The Birkenhead-born comic will feature in a short film for the official opening of the Eurovision Song Contest, which is taking place in Liverpool, on behalf of Ukraine. After his death, friend Christopher Biggins said that the “gorgeous” ballet dancer had a huge impact on “rogue” Paul. Sadly, Buster died of cancer in 2009, but O’Grady’s dog Olga, a Cairn Cross terrier, continued to appear alongside him on TV.

It was his second marriage, with the pair getting together after O’Grady ended his 28-year marriage to the woman he married in 1977.The LGBTQ+ rights campaigner Peter Tatchell remembered O’Grady as “one of the loveliest people you could ever meet. He was never happier than in a TV studio or theatre… Buster knew all the theatre doormen and loved being fussed over,’ O’Grady said of the shih tzu-bichon frisé cross. Tributes poured in for O’Grady in the days following his death, including from Queen Camilla, who worked closely with him in their support of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. She was from a very strict Catholic family and was always being hassled by them: “Why aren’t you getting married?

He added: “[Paul] will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all those who enjoyed his humour, wit and compassion. By 1978, he was developing his drag act Lily Savage in gay clubs, basing the loud-mouthed single mother and occasional sex worker on female relatives. They wed in an intimate wedding ceremony in London that was reportedly attended by actor Ian McKellen and comedian Julian Clary.He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all those who enjoyed his humour, wit and compassion.