ITV to air touching Paul O’Grady documentary on anniversary of TV legend’s death
ITV will screen a documentary about the late great Paul O’Grady to mark a year since he died.
The Life And Death of Lily Savage looks at how the entertainer took a brave decision to kill off his female alter ego and launch a new chapter in his career.
Lily was the Liverpudlian “lady of the night” who, after making her debut in 1978, became one of the biggest drag stars of the Eighties and Nineties.
She got her own An Audience With . . . show on ITV and even hosted Blankety Blank on BBC One.
But then Paul made the shock decision to retire her and launch The Paul O’Grady chat show.
I revealed ITV were making the 90-minute show, from Silver Star Productions, six months ago.
It will broadcast around the time Paul, 67, died last year on March 28 from cardiac arrhythmia.
BIG Boys star Lucia Keskin has written a comedy for BBC Three. The actress, who was Kelly in the Channel 4 comedy, is the lead in her show Things You Should Have Done.
She plays someone forced to tick off a list of things to try, to inherit her parents’ home. It airs on February 29.
MICHAEL STEER ON WHEEL
MICHAEL McINTYRE wants to create a Hall of Fame for returning celebrity guests on The Wheel.
The comedian is joined by familiar faces including Katherine Ryan, Vanessa Feltz and Dermot O’Leary for the new series on BBC One this Saturday.
But it is no accident – and not for lack of available new stars to take part. Instead, it is all part of Michael’s plan for a new element on the game show.
He said: “There are first-time experts like Russell T Davies, Steve Pemberton and interbet personality GK Barry, as well as The Wheel “veterans”.
“Dermot is now a Wheel legend, having finished top of the leaderboard three times.
“We might have to create a Hall of Fame for experts and Dermot would certainly be the first.
“I actually like this idea – that maybe if a contestant lands on a Hall-Of-Famer it’s double money.”
A GUTSY DRIVE BY SICK JOE
WORLD’S Most Dangerous Roads proved to be a challenge even for I’m A Celebrity-hardened Joe Swash – after he got struck down by a stomach bug.
Joe came unstuck on his tour in Guatemala with comic Seann Walsh, which is on screens this Sunday at 8pm on Dave.
Joe said: “I was most nervous about getting food poisoning. The doctors said make sure you don’t drink the water because you’re going to get sick.
“And within two days, it got me. I wasn’t sick, it was more, you can imagine, you know?”
Seann’s licence means he can’t drive in Guatemala so Joe had to take the wheel.
Perhaps he would’ve been better paired with wife Stacey Solomon. Joe said: “We’d have had a great time. Stacey’s a very good driver.”
THE White Lotus actor Will Sharpe will play Mozart in new Sky drama Amadeus.
The series, set in 18th-century Vienna, follows Mozart’s journey from child musical genius to one of the greatest composers of all time.
The five-part series will hit our screens on Sky later this year.
MEL B: I’M TALK OF THE TOWN
SPICE GIRLS singer Mel B has got a job as a telly voiceover actress.
She narrates new Sky Kids series Happy Town, which follows a problem-solving hedgehog and ladybird pals Pep and Tabitha.
The insects must lift the spirits of the creatures, as the lights of the cartoon town are powered by their glee.
Mel said: “This is a huge moment for me – my first time as a narrator.
“I’ve spent years looking for the perfect children’s show to get involved with because I’m a mum of three, and I believe that little ones learn so much through brilliant, colourful, creative storytelling.
“At Happy Town’s heart is adventure and great entertainment – just like me really!”
CLOSE CALL ON PARTY ISLAND
LOVE Island All Stars’ champions Molly Smith and Tom Clare clinched the win from her ex Callum Jones and his new beau Jess Gale – by just two per cent.
ITV shared Monday night’s voting data yesterday, as Molly revealed: “We were well shocked.
“It’s like a dream, it’s actually really weird.” No doubt the hangover from the boozy wrap party hasn’t helped matters.
Presenter Maya Jama and her boyfriend Stormzy led the Islanders in an all-night session.
The host shared snaps of her looking bleary eyed and still wearing her finale make-up. Maya said: “Wow, someone had a good night.”