elizabeth II for providers to leisure in 2008.

We’re deeply saddened to be taught that our fantastic, type buddy and beloved Ambassador Paul O’Grady MBE has handed away. He might be so dearly missed by all of us at Battersea. Our love and ideas exit to all of Paul’s household and mates at this tough time. pic.twitter.com/hjfwBcu7sz
— Battersea (@Battersea_) March 29, 2023