TELLY favorite Paul O’Grady has left a staggering £15.5million in his will – with £125,000 set aside to care for his five pet dogs.
The presenter also left half a million pounds to Battersea Cats and Dogs Home which was a guest on his most famous TV show – For the Love of Dogs on ITV.
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The final photo of Paul O’Grady shows the star posing with a dog in Edinburgh where he was performing in a production of Annie – three days before his death
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Paul O’Grady was loved for his work with the animals as well as his time as Lily SavageCredit: Rex
Animal lover Paul, who died last March aged 67, left a total of £775,000 to organizations close to his heart, including donations of £50,000 to elephant and orangutan charities.
He also gave £50,000 to the Salvation Army, who he has been a lifelong fan of because they helped the needy in his native Liverpool when he was growing up.
A friend close to Paul, known by his drag alter ego, Lily Savage, said: “This is typical of Paul as he put his money where his mouth was by leaving cash to charities that meant a lot to him.
“And while £125,000 seems like a lot of money for his dogs, they also meant the world to him and he wanted to make sure they always got the best love and care.”
Read more about Paul O’Grady
The majority of Paul’s estate is expected to go to his widower Andre Portasi, his daughter Sharon Mousley and his sister Sheila Rudd.
Other beneficiaries of the will, which he drew up in 2017, include his agent Joan Marshrons as well as nine other people including his godson Milo and Otis Sainsbury.
Joan will look after all of Paul’s dogs – Nancy, Arfur, Conchita, Eddie and Sausage – with special instructions written by Paul in his will.
It said: “The legacy will be £25,000 for each animal. I order Joan to assume responsibility for each animal… to use each bequest for the upkeep and maintenance of each animal until her death.”
He gave a total of £100,000 which was shared by two foreign wildlife organizations – the Indian Wildlife Trust, called Wildlife SOS, and the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center in Borneo.
He also spoke about how much he loved the Salvation Army, once remarking in an interview: “They saved children near my street when I was a boy with a food kitchen, helped me when I was a carer and supported people I’ve known over the years.”
Major Jo Moir from the Salvation Army worked with Paul for six months on a program he ran about the Salvation Army, where Paul trained as a Salvation Army volunteer. They became good friends.
Speaking after the will was announced, she said: “We are so grateful to Paul for this incredibly generous gift which will go towards our work supporting the most vulnerable and marginalized.
“The Salvation Army has really benefited from Paul’s support over many years, often in front of the camera but often quietly offering his support and friendship. We miss him and his family are often in our prayers.
“Nearly 50% of funds donated by kind supporters like Paul come from gifts at Wills and we promise that every gift will help change lives forever.”
Paul once noted that he left his lawyer very specific instructions to carry out his will exactly as he said, with a caveat.
In a 2012 interview, he said: “I put in my will – the lawyer laughed uproariously – ‘God help anyone who ignores my wishes, because when it’s your turn to die, I’ll be standing at the gates of hell waiting for you.’
The figure of £15.5m left in his will is more than double what was provided shortly after his death on March 28 from a heart arrhythmia.
He was said to have been smoking a cannabis joint when he died peacefully at his home.
Speaking at a star-studded memorial service for O’Grady last October, his husband Andre Portasio recalled: “We were having a very ordinary day, just watching TV at home together, when Paul said he wanted to make ‘a cup of tea,’ and that was our a small code for rolling rush hours.
“So Paul went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea, he brought it back, lit it and started smoking – and that was our last time together, the last thing we did. He died there in his chair.”
Peter Laurie, chief executive of Battersea, says: “Battersea is truly delighted and deeply grateful that our late friend and ambassador, Paul, has remembered him in his will.
“This further demonstrates what we knew to be true about Paul throughout his life, his unwavering commitment and dedication to helping the thousands of animals that come to our centers every year.
“Working alongside our staff to care for the dogs and cats in need of our support, Paul has been able to see the unconditional care, support and expertise that goes into helping animals in our centers and beyond.
“Many of our animals come in with complex medical conditions and it can take several weeks for some of them to find a home; as a champion for the underdog we know that Paul would leave his gift to Battersea with these animals in mind.
“Battersea will forever be indebted to Paul for everything he has done for our charity and the animals in our care, and we will carry on his legacy, continuing to go further and helping many dogs and cats get the second chance at life they deserve.”
To find out more about The Salvation Army visit www.salvationarmy.org.uk/gifts-wills, call 020 7367 4800 or email [email protected]”
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Paul has been a dedicated supporter of Battersea Dogs HomeCredit: Instagram / Battersea Dogs Home
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