New ITV doc on Paul O’Grady’s life to reveal how TV legend turned himself from edgy comedian to household name
PAUL O’GRADY was a firm fan favourite – and ITV is keen to ensure he’ll never be forgotten.
I can reveal that after airing a tribute immediately after his death five months ago, it has given the go-ahead to another documentary on the all-round entertainer.
This one will focus on how Paul gave up his alter ego Lily Savage at the height of her fame so he could pursue a TV career as himself.
A TV insider said: “He occupies a special place in the hearts of everyone at ITV and this is part of paying further tribute to him.
“This is an interesting angle to take to look back on Paul’s career, but making the leap from edgy drag queen to a household name and star of teatime telly is a story worth exploring.”
Paul died “unexpectedly but peacefully” on March 28 at his home in Kent aged 67 as a result of sudden cardiac arrhythmia.
It left the showbiz world shocked and devastated, and ITV immediately aired a tribute show in his honour called For The Love Of Paul.
The title echoed one of the animal lover’s best known programmes, Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs, which saw him highlight the incredible work of the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in London.
He had recorded 11 series by the time of his death.
Now there are rumours his good work could live on through that show, with bosses of the home keen to see it return at some point in the future with another presenter.
ITV has also still to air Paul’s final documentary he made for the channel, which saw him visit elephants in Laos.
So it looks like we’ll be seeing his incredible legacy on our screens for many months — and ITV should only be applauded for it.
JOIN LINE ’N’ LOOK S-MART
GOOD news if you are a Line Of Duty fan who wants to dress like DI Steve Arnott – the only issue is you will have to do a bit of detective work to achieve the look.
Martin Compston, who plays the heroic cop at the heart of the BBC One drama, has revealed he’s donated his TV garb – and we can all go and buy them for a snip.
On the That Gaby Roslin Podcast he said: “I gave them to a charity shop – a hospice I work with quite a lot, they’ve got a local shop.
“So I’ll get a lot of clothes from my show and I’ll put them in there and they’ll tweet it and people will go in and get them.”
Sadly he has to keep his most recent waistcoats as a reference for costume makers to maintain continuity, which is odd since the Beeb have yet to confirm they are making more shows.
But, as I exclusively revealed last year, they are definitely on their way.
NETFLIX will air its documentary about the murder of newsreader Jill Dando next month.
In a trailer, Sun columnist Jane Moore says: “To be here 24 years on and saying we still do not know who killed Jill is mind-boggling.”
Who Killed Jill Dando? will be on Netflix from September 26.
JAKE TOO QUICK TO GO ON TV
THE most honest celeb has to be former X Factor singer Jake Quickenden.
Since his time on the talent show he has appeared on almost every reality series going, and doesn’t mind admitting he’s made a career out of it – particularly since he recently became a father.
On Jenni Falconer‘s RunPod podcast, Jake said: “I just think I may as well take every opportunity that’s handed to me because I’ve got a young family, I wanna make as much bloomin’ money as I can.
“I’ve done most of the reality shows out there. There’s not many more that I can do.
“But I’ll be willing to jump on any that I get asked to do because life’s too short.”
I’m sure being a dad will open up a whole new raft of reality TV shows for him, too.
RUSSELL KILLINGS EXAMINED
THE 1996 murders of mother and daughter Lin and Megan Russell will be re-examined in a new Sky documentary.
The pair were brutally killed near their Kent home, with older daughter Josie surviving with life-changing injuries.
Now, Sky has sat down with investigators and journalists, many of whom tell their side of the story for the first time.
The three-part series also features close access to Michael Stone, the man convicted of their murders, and the legal team working to clear his name following 25 years of maintaining his innocence.
A synopsis teases: “The series unpacks this complex case in granular detail.”
The Russell Murders: Who Killed Lin And Megan? airs on September 17 at 9pm on Sky.