Paul O’Grady will be best remembered for his iconic drag queen persona Lily Savage, but the bingo community will always have a soft spot for the comedian and TV host who died aged 67 on March 28th, 2023.
As host of programmes like Blankety Blank, Blind Date and The Paul O’Grady Show, Merseyside-born Paul won the hearts of the nation. He also acted in dramatic television shows like Dr Who and Holby City.
But it was his role as Ray Temple in Eyes Down that endeared him to the bingo community, reconnecting him with the working class people amongst whom he was born and raised.
Paul’s rise to stardom
Paul was no stranger to the venues and social circles that make bingo a national institution, having cut his teeth as a drag performer and comedian in the pubs and clubs of Camden during the late 1970s.
As his success grew, Paul toured the country with his act while also working as a barman, and he was soon being booked for performances as Lily Savage across the world.
His television breakthrough came in 1988 when he played the role of Roxanne in three episodes of ITV’s police drama The Bill, catapulting him into the mainstream and leading to decades of success on the small screen.
The Lily Savage Show hit the BBC in 1998, bringing Paul into contact with A-list stars like Elton John, and he drew large TV audiences as host of quiz show Blankety Blank.
Putting bingo in the spotlight
After surviving a heart attack in 2002, Paul agreed to play the manager of a Merseyside bingo hall in the BBC sitcom Eyes Down, relishing the challenge of playing the ill-tempered bingo hall manager, Ray Temple.
Alongside Rosie Cavaliero, Sheridan Smith and Neil Fitzmaurice, Paul had the nation in stitches again as Ray Temple presided over a motley staff for two series of the show, which was well received by audiences nationwide.
Paul described the experience of playing Ray Temple with his trademark sardonic wit, saying: “He’s an evil, twisted man who hates everything that moves. Not exactly a challenge for me.”
Picture credit: British Comedy Guide
An animal lover, loved by all
As well as being a comedian, drag performer, gay rights activist, actor and presenter, Paul was famously an animal lover and in 2012 he featured in the ITV documentary seriesPaul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs.
After initially planning to spend six days filming at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home for the show, he ended up staying on as a volunteer for six months and became an ambassador for the centre.
Paul’s pet dogs became nationally famous after they appeared on his TV show, and a bronze statue of his late dog, Buster, was erected at Battersea Cats and Dogs Home.
Paul also travelled the world to raise awareness of the plight of animals, and three series of Paul O’Grady’s Animal Orphans took him to see wildlife in Africa between 2014 and 2016.
Greatly missed
Announcing Paul’s death, his partner Andre Portasio said on March 29th 2023: “It is with great sadness that I inform you that Paul has passed away unexpectedly but peacefully yesterday evening.
“We ask, at this difficult time, that whilst you celebrate his life you also respect our privacy as we come to terms with this loss.
“He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all those who enjoyed his humour, wit and compassion.
“I know that he would want me to thank you for all the love you have shown him over the years.”
A new bingo brand has arrived, and this one’s got stripes! Introducing Zebra Bingo: We always get excited when there is a new bingo site, so we wanted to give you all the details. What Is Zebra Bingo? Zebra Bingo is the latest bingo site to join the lovely bingo community. It offers slots, live casino, table games, Slingo, jackpot games, and more. And it’s an exclusive launch only on…
Winlandia Bingo is launching with a bang, new customers can get an incredible offer – available only on WhichBingo: So get ready, bingo fans! Because a fresh face has joined the UK’s online bingo scene. Only on WhichBingo: A Better Offer Than Signing Up Directly We’ve secured a special deal that you won’t find anywhere else – it’s even better than the welcome offer on the main Winlandia website! Winlandia…
It takes an exceptional person to use their winnings to help others, and that’s exactly what Sharon Discombe did. 61-year-old Sharon, an Exeter grandmother of 13, struck a £20,000 full-house prize during Mega Money Live game at Mecca Bingo Exeter this month. And she and her husband, Darren, immediately put the winnings toward helping the community. “I was crying and shaking” Sharon said the win was completely unexpected – but…
Well, well, well. We’re now four episodes into Celebrity Traitors UK 2025, and the castle chaos is chaos’ing, as expected. The Celebrity Traitors cast have finally settled into their roles and the game is hotting up. If you’re not up to date, this piece contains HUGE spoilers. Head to iPlayer now and watch before reading. Spoiler: Alan Carr’s Killer Move In one of the biggest shocks so far, Alan Carr, the giggliest Traitor in…
If you want to get more treats than tricks, we’ve created the ultimate guide to the best Halloween bingo games, online Halloween slot games, and the spookiest bingo events. Featuring ‘ugly drag queens’, slasher fishermen, and more; we’ve got Halloween bingo events from Bongo’s Bingo, offers from Heart Bingo, Big Bass Halloween slot details, and more. So, forget ghosts and ghouls, the scariest thing this autumn would be missing out…
If like us you’re joyful at just the mere sound of the famous intro, you’ll be pleased to know that Big Brother is back. Bigger, bolder, and better (the jury’s still out on that one) than ever. The iconic reality TV format has returned to our ITV2 screens, and once again, it has the nation talking. This time, there’s a new partnership that caught our eye. Joining the likes of…
The Walking Dead has always been about survival against impossible odds, and now there is a slot game to match. To celebrate the launch of the new The Walking Dead – The Ones Who Live slot game and tv series, we have an exclusive free spins offer: Plus you’ll be getting exclusive early access to the game via Winlandia. Recap: The Walking Dead – The Ones Who Live When The…
