'Lily Savage' takes flying lessons

Lily Savage creator Paul O'Grady has started taking flying lessons.

The 47-year-old comic, who only recently passed his driving test, says he loves it - although he finds the theory difficult.

"But it's a bit hairy when you first do it," he said. "You can't afford to make a mistake because it's instant death, so you've really got to concentrate.

"The theory's the hardest - the map reading and all that - that's really hard."

"I'm dyslexic with figures - really bad. I'm OK with words, but figures - not a clue.

"It's got worse as I've got older, although I've long stopped being embarrassed about it.

"I used to say I hadn't got my glasses or other excuses. Then I thought, if little kids can cope with it, I can.

"So now I just admit it. And you'd be surprised - when you say, I'm dyslexic with figures, people say, so am I. They sort of come out of the closet, as it were."

O'Grady makes his sitcom debut, starring in BBC1's Eyes Down on August 15.

Published: 23 Jul 2003