Life was no drag with Paul on Roll

LET’S all be a little more like Paul O’Grady – a working-class boy who couldn’t give a flying f*** about the establishment or what anyone thought of him.

Someone who pushed boundaries with his comedy and spent a life trying to make other people happy. And let’s not forget about the dogs he helped.

Whether you found him or his character Lily Savage funny or not, you cannot argue against the impact he had on the culture of the UK.

I’ve read countless tributes to the Tranmere-born comic since he died suddenly this week aged 67, and these are the ones that stood out.

One is that he never forgot his roots. When he worked at Channel 4 a colleague of his said that Paul insisted that new roles on his show were advertised in the local Jobcentre. He wanted anyone and everyone to be able to apply so they could get a break like he had.

And he enjoyed his success and was one of the biggest boozers of his generation. Apparently he was once introduced to Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones by their mutual friend Cilla Black.

And legend has it that Paul put the band through their paces to such an extent that Mick Jagger has since said that the Stones have just three things they need to be kept away from... “Drugs, booze and Lily Savage.” And finally I read a tale about how he was loved by his local community. He spent more than 26 years living in Aldington, Kent, where he was a well-known face.

He attended summer fetes, supported the local school and was a judge at the local dog show held on the village green. An elderly neighbour said: “He was always joking. I once went up the hill on my mobility scooter and he was following on his bike. He called me a slow coach and offered to push me.”

A man who brought joy into other people’s lives with humour and could drink the Rolling Stones under the table.

Who wouldn’t want to be more like Paul? RIP.