Summer holidays, seaside getaways, and casino culture are probably more common than you realise. With Dabbing Out travelling to Brighton Beach for bingo, we were inspired to seek out more great places to play great games. WATCH: Dabbing Out episode 3: Brighton Bingo From glamorous European shores to bustling tourist hubs and floating resorts, these seven iconic destinations have seamlessly blended the excitement of travel with the thrill of the…
If you want to get more treats than tricks, we’ve created the ultimate guide to the best Halloween bingo games, online Halloween slot games, and the spookiest bingo events. Featuring ‘ugly drag queens’, slasher fishermen, and more; we’ve got Halloween bingo events from Bongo’s Bingo, offers from Heart Bingo, Big Bass Halloween slot details, and more. So, forget ghosts and ghouls, the scariest thing this autumn would be missing out…
The Walking Dead has always been about survival against impossible odds, and now there is a slot game to match. To celebrate the launch of the new The Walking Dead – The Ones Who Live slot game and tv series, we have an exclusive free spins offer: Plus you’ll be getting exclusive early access to the game via Winlandia. Recap: The Walking Dead – The Ones Who Live When The…
When you’ve gotta bingo, you’ve gotta bingo and this has made for some… interesting spots for people to play the classic game. The digital age has unleashed an online bingo revolution, and it’s happening in the most unexpected (and often hilarious) places. The 2025 WhichBingo Bingo Player Survey, polling 1,200 UK players, revealed a glimpse into the bizarre world of online bingo habits, proving that Brits will squeeze in a…
What does your favourite bingo or casino site say about you? Well, we have analysed all 265,000 votes and data from the WhichBingo Awards 2025 – to reveal how your vote played a key role, which sites and games made an unseen impact, and what it might say about you… You can view all the WhichBingo Awards 2025 winners here. What Your Favourite Bingo Site Says About You: Your Voting: The Big Picture 2025…
Gamblers are set for a major win as a new law will soon cap bonus wagering requirements. The changes, which will come into force on 19 January 2026, will cap casino bonus wagering requirements at a maximum of 10x times the bonus amount, a significant drop compared to the wagering requirements some sites have of 65x and higher. Big Win For Players: From £650 to £100 So, how will these…
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has announced two measures to improve player protection designed to reduce the risks of gambling addiction while ensuring that more operators contribute to helping people affected. The changes involve new stake limits and a statutory levy. Let’s read more about it. 1. New Stake Limits While full details have yet to be outlined, based on the Gambling Review’s White Paper, the…
Safer gambling week is upon us once again but what does that mean for the gambling industry and those who play? For gambling companies it is an opportunity to engage with their customers and promote the various tools that are on offer to help players manage their gambling spend, their time spent gambling and their access to gambling. For consumers it is a chance to have open and honest conversations…
For most people, gambling is a fun thing to do. A small deposit, a few wagers, or a cheeky flutter here and there can add a bit of thrill to your day. But for some, gambling can get out of control, creating financial and emotional challenges… or worse. That’s why Safer Gambling Week 2024 (SGW) which is running from Monday 18th of November to Sunday 24th of November is so…
If you’ve been watching Celebrity Traitors 2025 and see yourself as a cool, calm Cat or giggling Alan (who seems to be absolutely drunk on Traitor power), this one’s for you. Underneath the cloaks and cackling (Alan, again), The Traitors is actually a masterclass in human behaviour which shares its playbook with another mind game: online poker. Reading people, expression control, and bluffing with conviction, whether you’re sitting around the…
When it comes to big Traitor energy, there’s only one man that comes to mind… former turret-dweller Traitor pro, Paul Gorton. Podcast host, Rolling Stone correspondent… and Joe Wilkinson pal (himself a die-hard traitors fan), this man’s built an empire on friendly deception. We’ve ranked the top 30 Free Spins offers in the UK. Check out our full list: WhichBingo caught up with the tall, quick, and ruthlessly competitive Gorton to dissect the mind games…
Well, well, well. We’re now four episodes into Celebrity Traitors UK 2025, and the castle chaos is chaos’ing, as expected. The Celebrity Traitors cast have finally settled into their roles and the game is hotting up. If you’re not up to date, this piece contains HUGE spoilers. Head to iPlayer now and watch before reading. Spoiler: Alan Carr’s Killer Move In one of the biggest shocks so far, Alan Carr, the giggliest Traitor in…
Debbie McGee sat down with WhichBingo to chat about her career and her ongoing love for Strictly Come Dancing. While many remember her from her years working alongside the late magician Paul Daniels, Debbie has built a career of her own in entertainment. With training at the Royal Ballet School, she’s worked across theatre, TV and radio, and has become known for her warmth and resilience. In 2017, she reached…
by
Killian Morris
6min
Updated February 26, 2025
Charles Shakespeare
Social Media & Digital Content Manager
Charlie Shakespeare is the creative mind behind WhichBingo’s social media presence and entertainment content. As host of the WhichBingo Awards, producer of Dabbing Out (1M+ views) and Inside Buzz Bingo (250K+ views), and the brand’s go-to personality for bingo collaborations, events, and interactive features, he brings fun, engagement, and storytelling to the world of bingo.
Reader comments