Savage returns after six years

Paul O'Grady is bringing back his comedy alter-ego Lily Savage, six years after vowing he’d killed her off for good.

The comic, who ended his Channel 4 talk show earlier this year after refusing to accept budget cuts, is reprising his acid-tongued creation for a lucrative pantomime run in Southampton.

But the 55-year-old insisted his decision was motivated by fans’ demands, rather than any financial consideration.

‘Ever since I gave up doing Lily people have been going on at me to give her a reprise,", he said. ‘I always said, “Never again”, but couldn't resist. Lily is a part of me and I can't change that, so better to bring her back.

‘It's not as if I need the money. She's a great girl and I have an absolute passion for theatre.’

He said he finished with the character in 2004 because after 20 years the rigmarole of putting on the frocks and make-up had become ‘such a hassle’.

But O'Grady told The Sun he had no plans to bring the character back to television after using her to play Widow Twanky this Christmas.

‘I love the theatre. It's a different ball game to TV,’ he said. ‘I think the introduction of High Definition has played a part in my decision - it shows up all the wrinkles and you don't get that on stage.’

Published: 12 Jul 2010