Julian Clary has paid tribute to the late Paul O’Grady, during an appearance on The One Show on Monday evening.
The comedian, 64, joined hosts Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas to speak about the new feature-length documentary about Paul, The Life and Death of Lily Savage.
While Julian gushed over the star, he also revealed the incredibly ‘generous’ gift Paul bought him when he moved into a house nearby.
The old friends lived close to each other in Kent and were frequently spotted in the local pub enjoying a cider or even Moet et Chandon.
Julian Clary, 64, has paid tribute to the late Paul O’Grady , during an appearance on The One Show on Monday evening
The old friends lived close to each other in Kent and were frequently spotted in the local pub enjoying a cider or even Moet et Chandon
Julian revealed Paul gifted him a vintage 1920s Rayburn oven, to warm his house up when he first moved in.
Speaking about his dearly-missed pal, Julian said: ‘He was full of just natural kindness and random generosity. As well as the big charities, he was always helping people. It was due to the values he grew up with, I guess.
‘And he was very kind to me as well, not that I was an underdog, but when I moved in nearby him, he came by with a basket full of eco-friendly cleaning products and a shepherds pie.
‘And the house was very cold, the next day a lorry arrived with a vintage 1920s Rayburn oven on it. It warmed the whole house up.’
At Paul’s funeral, Julian gave a touching – if a little bit rude – tribute to his former drinking partner.
He started his speech by telling fellow mourners that he wouldn’t be swearing in the church but then replaced expletives with ‘blank’, leaving attendees in stitches.
Guests at the private funeral in the Grade I listed church were also amused by a musical mishap during a hymn and clips from Paul’s television career.
Norman Corfield, churchwarden for St Rumwold’s Church Bonnington, where the funeral was held, told the Daily Express the speech prompted ‘a lot of laughter’.
Paul, who found fame with his drag queen alter ego Lily before presenting BBC TV and radio shows, died aged 67 last March
The comedian joined hosts Alex Jones and Jermaine Jenas to speak about the new feature-length documentary about Paul, The Life and Death of Lily Savage
While he gushed over the star, he also revealed the incredibly ‘generous’ gift Paul bought him when he moved into a house nearby
Julian revealed Paul gifted him a vintage 1920s Rayburn oven, to warm his house up when he first moved in
‘He started it by saying because it was in a church he wouldn’t be using any swear words so he amused everybody by putting a lot of ‘blanks’ in.
‘There were lots of blanks in amongst the words he said.
The warden added that: ‘He was telling stories about his time with Paul O’Grady and he obviously had a great time with him and he was very fond of him.’
Sophie Anderson, a UK-based writer, is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
