‘Happy memories’: Peter Kay pays tribute to ‘kind, genuine and funny’ Paul O’Grady with a rare social media post after star’s shock death aged 67

Peter Kay has paid tribute to ‘kind, genuine and naturally funny’ Paul O’Grady in a rare social media update on Wednesday after the star’s shock death aged 67. 

Eulogies have poured in for the legendary presenter after his partner Andre Portasio shared that he had passed away ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’ on Tuesday.  

The comedian, 49, rarely posts on social media, however, he penned a short message to Twitter alongside a video clip. 

‘Happy memories of the lovely Paul O’Grady Kind, genuine and naturally funny,’ Peter wrote. 

The clip showed the funny man dressed as a Christmas tree during a hilarious appearance on The Paul O’Grady Show in 2005. 

Eulogy: Peter Kay, 49, has paid tribute to ‘kind, genuine and naturally funny’ Paul O’Grady in a rare social media update on Wednesday after the star’s shock death aged 67

Shock news: Eulogies have poured in for the legendary presenter after his partner Andre Portasio shared that he had passed away ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’ on Tuesday

The video also showed Peter dressed as a snowman and a chicken in the throw back clips from his time on the chat show.  

Paul, who shot to fame as trailblazing comic drag act Lily Savage before becoming one of the country’s best-loved TV presenters and DJs, died ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’ on Tuesday night, his partner said.

Andre Portasio, who married O’Grady in 2017, paid tribute to his ‘humour, wit and compassion’ in a statement announcing his death released just before 3am.

O’Grady became a household name in the early noughties, known for his wit and love of animals, and hosted a string of television programmes including his self-titled daytime chat show, The Paul O’Grady Show, which began airing in 2004. 

He also took over the reins from Blind Date’s long-running presenter and his close friend Cilla to host the Channel 5 reboot of the show in 2017. And he fronted Blankety Blank, as well as ITV’s award-winning For The Love Of Dogs.

The father-of-one’s cause of death wasn’t immediately known, but he had previously spoken of surviving heart attacks in 2002, 2006 and 2014, and also kidney failure . He also had a debiltating Covid battle that left him unable to work for two months.

O’Grady married Portuguese lesbian barmaid Teresa Fernandes in 1977 to stop her deportation. They divorced in 2005 and he married ex-ballerina Mr Portasio in 2017.

Decades earlier in 1974, he had his only child, a daughter called Sharyn Mousley, with his dear friend Diane Jansen. O’Grady is also a grandfather to Sharyn’s son Abel, who was born in 2006 and is now aged 16, and Sharyn’s daughter Halo, born in 2009.

Message: ‘Happy memories of the lovely Paul O’Grady Kind, genuine and naturally funny,’ Peter wrote

https://youtube.com/watch?v=p1LqP9_tKw4%3Frel%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26hl%3Den-US

Throwback: The first clip showed the funny man dressed as a Christmas tree during a hilarious appearance on The Paul O’Grady Show in 2005

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.’     

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