I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S GONE

Star talks of her shock | Paul was desperate to star at friend's sudden death in hit show Two Doors Down

- RICK FULTON

ELAINE C Smith has spoken of her shock and heartache over the death of long-time friend Paul O'Grady.

Elaine, 64, saw her friend of more than 20 years in Edinburgh four days before he died.

Paul, who died in his bed on Tuesday, had been playing Miss Hannigan in Annie at the Edinburgh Playhouse.

Elaine said she went to visit Paul, 67, in the dressing room along with Two Doors Down writer Simon Carlyle where they discussed Paul being in the hit BBC show. Elaine, who plays sharp-tongued Christine O'Neal in the much-loved sitcom, said: Paul really wanted to be in it.

“He said he'd give his eye teeth, saying, Td love to be Pat over the back’, and I said, Sadly she died but you could be Rena up the high flats’ and he burst out laughing and said, Even that line makes me laugh. I want to be that’.

‘As we were driving back to Glasgow, Simon and I were saying, How can we get Paul into Two Doors Down? It would be brilliant. The writers were thrilled someone like Paul, who was an icon to Simon, loved the show. It's lovely to have him and Peter Kay, Russell T. Davies and Richard E Grant saying it’s the best thing.

“I just can't believe he’s gone”

She added: Christine and him would have had a fish tea together and put the world to rights.’

Elaine, who will play Miss Hannigan in the touring show when it hits Aberdeen and Glasgow in May, said she has been left reeling at Paul's death.