Paul James Michael O'Grady, MBE is an English comedian, television presenter, actor, writer and radio DJ. Achieving fame for his drag queen comedic alter ego, Lily Savage, he subsequently became well known for presenting the daytime chat television series, The Paul O'Grady Show. Born to a working class Irish migrant family in Birkenhead on the Wirral in Cheshire, O'Grady went through various jobs in his youth while moving around England. While living in London in 1978 he first developed the Lily Savage drag act, a character inspired by his female relatives. Touring Northern England as part of drag mime duo, the Playgirls, he eventually went solo as a stand-up comedian. Performing for eight years as Lily at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, he won a Perrier Award for his comedy act, attracting mainstream attention and presenting television shows Blankety Blank and Lily Live!. Moving on from his drag act, O'Grady appeared in sitcom Eyes Down and presented several travel documentaries. In 2004, he began presenting The Paul O'Grady Show for ITV, but after a disagreement with the company re-launched the show on Channel 4 as The New Paul O'Grady Show. 

June 14th, 1955 in Brighton  /  Died:   Mar 28th, 2023