For the love of LILY

How a new documentary pays a unique tribute to national treasure Paul O'Grady

- HANNAH DAVIES

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF LILY SAVAGE

NEW GOOD FRIDAY, 9PM, ITV1 FACTUAL

It's a year since much-loved TV star Paul O'Grady passed away on 28 March 2023, at the age of 67. To mark the anniversary, ITV1 will pay tribute to the talented and trailblazing entertainer in a new documentary, The Life and Death of Lily Savage, which charts Paul's story through the lens of his iconic drag-queen alter ego.

The 80-minute special features early Lily Savage performances and home videos, along with Paul's own reflections on the character in interviews over the decades.

There are also contributions from Paul's daughter, Sharyn Mousley, and his close friends, who reveal how razor-sharp Lily rose from the streets of Birkenhead to, against all the odds, take mainstream TV by storm, and why the presenter decided to hang up her wig for the last time in 2004.

Here, Sharyn and Paul's showbiz pals Julian Clary, Graham Norton and Sir Ian McKellen share their memories of the impact Lily had on their lives...