BOOKSHELF When I’m in the countryside I look like Worzel Gummidge. Friends recoil in horror

Comedian and TV presenter Paul O’Grady talks to about marriage, mayhem in the countryside and how he has finally learned to switch off

Andre goes back to his own place our farms because of all the trade during the week, which is near to deals we’ve done with the US. I go Paul’s flat in London, and teaches in the supermarket and say, ‘Why at the Royal Ballet. haven’t you got Kentish tomatoes So is he enjoying married life? on sale? Why does this asparagus “I am, it’s the same as before. We come from Peru?’ I’ve got it in my didn’t even bother with wedding garden. Why aren’t we supporting rings, we just kept our own our farmers?” Claddaghs (traditional Irish rings). For now, he’s looking forward to I don’t like wearing jewellery. I spending Christmas with his wasn’t going to wear a wedding husband, daughter Sharyn and two ring and the Claddagh, going grandchildren – Abel, 11 and Halo, round like I own a Northern club. seven. Forget it. He’s also writing a children’s

“We see each other all the time, book with a conservation message, we just don’t live together, which will be filming a For The Love Of for me makes for a perfect Dogs Christmas special plus a new relationship because when you’ve series of the hit ITV canine show had enough, you can say, ‘I’ll see next year, as well as another series you, I’m off’.” of Blind Date for Channel 5.

Paul admits he’s not the easiest What was it like stepping into his person to live with. late best mate Cilla Black’s shoes?

“I’m a bit cranky of a morning. “It was hard to do at first. It was I’m a cobra. I don’t get up, I’m awful. I felt I was treading on her exhumed, and I slither down the toes. I turned it down at first, and stairs looking for trouble. But then we had a meeting and I said if otherwise I’m fine. they were true to the original

“He’s pristine, you know, formula, I’d do it. They didn’t get it everything’s tidy – and I’m not. I’m right but this time around they will shocking. Julian Clary told me that because I turned – I gave them the when I walk into a dressing room, I full Bette Davis. It’s a different reign trash it within seconds. Julian’s now, a reign of terror!” very tidy.” Country life has helped him

Away from showbiz, Paul is switch off from showbiz, to feel involved with all sorts of happy about doing nothing. country pursuits, from “I could never relax hand-rearing orphan before. I was always being lambs, to growing his told off by family and own produce and friends, who’d tell me to sit campaigning to save the down. Now, I’ll sit and read countryside. And he still a book in the afternoon gets angry about many and I don’t have the guilt.” things.

“The country is fast becoming smaller, and my worry is we will lose