Ken Bruce pays tribute to Paul O'Grady

I was always amazed by how easily Paul slipped into the style of radio presentation because you know he was a comedian actor and the two don’t always work together but Paul came in and it was as if he’d been in a radio studio all his life he was a terrific Communicator that was the secret to Paul he could get his point of view and his personality across just in a few words and there was an innate kindliness and you know a lack of nastiness about him which you know the Lily Savage character was pretty harsh

but the real Paul Paul behind that character was much softer gentler kindly a person and that came over on the radio I think his radio audiences understood him very well and he understood his audiences uh I wouldn’t say Paul was shy but he wasn’t as Brash perhaps as you might expect from his personas he um he he would always have a good line always have a funny line and uh you know occasionally walked past you know and say oh you’ve been on the ale again I see that kind of thing no it was just a

glass of water but he always had an amusing line always a a cheering word and usually an uplifting word to say to you as well so it was really an all-round good guy and I think those people who’ve seen

him on television particularly with the the dogs the Bassey dogs home you can see just how giving a person he really was and what a soft touch he was really very emotional man