By Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and Zmbie Blues
By Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and Zombie Blues
My three favourite comedians n the world include Paul O’Grady aka Lily Savage and it is with genuine sadness that I am writing this tribute following his untimely death at 67.
As his drag queen persona Lily Savage, Paul smashed on to our screen in a flurry of beehive hte hair and mouth like a sewer. Like Billy Connolly Lily spoke my language; Provident cheque, shoplifting, anti smokers and relationships. To this day and for the rest of my life, I will always seek out Lily Savage on Youtube because she is guaranteed to make me laugh. Whether it be the Lily Savage show, Paul O’Grady chat show, Blankety Blank or being interviewed on Michael Parkinson Paul is hilarious. It was a brave move to ditch Lily just to be Paul O’Grady but it was clear he didn’t need drag to be as witty and funny as Lily ever was.
His greatest gift was he connected with people and knew their struggles in life. When you read his autobiographies you understand how his life experiences and comedy were so closely entwined. When you read the chapter about the Liverpool riots then you understand why all you need in a riot are flat shoes, a pram and an ashtray in a sock to belt a copper. It is clear these deeply affected him. He knew what it was to be skint and what it was to struggle. Paul was a fighter, not afraid to voice his opinion and hated branding people especially working class people like the Daily Mail did. Of course in later years his love of dogs became a prime time show still airing now. He was a huge sci fi fan and longed to be on Doctor Who and guested as himself in the Stolen Earth. He also loved The Avengers and Cagney and Lacey, shows I grew up on. He did get the chance to play the Doctor in his Lily Savage Show along with Daleks and Cybermen. Told you he spoke my language.
But his acid tongue hid a deep love of life, people andd animals that touched the hearts of millions. Paul was a true one off the like of which we will never see again. But his time on Earth inspired people to be that much kinder to each other and to animals; to find the laughter even in dark times. He glowed with life and laughter and his legacy will keep us laughing for years to come. God help heaven now he and Cilla Black have been reunited. God will need a tramadol with them two hellraisers.
I think it’s time to erect that statue of him in Liverpool. He will never be forgotten and rightly so. As for now, I think it’s time for a few Blankety Blank outtakes on YouTube.
The Time Warriors and Beyond 