Daily Mail - Daily Mail Weekend Magazine
FOR THE love OF PAUL
In honour of much-loved Paul O’grady, a new series of For The Love Of Dogs will air as planned alongside a special tribute show
Dogs were central to Paul O’grady’s happiness. He was never more content than when at home with his pooches or being covered in sloppy canine kisses while filming For The Love Of Dogs.
Following Paul’s shock sudden death last month at the age of 67, ITV is paying tribute to the comedy legend with tomorrow’s new documentary celebrating his life, For The Love Of Paul O’grady, in which colleagues and friends will share memories of Paul’s life and career – from drag queen Lily Savage to quizmaster, talk show host and beyond.
In the last decade of Paul’s life, his reputation as a national treasure was cemented as host of Paul O’grady: For The Love Of Dogs, celebrating the work of Battersea Dogs And Cats Home as it rehabilitates and rehomes unwanted canines. It captured the hearts of viewers and has been running since 2012, with Paul’s passion for pooches shining through.
‘It’s such a simple show,’ Paul said in a recent interview promoting what would be his final series. ‘There are no special effects, no shiny floor. Just the dogs, the incredible people who work with the dogs, and me. But the reaction it still gets is really lovely.’
ITV has decided to screen Paul’s final outing on the programme as part of their tribute. ITV chief Kevin Lygo says, ‘Paul had a profound passion for animals, which resonated with so many viewers, and For The Love Of Dogs remains one of our best-loved series, and a really special programme for so many.’
In the new series we see Paul in danger of adopting yet another furry friend, even though his Kent farmhouse already echoed to the barks of several former Battersea residents. ‘In the 11 years I’ve been at Battersea I’ve fallen head over heels quite a few times,’ he confesses. ‘I did rehome little Eddie, gorgeous Conchita, Arfur, Nancy, and the latest is Sausage.’ Oops! He forgot Boycie, the Shih Tzu he adopted in 2014 and who died during lockdown in April 2020.
As Paul finds his heartstrings twanged by another adorable doggie, you can see him contemplating whether to add her to his collection. ‘There was a beautiful Newfoundland called Peggy and I absolutely adored her,’ he explains. ‘The thing is, she was the size of a donkey! She was huge, but she was so loving, I’d just go in the kennel with her and she’d lie on me. She’d hear my voice and jump up. It was special and I was obsessed with her. But I thought, “I can’t bring her back. I don’t know what my other dogs would say.” Especially Eddie, my Chihuahua – he’d go for her. Eddie’s got no idea of his own size: he’d be straight in for a fight, even though we’ve got bigger rats than Eddie!’
Paul manages to resist Peggy, but he does use her to highlight the plight of larger dogs at Battersea, saying they can make perfect family dogs. ‘Bigger dogs are often so loving,’ he says. ‘It’s often the little dogs you’ve got to watch! I was holding a Chihuahua and saying on camera, “They’re such lovely little dogs, but can be quite feisty,” and right on cue it went for me! Then in the kennel next door is a massive Staffie [Staffordshire Bull Terrier] licking my face, sitting on my lap, really gentle. Don’t judge a book by its cover.’ The thought of dogs lacking forever homes was brought cruelly home to Paul when meeting muchloved family dogs who’d become victims of the cost-of-living crisis. A recent survey found that four million UK pet owners were struggling with the cost of feeding their animals. Some felt they had no choice but to give up their pets.
‘People are coming in and saying, “I can’t afford to keep my dog any
I adored Peggy, but she was the size of a donkey! Yet so loving. It’s often smaller dogs that are most feisty
An unloved dog comes in, and the staff will transform them with their patience and kindness
more. I’ve got two kids and I can’t afford it,”’ says Paul. ‘And they’re crying; they are genuinely upset and it’s heartbreaking. The staff at Battersea are wonderful and don’t judge. They always say, “Don’t worry, we’ll look after him.” It’s so sad to see.’
The aim of the series is to showcase Battersea’s good works. ‘It’s a Cinderella story,’ Paul muses. ‘This poor dog comes in, often in an appalling state, unloved. Then the staff come in with their patience and kindness and medication and experience and they transform the dog, and it goes off to a nice home.
‘Sadly, not every dog can have a happy ending. But to make this programme is a privilege, even when it means rolling around on the floor of the kennels with the dogs all day.’
It’s poignant to think that Paul has visited Battersea for the final time, but his legacy as a devoted animal-lover will outlive him.