Paul O'Grady's husband opens up on final moments

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chief | 26 October 2023

Paul O'Grady's husband reveals that the comedian died unexpectedly while smoking a spliff in March.

The husband of Paul O'Grady has revealed that the late star died suddenly in his armchair after smoking a spliff.

The much-loved comedian and presenter passed away at the age of 67 in March at the couple's home in Kent, having recently returned from a hectic seven-month work schedule.

Andre Portasio, who married O'Grady in 2017, told an audience at a memorial event last week: "We'd had a very ordinary day, just watching TV together at home, when Paul said he wanted to make a 'cup of tea', and that was our little code for rolling a spliff.

"So Paul went to the kitchen to make a cup of tea, brought it back, lit it and started smoking it – and that was our last time together, the last thing we did. He passed away there in his chair."

The final TV project O'Grady filmed before his death, a two-part documentary called Paul O'Grady's Great Elephant Adventure, is due to air on ITV later this year.

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