Amanda Mealing

Paul O'Grady's close friend, former Casualty actress Amanda Mealing, has shared the late Lily Savage star's poignant final wish for his funeral attendees.

[sad news of his death at the age of 67](/celebrity-news/1752159/paul-o-grady-dead-death-health-heart-attack) broke last week. I was just numb. “Instead, he was at home in the place he loved with the person he loved.” Amanda also spoke to Paul on the phone just days before he died, sharing “he was feeling great” following a holiday to Thailand. I would think it’ll be in London. I woke up to it.

'Whatever happens, Paul's funeral will be a celebration of his life and it will be full of laughter'

A small private one and a big one in a very grand place for those outside the family. Of his send-off, she said: “There may be two funerals. The star died suddenly last Tuesday but his send-off is expected to be a warm remembrance of his achievements.

Paul O'Grady's friend, actress Amanda Mealing, said the telly legend told her he would have wanted his friends to have a good time at his funeral and avoid ...

“He didn’t need the money, he didn’t need the work. He just loved being on stage, loved entertaining and loved the smell of the greasepaint. He wasn’t, he would just say it as it was and I think that was so refreshing for everyone. She said: “When he said he was coming back to do Annie, I said: ‘What are you doing? He did everything he could and he never had regrets. I had called him up and said: ‘Savage, I need to know how to remove a curse.’ He said: ‘Right, what you need to do is light a candle, make an offering, you need to do this, you need to do that!’ He lived 67 lives with the adventures he created in his life and the things he did and the places he would go. He just told us to have a good time – he’d hate it if everyone was mawkish and morose. Amanda spoke to Paul on the phone days before he died.She said: “He was feeling great. speaks volumes.They had a great bond, but the thing about Savage was that he treated everyone the same, whether you were related to the Queen or a builder. The tv star spent a lifetime making people smile – and told friends he wanted his send-off to be full of laughter too. A small private one and a big one in a very grand place for those outside the family.

Actress Amanda Mealing said Paul had shared his one wish for his send-off prior to his death.

He just loved being on stage, loved entertaining and loved the smell of the greasepaint. He wasn’t, he would just say it as it was and I think that was so refreshing for everyone. Paying tribute to Paul, who was the godfather to her sons Milo and Otis, she said he got "absolutely everything he could" out of his life. "He did everything he could and he never had regrets. She said: “There was absolutely no need for him to be on tour. I’m sure he would have said: ‘That’s the way to do it’.” From April 2009 to August 2022, he presented his own two-hour long programme on BBC Radio 2 called Paul O'Grady on the Wireless. Paul had just returned from Thailand and she jokingly called him to ask for help with a "curse". They had a great bond, but the thing about Savage was that he treated everyone the same, whether you were related to the Queen or a builder. He just told us to have a good time – he’d hate it if everyone was mawkish and morose. And for a kid from Birkenhead to have the Queen Consort send a message of condolence... It was such a lovely gesture to hear all this noise for him.

Paul O'Grady's friend, actress Amanda Mealing, said the telly legend told her he would have wanted his friends to have a good time at his funeral and avoid ...

He lived 67 lives with the adventures he created in his life and the things he did and the places he would go. He did everything he could and he never had regrets. I had called him up and said: ‘Savage, I need to know how to remove a curse.’ He said: ‘Right, what you need to do is light a candle, make an offering, you need to do this, you need to do that!’ “He got absolutely everything he could out of it and that is wonderful. “He just told us to have a good time – he’d hate it if everyone was mawkish and morose. They had a great bond, but the thing about Savage was that he treated everyone the same, whether you were related to the Queen or a builder. “It was such a lovely gesture to hear all this noise for him. And for a kid from Birkenhead to have the Queen Consort send a message of condolence... She said: “He was feeling great. The thing that got us all was that instead of a moment’s silence, they had a moment’s cheer and that just set us all off. It was such a lovely thing. She raced to the couple’s farmhouse in Aldington, Kent to comfort 41-year-old Andre.

Actress Amanda Mealing said Paul had shared his one wish for his send-off prior to his death.

He just loved being on stage, loved entertaining and loved the smell of the greasepaint. He wasn’t, he would just say it as it was and I think that was so refreshing for everyone. Paying tribute to Paul, who was the godfather to her sons Milo and Otis, she said he got "absolutely everything he could" out of his life. "He did everything he could and he never had regrets. She said: “There was absolutely no need for him to be on tour. I’m sure he would have said: ‘That’s the way to do it’.” From April 2009 to August 2022, he presented his own two-hour long programme on BBC Radio 2 called Paul O'Grady on the Wireless. Paul had just returned from Thailand and she jokingly called him to ask for help with a "curse". They had a great bond, but the thing about Savage was that he treated everyone the same, whether you were related to the Queen or a builder. He just told us to have a good time – he’d hate it if everyone was mawkish and morose. And for a kid from Birkenhead to have the Queen Consort send a message of condolence... It was such a lovely gesture to hear all this noise for him.

Paul O'Grady's best friend Casualty actress Amanda Mealing has opened up about his death and plans for 'two funerals full of laughter.'