Lily Savage back in form after heart attack
Comic Paul O’Grady made his first public appearance since a life-threatening heart attack tonight and joked: ‘‘Lambert and Butler have had to lay off 200 staff.’’
TV star O’Grady, who has had to cut back his smoking after the health scare last month, entertained guests at the British Soap Awards with a string of gags as he presented a prize.
O’Grady, whose alter ego is Lily Savage, thanked well-wishers who had helped him through the health crisis.
The Blankety-Blank host had to undergo surgery following the shock heart problem.
He told actors and broadcasting colleagues: ‘‘I’m glad to be here and I’d just like to say to anybody watching that might want to shag me, I’m scarred.
‘‘I was so whacked up on valium, it was marvellous - it was the best night out I’ve ever had.
‘‘I’d just like to say I’ve got a lot of mates in the audience tonight, thank you very much for what you’ve done for me.
‘‘People have sent cards and letters and dolls and teddy bears and flowers, flowers, flowers - I could have opened a frigging florists.
‘‘I’d like to say from the bottom of my now mended heart, thank you very much.’’
O’Grady had the audience rolling as he continually went off script during recording of the show, much to the annoyance of programme bosses.
‘‘All this and I’m not on drugs,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s the first time I’ve ever done this job without a spliff. The floor’s not moving.’’
He presented the hero of the year prize to Night And Day actor Stuart Manning at the awards ceremony in London tonight.
