Paul O'Grady - The Biography
The Biography
Published on 7. April 2008
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-1-84454-577-3 (ISBN)
Description
The definitive biography of the late, great comedy legend, Paul O'Grady
The late, great comedian, teatime talk show host and all-round entertainer, Paul O'Grady was one of the most popular figures on British television. But his real-life journey was more dramatic than any of his on-stage stories.
Born into a noisy Irish Catholic household in Birkenhead, Paul was always determined to live a colourful life. He was a boxing champion as a boy and became a dad as a teenager. He was a barman in a brothel and spent his first years in London working as a carer to some of the capital's most at-risk kids.
In this, the first major biography of the star, Neil Simpson reveals the extraordinary highs and the terrible lows of
Paul's life. He explains:
How Lily Savage was born as a way to make more money - and help Paul take his mind off the horrors he saw every day as a social worker.
How tough it was for the 'blonde bombsite from Birkenhead' to break into the entertainment mainstream.
The depression, the private grief and the near-fatal heart attacks that struck as Paul re-invented himself as the funniest and most successful chat show host in the country.
Frequently hilarious and sometimes heart-wrenchingly sad, Paul O'Grady has always lived his life on a rollercoaster of emotions. A man who was loved by millions of devoted fans, this is the incredible story of one of the nation's greatest comedy legends.
The late, great comedian, teatime talk show host and all-round entertainer, Paul O'Grady was one of the most popular figures on British television. But his real-life journey was more dramatic than any of his on-stage stories.
Born into a noisy Irish Catholic household in Birkenhead, Paul was always determined to live a colourful life. He was a boxing champion as a boy and became a dad as a teenager. He was a barman in a brothel and spent his first years in London working as a carer to some of the capital's most at-risk kids.
In this, the first major biography of the star, Neil Simpson reveals the extraordinary highs and the terrible lows of
Paul's life. He explains:
How Lily Savage was born as a way to make more money - and help Paul take his mind off the horrors he saw every day as a social worker.
How tough it was for the 'blonde bombsite from Birkenhead' to break into the entertainment mainstream.
The depression, the private grief and the near-fatal heart attacks that struck as Paul re-invented himself as the funniest and most successful chat show host in the country.
Frequently hilarious and sometimes heart-wrenchingly sad, Paul O'Grady has always lived his life on a rollercoaster of emotions. A man who was loved by millions of devoted fans, this is the incredible story of one of the nation's greatest comedy legends.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
367 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84454-577-3 (9781844545773)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Award-winning journalist Neil Simpson has lived and worked in Britain and America for nearly 15 years. He has been a reporter on the Daily Mirror, Sunday Telegraph and the Mail on Sunday, as well as writing for the Daily Star and for magazines as diverse as Bella and Good Housekeeping. His recent books include Jade's World, Charlotte Church: Hell's Angel, and the bestselling Gordon Ramsay: The Biography.