Paul O’Grady’s daughter Sharyn Mousley has recalled her colorful childhood for an upcoming ITV tribute to the artist, a year after his tragic death.
Sharyn, 48, was born after Paul had a brief relationship with work colleague Diane Jansen, now 76, in the early 1970s.
And in her first major TV interview for the documentary The Life and Death of Lily Savage, she gives an insight into life with the beloved TV star and her alter ego.
Admitting that although she wasn’t allowed to see Lily on stage when she was young, due to the drag persona’s raunchy humor, Sharyn would often try on her now iconic blonde wig, strut around in heels and even buy his father’s tights.
“People say to me now, ‘Isn’t it strange that Paul O’Grady is your dad and Lily Savage is?’ And I say, ‘I don’t know any difference,’” Mousley said.
“I remember going to the store for him and the guy was like, ‘Are you coming to get your dad’s tights?’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah, are you tan and black?’ It was just normal.
She also shared a memory of her father’s unique attempts to entertain at his seventh birthday party.
Paul O’Grady’s daughter Sharyn Mousley has recalled her colorful childhood for an upcoming ITV tribute to the artist, a year after his tragic death.
Sharyn, 48, was born after Paul had a brief relationship with work colleague Diane Jansen, now 76, in the early 1970s (pictured together in 2008).
In her first major television interview for the documentary The Life and Death of Lily Savage, she gives an insight into life with the TV star and her alter ego (Paul depicted as Lily in 1996).
Say: “My father said, ‘I have a big surprise for you.’ He swallows this liquid and then begins to eat fire.
“It was in my mother’s little apartment and there were all the burn marks on the ceiling, and all the girls were screaming, ‘It’s a fire, it’s a fire!’
“I was mortified, but he continues to breathe fire. I mean, I was seven years old, I wanted a clown.
Paul died “unexpectedly but peacefully” in March 2023, aged 67, following a cardiac arrhythmia.
The tribute feature will also include interviews with Sir Ian McKellen and Graham Norton.
Meanwhile, Paul’s latest recorded series, Great Elephant Adventure, will also be broadcast, following the beloved TV personality on his journey through Thailand to meet an elephant conservationist, filmed shortly before his death.
Jo Clinton-Davis, fact checker at ITV, said The mirror: “This first-rate feature-length documentary reveals the little-known biography of Lily, Paul’s alter ego – from her birth on the docks of Liverpool to her mysterious ‘death’ on mainstream television.
“Set against a backdrop of social and political change and upheaval, it features the voices of Paul’s own and those who were closest to him, including his daughter Sharyn. It is a complex and richly entertaining tribute to the wonderful Paul O Grady.
Admitting that although she wasn’t allowed to see Lily on stage when she was young, due to the drag persona’s raunchy humor, Sharyn would often try on her now iconic bottle blonde wig and strut around in heels.
She also shared a memory of her father’s unique attempts to entertain himself at his seventh birthday party (1995 photo).
Say: “My father said, ‘I have a big surprise for you.’ He swallows this liquid and then begins to eat fire.
Paul became a household name in the UK after making his debut as Lily in 1978 and hosting shows such as Blankety Blank and Lily Live!
Comedian Paul later retired Lily and ran his own show, The Paul O’Grady Show, from 2004 to 2009 and 2013 to 2015.
Paul had a close relationship with Sharon and he abandoned her when she married her husband Philip Mousley.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline following her father’s death, she said: ‘What can I say? We are all devastated, me, my mother, everyone. We loved him and we will miss him.
She added: “We are all distraught. »
Many of the star’s fans were unaware that he had fathered a child until every aspect of his life and career was covered following news of his death.
The mother of two teenagers, Abel and Halo, she attended Buckingham Palace with her father when he was awarded an MBE for services to entertainment in 2008.
Paul also gave him the traditional role of father at his wedding and gave a speech at the reception. He later said of the wedding: “It was a very beautiful day. Sharon looked fabulous and Philip is a great guy. They fit together like a saucepan and lid. She looked like a Disney princess.
The Life and Death of Lily Savage airs on Good Friday at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
The show, titled The Life and Death of Lily Savage, will examine how the star made the choice to kill off her flirtatious alter ego to launch a career in television (Lily pictured in 1997).