Julian Clary paid tribute to the late Paul O’Grady during an appearance on The One Show on Monday evening.
The comedian, 64, joined presenters Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas to talk about the new feature-length documentary about Paul, The Life and Death of Lily Savage.
As Julian gushed over the star, he also revealed the incredibly ‘generous’ gift Paul bought him when he moved into a nearby house.
The old friends lived close to each other in Kent and were regularly seen in the local pub, enjoying a cider or even Moet et Chandon.
Julian Clary, 64, paid tribute to the late Paul O’Grady during an appearance on The One Show on Monday evening
The old friends lived close to each other in Kent and were regularly seen in the local pub, enjoying a cider or even Moet et Chandon
Julian revealed that Paul gifted him a vintage Rayburn oven from the 1920s to heat his house when he first moved in.
Of his much-missed friend, Julian said: “He was full of natural kindness and random generosity. In addition to the major charities, he always helped people. It was because of the values he grew up with, I think.
‘And he was very kind to me too, not that I was an underdog, but when I moved in with him he came over with a basket full of eco-friendly cleaning products and a shepherd’s pie.
“And it was very cold in the house, the next day a truck arrived with a vintage Rayburn oven from the 1920s on it. It made the whole house warm.’
At Paul’s funeral, Julian paid a moving, if a little crude, tribute to his former drinking partner.
He began his speech by telling fellow mourners that he would not swear in church, but then replaced the expletives with “blank,” causing trouble for those in attendance.
Guests at the private funeral at the Grade II listed church were also amused by a musical mishap during a hymn and excerpts from Paul’s television career.
Norman Corfield, churchwarden at St Rumwold’s Church Bonnington, where the funeral was held, told the Daily Express that the speech caused ‘much laughter’.
Paul, who rose to fame with his drag queen alter ego Lily before presenting BBC TV and radio shows, died last March aged 67.
The comedian joined presenters Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas to speak about the new feature-length documentary about Paul, The Life and Death of Lily Savage
While gushing over the star, he also revealed the incredibly ‘generous’ gift Paul bought him when he moved into a nearby house
Julian revealed that Paul gifted him a vintage 1920s Rayburn oven to heat his house when he first moved in
‘He started by saying that because it was in a church he wouldn’t use swear words, so he amused everyone by putting in a lot of ‘spaces’.
‘There were a lot of spaces between the words he said.
The director added: ‘He was telling stories about his time with Paul O’Grady and he clearly had a great time with him and was very fond of him.’