Paul O’Grady’s final TV appearance will air next month, ITV has confirmed.
The beloved presenter and comedian passed away ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’ on Tuesday (29 March) aged 67.
The national treasure’s partner, Andre Portasio, confirmed his death in a heartbreaking statement and fans across the country have shared beautiful tributes in response.
Advert
After rising to fame in the 1980s with his drag queen persona Lily Savage, he subsequently transitioned to projects on television and radio, including the hugely popular teatime talk show The Paul O’Grady Show.
He also presented ITV's multi-award winning documentary series For the Love of Dogs, which has warmed the hearts of dog lovers since the show’s debut in September 2012.
Set at the Battersea Dogs & Cats home in south London, the most recent series aired between December 2021 and March 2022.
Advert
Following the news of O’Grady’s death, ITV has confirmed that the eleventh and now last-ever series will begin broadcasting next month.
The news also comes after Paul O'Grady's For the Love of Dogs: A Royal Special was repeated on Wednesday (29 March). The episode featured Queen Consort Camilla after its original airing in December 2022 to mark 160 years of the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, for which O’Grady served as an ambassador and for which Queen Camilla was a long-time supporter.
The same evening it was confirmed that a special tribute programme, For the Love of Paul O'Grady, will air this Sunday (2 April) at 8pm on ITV.
Now that the airdate for the final series has been announced, ITV’s managing director of media and entertainment, Kevin Lygo, said: “We are fortunate to have had a long association with Paul, at ITV. He was a huge, inimitable talent, delighting our viewers through his comedy and entertainment with a warmth, humour and joy that audiences of all generations related to and connected with.
Advert
“'He had a profound passion for animals too, which resonated with so many viewers, and For the Love of Dogs remains one of our best-loved series, and a really special programme for so many.
“All those who worked with Paul are shocked and deeply saddened at his passing and the thoughts of everyone at ITV are with Paul's loved ones.”
The Battersea Dogs & Cats home also released a heartfelt statement and expressed its ‘deepest sympathies’ to O’Grady’s loved ones.
Advert
“Battersea joins the nation in mourning the loss of Paul O'Grady - an entertainment legend and much-loved Ambassador to our charity,” the statement read.
“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 O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs will return one last time on 13 April on ITV.
Topics: Celebrity, TV And Film, ITV
Gregory Robinson