The TV host and comedian was known as the host of Blind Date and Blankety Blank, and for his drag queen persona Lily Savage. O’Grady’s partner confirmed his ‘unexpected but peaceful’ passing on Wednesday

Paul O’Grady was developing his drag act Lily Savage in gay clubs in the 1970s, basing her on female relatives. Savage is pictured here with comedian Mark Thomas in Soho in 1993.

Photograph: Martyn Goodacre/Getty Images

Comedians Mark Thomas and Paul O’Grady (in character as Lily Savage) in Soho in 1993

  • Across his career, Paul O’Grady hosted Bafta-winning talkshow The Paul O’Grady Show, celebrity gameshow Paul O’Grady’s Saturday Night Line Up, the reboot of Blind Date, and Blankety Blank. Savage is pictured here fronting the latter, with Gloria Hunniford and Dale Winton.

    Photograph: Fremantle Media/Rex/Shutterstock

    Lily Savage on Blankety Blank

  • Lily Savage with the fire brigade in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1993.

    Photograph: Tom Kidd/Rex/Shutterstock

    Lily Savage with the fire brigade in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1993

  • Paul O’Grady also had a few acting roles on screen. He’s pictured here on the set of The Bill in 1999 playing Roxanne, with Tony Scannell as DS Roach.

    Photograph: Fremantle Media/Rex/Shutterstock

    Paul O'Grady as Roxanne on The Bill

  • Julian Clary, Paul O’Grady, Angela Mason and Elton John cutting the cake for Stonewall’s 10th birthday celebration at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1999.

    Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

    Julian Clary, Paul O’Grady, Angela Mason and Elton John cutting the cake for Stonewall’s 10th birthday celebration the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1999

  • Lily Savage dressed as the wicked queen at a photocall for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London in 2004.

    Photograph: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

    Lily Savage dressed as the wicked queen at a photocall for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, at The Victoria Palace Theatre in 2004

  • Sir Ian McKellen and Paul O’Grady attending the press night for Acorn Antiques: The Musical on the West End in 2005.

    Photograph: David M Benett/Getty Images

    Sir Ian McKellen and O’Grady attend the press night Acorn Antiques: The Musical on the West End in 2005.

  • Paul O’Grady received an honorary fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University in 2005 for services to entertainment.

    Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

    Paul O’Grady received an honorary fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University in 2005 for services to entertainment

  • Paul O’Grady and Ozzy Osbourne on the set of The Paul O’Grady Show in 2007.

    Photograph: Brian Rasic/Getty Images

    Paul O’Grady and Ozzy Osbourne on the set of The Paul O’Grady Show in 2007

  • The aftershow party for the Sex and the City film, held at the Old Billingsgate Market in London in 2008.

    Photograph: Yui Mok/PA

    The aftershow party for the Sex and the City film, held at the Old Billingsgate Market in London in 2008

  • Also in 2008, the then Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) made Paul O’Grady a member of the Order of the British Empire.

    Photograph: Martin Keene/PA

    The then Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) made Paul O’Grady a member of the Order of the British Empire

  • Paul O’Grady as Popeye on the set of The Paul O’Grady Show in 2009.

    Photograph: Ken McKay/Rex Features

    Paul O’Grady as Popeye on the set of The Paul O’Grady Show in 2009

  • An exhibition of Lily Savage’s costumes opened at Liverpool’s Walker Art Gallery in 2011.

    Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

    An exhibition of Lily Savage’s costumes ran at Liverpool’s Walker Art Gallery in 2011

  • Paul O’Grady (left) and Peter Tatchell at a 2014 demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for corporate sponsors of the Sochi Winter Olympic Games to speak out against Russia’s anti-gay laws.

    Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

    Paul O’Grady (left) and Peter Tatchell at a 2014 demonstration outside Downing Street

  • Queen Elizabeth II and Paul O’Grady look upon a corgi at the opening of the Mary Tealby dog kennels at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home – for which animal-lover O’Grady was an ambassador – in London in 2015.

    Photograph: WPA/Getty Images

    Queen Elizabeth II and Paul O’Grady look upon a corgi at the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in London in 2015

  • Julian Clary and Paul O’Grady present an award during the 2017 Olivier awards.

    Photograph: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images

    Julian Clary and Paul O’Grady present an award during the 2017 Olivier awards

  • Paul O’Grady and his partner Andre Portasio at the National Television awards in London in 2019.

    Photograph: Joe Maher/WireImage

    Paul O’Grady and his partner Andre Portasio at the National Television awards in London in 2019

  • Camilla, the Queen Consort, with Paul O’Grady and George the west highland white terrier, at the Brands Hatch site of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in December 2022.

    Photograph: ITV/Rex/Shutterstock

    Camilla, the Queen Consort, with O’Grady and George the West Highland White Terrier, at the Brands Hatch site of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in December 2022.

  • Paul O’Grady in angel wings, in a photograph for the Observer.

    Photograph: Pål Hansen/The Observer

    Paul O’Grady in angel wings, in a photograph for the Observer