WIRRAL Council has confirmed that plans are underway for a 'fitting celebration' of Paul O'Grady's life.

The Birkenhead-born TV presenter and comedian died "unexpectedly but peacefully" on Tuesday evening, aged 67.

During his TV career, he hosted The Paul O’Grady Show, Blind Date and Blankety Blank, as well as ITV’s multi-award-winning For The Love Of Dogs.

He was also the host of ITV celebrity game show, Paul O’Grady’s Saturday Night Line Up.

A Council statement this afternoon read: "Wirral has lost one of its most iconic figures and voices today with the passing of Paul O’Grady.

"From Birkenhead’s self-proclaimed ‘Blonde Bombsite’ to bona-fide national treasure, Paul first found fame as Lily Savage and became one of the UK’s most-loved drag acts and a champion of LGBT+ rights.

Read more: 'Thanks for the laughs': Globe readers' sadness after death of Paul O'Grady 

"As Paul O’Grady, he become a household name; a much-loved star of TV and radio and recently returned to the stage as Miss Hannigan in the musical, Annie.

"In 2012, Paul returned to Birkenhead for his TV series 'Paul O'Grady's Working Class', which saw him visit his birthplace - St Catherine's Hospital in Tranmere - Birkenhead Central Library, Flaybrick Cemetery, and the Lever Brothers (Unilever) factory in Port Sunlight.

"He also donned a conductor’s uniform to work on a bus - making his childhood dream come true.

"Plans are already underway for a fitting celebration of Paul’s life and contribution in the coming months."

O’Grady’s mother’s maiden name was Savage – which is believed to have inspired his famous drag alter ego.

He began his career performing as Lily Savage in the 1970s while working as a peripatetic care officer for Camden Council in London.

O’Grady’s career as Savage took off with TV and radio appearances in character, and he was eventually asked to take over from Paula Yates as The Big Breakfast presenter, as Savage, from 1995 to 1996, leading to his own shows on ITV and Channel 4.

He was made an MBE in the 2008 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to entertainment.

He attended the ceremony with his daughter, Sharyn Mousley, his child from a brief relationship he had when he was 17.

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