Paul O’Grady’s final wish revealed after thousands turn out for star’s funeral
PAUL O’Grady’s final wish was to be laid to rest alongside his former partner.
Thousands of mourners turned out for the beloved comic who died aged 67 after a sudden cardiac arrhythmia.
His tearful husband Andre Portasio cuddled one of their pet dogs as the TV legend was carried past fans to his celeb-packed funeral on a horse-drawn carriage yesterday.
At the church, pallbearers carried the wooden coffin adorned with a wreath of lilies.
Paul had asked to be laid to rest with his ex Brendan Murphy who died in 2005.
They met in the mid-Eighties when Brendan – known as Murph – was working as a sauna manager.
He went on to become Paul’s boyfriend and manager and with Brendan’s help, Paul’s first TV role was on the Bill.
But his major breakthrough was replacing Paula Yates on The Big Breakfast.
This was followed by The Lily Savage show and a £1million two-year deal to host Blankety Blank in 1998.
In 2005, Brendan – now his ex partner but still his manager – died of brain cancer two days before Paul’s 50th birthday.
Paul had been caring for him at his Kent home – and found him a hospital bed from the Holby City Props department.
Speaking about him to the Mirror, Paul had said: “I’d lost my best mate, someone who’d been in my life for 25 years and saw me through the days when I was lucky to earn £50 for standing on a beer crate in the corner of a pub telling jokes.
“Murph and I were like brothers – joined at the hip, thick as thieves.
“It transcended any sexual relationship we’d had. This was a partnership. A double act, Emma Peel and Steed, Laurel and Hardy.
“We were both 49, barely able to believe what we’d achieved – I’d just won a BAFTA for the Paul O’Grady Show – and then suddenly bang, he’s gone.”