A documentary about the late Paul O’Grady will air on ITV1 this Easter, along with his final television project.
The Life and Death of Lily Savage is a feature-length 90 minute film, featuring O’Grady’s daughter, Sharyn and other close family and friends – including Sir Ian McKellen, Julian Clary and Graham Norton.
Marking a year since his death, the documentary will show how he became a national treasure and “professional chatterbox.”
However, it will be told through the prism of his alter ego, the razor-tongued, Lily Savage.
The programme is set against the backdrop of Thatcher’s Britain, Clause 28 and the AIDS crisis. It’s the unlikely tale of how a working class, gay man from Birkenhead created the unforgettable character of a Scouse sex worker and honed her persona on the stages of London’s underground gay venues in the 1970s and 80s.
It will show how O’Grady endured police raids, the death of a generation of friends, and heart-breaking visits to AIDS wards (in character) before moving into television.
Lily Savage got her big break on The Big Breakfast, before moving to the BBC and Blankety Blank. But then, in 2004, the character was retired. Some of those who new O’Grady best, will explain why.
“This blue chip feature-length documentary reveals the little known biography of Paul’s alter ego Lily – from her birth in the docks of Liverpool to her mysterious ‘death’ on mainstream TV,” said Jo Clinton-Davis, Controller of Factual at ITV.
“Set against the background of social and political change and upheaval, it features Paul’s own voice and those who were closest to him – including his daughter Sharyn. This is a layered and richly entertaining tribute to the wonderful Paul O Grady.”
The second television project, is Paul O’Grady’s Great Elephant Adventure. Never before aired, the 2-part series follows him as he travels through Thailand and Laos to see the work done by elephant conservation centres to rescue, rehabilitate and protect them.
“It was an honour and a privilege to make Paul’s final TV project with him out in SE Asia, coupled with the opportunity to pay tribute to him with a deep dive into the life of his most famous creation – Lily Savage. It has been very emotional and moving to interview the people who knew him best and to delve into the golden archive of Paul in his absolute prime,” added Clare Barton, Executive Producer at Silver Star.
Both programmes are co-produced by Olga TV and Silver Star Productions, for ITV1, ITVX and STV.
