TV presenter and comedian Paul O'Grady has died at the age of 67.
The TV star, also known for his drag queen persona Lily Savage, died "unexpectedly but peacefully" on Tuesday evening, his partner Andre Portasio said in a statement.
Portasio said: "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.
"I know that he would want me to thank you for all the love you have shown him over the years."
He had recently been on tour in the UK playing Miss Hannigan in the musical Annie.
Paul O'Grady as Lily Savage tells Gay Byrne on the Late Late Show in 1995 about the time he met Mary Robinson.
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.
The Birkenhead-born star, whose family roots were in counties Roscommon and Louth, also hosted ITV celebrity game show, Paul O'Grady's Saturday Night Line Up.
Tributes paid to 'champion for the underdog' Paul O'Grady
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.
During the coronavirus lockdown, he wrote his debut children's book, Eddie Albert And The Amazing Animal Gang, which was published in September 2021.
In August of 2022, he presented his final BBC Radio 2 show having hosted the Sunday afternoon programme for nearly 14 years.
TV presenter Lorraine Kelly described O'Grady as "a really special man" in an online tribute.
Such sad news. Paul O'Grady - funny, fearless, brave, kind and wise. Will be sorely missed. A really special man.
— Lorraine (@reallorraine) March 29, 2023
"Such sad news. Paul O’Grady – funny, fearless, brave, kind and wise. Will be sorely missed. A really special man."
Replying to another Twitter user, she added: "I always think dogs are the best judge of character and they ADORED him."
Born in Birkenhead, on the Wirral, Merseyside, O'Grady’s mother’s maiden name was Savage – which is believed to have inspired his famous drag alter ego.
He began his career performing as Lily Savage in the 1970s whilst working as a peripatetic care officer for Camden Council, going on to tour northern England as part of drag duo the Playgirls.
He later settled into a solo show as Savage that ran for eight years at London’s Royal Vauxhall Tavern, and made a name for himself speaking out about LGBT issues.
O’Grady’s career as Savage took off with TV and radio appearances in character and he was eventually asked to take over from Paula Yates as The Big Breakfast presenter as Savage from 1995 to 1996.
He presented The Lily Savage Show for the BBC for a short run in 1997 and later that year had success as the host of a revived version of gameshow Blankety Blank, which ran until 2002.
His self-titled teatime programme The Paul O’Grady Show aired on ITV from 2004 to 2005, later moving to Channel 4 as The New Paul O’Grady Show.
Throughout his career, O’Grady won numerous accolades including a TV BAFTA, a British Comedy Award, and a National Television Award for The Paul O’Grady Show.
