Tributes pour in for TV star Paul O'Grady following his 'unexpected' death aged 67

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Tributes have poured in for TV star and comedian Paul O'Grady following the news of his death aged 67. The presenter died 'unexpectedly but peacefully' on Tuesday night, his partner Andre Portasio said.

In a statement, Mr 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." O'Grady was known fondly for his drag queen persona Lily Savage, as well as for hosting The Paul O’Grady Show, Blind Date, Blankety Blank and ITV’s multi-award-winning For The Love Of Dogs. READ MORE: Paul O'Grady passes away 'unexpectedly but peacefully' at 67 He also hosted ITV celebrity game show, Paul O’Grady’s Saturday Night Line Up.

Last year he was joined by the Queen Consort in a special one-off episode of For The Love Of Dogs to mark 160 years of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, an organisation for which he was an ambassador.

O’Grady’s love for animals was well-known, and he had lived in a farmhouse in Kent with Portasio along with a menagerie of animals including four dogs, goats, sheep, chickens and barn owls.