DID YOU KNOW? Paul O’Grady

As Paul, 62, visits Battersea Dogs & Cats Home again in For The Love Of Dogs (8.30pm, ITV), we look at some facts you might not know about the popular presenter...

He was born on June 14, 1955, to a working-class Irish family in Birkenhead.

After joining the Marine cadets as a boy, Paul was encouraged by his captain to join a boxing club, and developed a lifelong love of the sport. He launched his drag act in 1978, and took inspiration for his Lily Savage character from female relatives. After performing as Lily for eight years at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern in London, he took his act to the Edinburgh Festival, and was nominated for the Perrier Award in 1991. He got his big TV break in 1995 when, in character as Lily, he took over from Paula Yates on The Big Breakfast. He gave that up after a year because the early mornings didn’t agree with him. Lily (below) went on to host a rebooted version of the game show Blankety Blank, from

1997 to 2002, and Paul retired her in 2004.

In 1974, with his friend Diane Jansen, he had a daughter, Sharyn – his only child. He now has two grandchildren: a grandson born in 2006, and a granddaughter born in 2009.

In August of this year, he wed his partner, Andre Portasio – who once danced with the English National Ballet – in a private ceremony at the

Goring Hotel in central London.