Paul O’Grady fans admit they ‘can’t watch’ emotional ITV documentary as it brings viewers to tears on the first anniversary of his tragic death: ‘The world is a sad place without him’

Fans of Paul O’Grady have admitted they ‘couldn’t watch’ The Life and Death of Lily Savage as ITV marked the first anniversary of his tragic death.

Viewers were moved to tears as the broadcaster celebrated and paid tribute to the dog lover with an emotional documentary about his drag alter ego, Lily Savage.

The comedian died a year ago from an unexpected cardiac arrhythmia, leaving thousands of mourners in the UK heartbroken.

Paul, who was a social worker in Birkenhead before moving to London, started his glitzy showbiz career as a drag entertainer in the 1980s.

He toured local pubs and clubs across the UK as the iconic Lily Savage.

From 1989 to 1992, Paul performed as Lily at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where he gained increasing recognition for his act.

He then launched a show, Lily Savage Live from the Hackney Empire, which became a sell-out success.

Once he became a national success, Paul was asked to take his act to mainstream TV, which was unheard of on TV at the time.

The tear-jerking documentary followed his rise to fame and success while playing Lily in The Big Breakfast and then in the BBC quiz show Dekeny Blank.

The film also explored Paul’s role in the campaign for gay rights during the AIDS crisis and how he came from a working-class background.

Lily was praised as the voice needed at a time when people in the gay community were treated like ‘lepers’.

Early career footage was played from the drag character’s early performances.

It was accompanied by a soft voiceover in which Paul spoke about Lily in the third person.

Hearing his voice on TV brought many fans to tears as they reminisced about Paul’s kind heart and open mind.

Many took to social media to announce that they could not continue watching the show and were struggling to hear it on their TVs again.

One wrote: ‘I’m not emotionally stable enough to watch that Paul O’Grady thing tonight. I don’t think I ever will, to be honest. I grew up watching him.”

‘Sorry Paul. I couldn’t watch it, it made me cry thinking about what a beautiful guy you were and how we lost so much when you left us.’

“I can’t handle this Lily Savage documentary.”

“Four minutes into the life and death of Lily Savage and I’m already an emotional wreck.”

‘Laugh and shed a tear. God, I miss Lily Savage. From back in the day on a Thursday evening at the Vauxhall Tavern, then a complete flea pit, to mainstream mania. Lily and Paul O’Grady. Missed very much. Both.’

“It feels a bit emotional to hear Paul’s voice again as he talks about this documentary about himself and Lily Savage.”

“Seeing this, it’s sad just to hear Paul, aka Lily’s, voice.”

When Paul passed away, his partner, Andre Portasio, announced the artist’s devastating passing on social media.

He said in a statement: ‘It is with great sadness that I inform you that Paul passed away unexpectedly but peacefully last night.

“He will be deeply missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all who enjoyed his wit, humor and compassion.

“I know he would want me to thank you for all the love you’ve shown him over the years.”

Paul first started performing as Lily Savage in the 1970s and in 1997 he launched The Lily Savage Show on the BBC.

He revived Carpety Blank until 2002 and then presented several chat shows, including ITV’s teatime program The Paul O’Grady Show from 2004 to 2005, before moving to Channel 4.

In 2017 he took over from Cilla Black on Channel 5’s Blind Date reboot, while over the years he has also fronted ITV’s For The Love of Dogs, which linked to his role as ambassador for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.

Shortly before he died, Paul left BBC Radio 2 after fourteen years, noting at the time that he was not happy about sharing his Sunday afternoon slot.

He would join Boom Radio on Easter Sunday 2023.