PA Media
Paul O’Grady rose to fame in the 1990s with his drag alter ego Lily Savage
A new play inspired by the life of late TV presenter Paul O’Grady is set to tour the country next year.
Savage, which takes its name from O’Grady’s drag alter-ego Lily Savage, will launch at Leicester’s Curve theatre in February before moving on to other cities including Liverpool, Salford and Birmingham.
O’Grady rose to fame in the 1990s with his drag queen persona and went on to present BBC One game show Blankety Blank. He died in March 2023 aged 67.
The play’s writer Jonathan Harvey said: “It’s so sad he’s not here to see it, but hopefully this will be a fitting testament to everything he achieved, and a cracking night out full of humour and heart.”
Starring former RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner Danny Beard, the production is due to open at Leicester Curve on 13 February.
Before his death, Birkenhead-born O’Grady was involved in its creation, which draws from his autobiographies to tell the story of how he developed the character of Lily.
Speaking during the development of Savage before his death, O’Grady said: “I’m delighted Jonathan has agreed to write the script, I really am as he’s perfect for this and he’s such a great writer.”
BBC/Jude Edginton
O’Grady died in March 2023 at the age of 67
The story follows O’Grady’s beginnings on Merseyside and on the London club scene before he became well known across the country.
Harvey said: “I was so thrilled when Paul gave me the opportunity to turn his life story into a stage show.
“I first saw Lily in a scuzzy gay bar in West London in the late ’80s and laughed ’til I hurt, so it’s an honour indeed to bring his story and the colourful escapades of the blonde bombsite herself to life.
“This is one of those few shows that I’m involved in where I can go ‘you need to come. It’s really good’, because the zinging one-liners are all his.”
After launching at the Leicester Curve, the show will move to Liverpool and Salford before spending time in Canterbury, Bath and Norwich.
The tour will then conclude in Birmingham on 24 April.
