Bravery of Freya
Paul trains to be exorcist
TELLY favourite Paul O’Grady has enrolled on an exorcism course after being haunted by the ghost of Cilla Black.
The presenter says he has been practising his spooky new skills to banish the spirit of his late, best friend.
He has felt her presence from beyond the grave ever since her death in 2015 and has been visited by her apparition.
And the 62-year-old is even looking at becoming a professional spirit hunter. Paul said: “I’ve been exorcising ghosts. I’ve actually been exorcising our Cilla. I was very conscious so I’m glad I’ve done it. “I actually loved doing the exorcising ghosts thing. It was a thrill.”
The comedian gave a moving eulogy at the Scouse singer’s funeral. Born not far from each other – Paul in Birkenhead and Cilla in Liverpool – they had a longlasting friendship.
And Paul got a Surprise Surprise when the bond continued even after the star’s death at the age of 72 following a fall in her Spanish villa. Paul says he prefers to remember her as the larger-than-life figure she was, rather than visit her grave. But that has failed to stop Cilla’s ghoul putting the willies up him on latenight visits. Paul has also told of his great sadness that his close pal was not there to see him wed his partner of 11 years – ballet dancer Andre Portasio – in 2017.
He has taken over Blind Date hosting duties, but when Channel 5 first approached him to take on Cilla’s role he refused.
However, after a lot of persuading from friends – including Cilla’s son Robert Willis – he decided to do it. Paul, who also believes in aliens, teamed up with Yvette Fielding for a special edition of Most Haunted back in 2005, but soon regretted it.
During filming, the star got so freaked out by something spotted in the corner of a room that he started screaming.
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