Christopher Biggins reveals Paul O’Grady carried on smoking despite doctors’ warnings

Christopher Biggins has revealed that Paul O’Grady kept smoking despite doctors’ warnings, as he shared sweet memories of his friend after his “unexpected” death at the age of 67.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, the 74-year-old star said he and close friend Cilla Black tried to talk Paul into kicking the habit years ago, but he laughed it off.

Paul, who suffered three heart attacks, rose to fame on the nightclub circuit as the scathing Lily Savage, who wore a platinum wig, died “unexpectedly but peacefully” on Tuesday at the age of 67, his partner Andre said. Portasio in a statement.

Paul has been hailed as a “pioneer” for breaking into the mainstream broadcasting landscape with his alter ego and for his charity work around animals and AIDS.

Christopher told MailOnline: ‘I’ve just heard the news. It’s terrifying. Paul was extremely talented. Incredibly talented.

“I met him with Cilla, of course, and I remember one time we were all, me, Cilla, Cilla’s husband, Bobby, Paul and I, we were in Spain at Cilla’s house, staying with them.

And he was very naughty because he was smoking cigarettes and we could smell it. Cilla said ”you have to get out”.

Do you know what he died of? I think she must have had to do with her heart because she had a problem there.

“But anyway, he shouldn’t have smoked, so Cilla told me, ‘Okay, go talk to him and tell him he can’t smoke.’ And I had to go and tell him off.” And I started very serious and by the end we were crying with laughter. It was just amazing.

He had been told that he couldn’t smoke anymore, but the fact that he had to tell him and then we cried with laughter.

“He just thought, to be crude, ‘fuck it,’ I’ll just take it.” He was one of those people. He suffered a bit with his health, but it was just amazing.

Reflecting on his own memories of Paul and her performances as his drag alter ego Lily Savage, Christopher added, “He was so on the spot, he was amazing, he improvised.” I remember seeing him years ago in a gay pub in the East End and just fell in love with him.

‘If someone said that he was going to be the biggest star on television, I wouldn’t have believed it because it didn’t happen in those days.

Words of wisdom: Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, the star, 74, said he and close friend Cilla Black tried to talk Paul into kicking the habit years ago, but he laughed it off.

“But there he was, he was just himself and he became the biggest star of all time. I spoke to him last year. We were talking about Cilla, reminiscing. 67 is so young. She is not old.

Christopher added that he and Paul attended Cilla’s funeral in 2015, and the radio star delivered a moving eulogy.

He added: ‘Paul and I went to Cilla’s funeral. If you remember, he was very funny at the funeral. He would want us all to laugh, smile and sing our hearts out for him. I hope to be there. Absolutely.’

O’Grady’s husband, Andre Portasio, who married him in 2017, praised his “humour, wit and compassion” in a statement announcing his death posted just before 3 a.m.

O’Grady became a household name in the early 2000s, known for his wit and love of animals, hosting a number of television shows including his Self-titled daytime chat show, The Paul O’Grady Show, which began airing in 2004.

He also took the reins from longtime presenter of Blind Date and his close friend Cilla, who died in 2015, to present the show’s 2017 reboot on Channel 5 Dog Love.

The cause of death of the father-of-one was not immediately known, but he had previously spoken of surviving heart attacks in 2002, 2006 and 2014, and also kidney failure. He, too, had a debilitating battle with covid that left him unable to work for two months.

Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid today recalled an interview with O’Grady when she discussed her heart problems.

She said on the ITV show this morning: ‘I remember he told us about those [health issues] when we interviewed him on the couch about having a heart attack, cardiac arrest, and quitting before telling a doctor, almost like he didn’t want to bother anyone about it.

Portasio said in his statement: “It is with great sadness that I inform you that Paul passed away unexpectedly but peacefully last night.

“We ask that, at this difficult time, that as 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 humor, wit, and compassion.”

Scares: The cause of death of one’s father was not immediately known, but he had previously spoken of surviving heart attacks in 2002, 2006 and 2014, and also kidney failure.

I know he would want me to thank you for all the love you have shown him over the years.

The royal family’s official Twitter account paid tribute this morning, posting an image of O’Grady with Queen Consort Camilla, after they worked closely in support of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

The post read: “Deeply saddened to learn of the death of Paul O’Grady who worked closely with Her Majesty in support of @Battersea providing lots of laughs and lots of memories.”

Camilla will share her condolences with O’Grady’s family in private in due course, Buckingham Palace added.