The Paul O'Grady Show: 2004–05 Paul O'Grady

paul o grady, c.2004

o grady had gained experience daytime television presenter standing in des o connor in 9 episodes of itv s lunchtime chat show today des , mel. having got on co-presenter melanie sykes, enjoyed feeling of presenting live. itv executives deemed such success offered him own daytime chat show, news of agreement going public in autumn 2004; result paul o grady show. there initial press scepticism , concern o grady s style of adult humour not appropriate daytime slot, itv s controller of entertainment, mark wells, declared paul 1 of funniest people on television – deserves on far more is.

the show first aired on october 2004 5-6pm , saw o grady interviewing celebrity guests, representing glorious mix of seemingly unscripted banter, chat , slapstick humour . in producing show, o grady worked many of old friends, including warm-up man andy collins. series hit, attaining between 2.5 , 2.7 million viewers daily, better itv had anticipated. according o grady biographer neil simpson, show unashamedly populist, riotous, endearingly kitsch romp no pretensions other pure entertainment. in ways pure vaudeville[...] there novelty acts, talking dogs, whistling goldfish, extraordinary stories. audience laughed drains @ anecdotes , brought right heart of show. inclusion of dog, buster, on show proved particularly popular audiences.

the show gained devout following, extraordinary hardcore of fans [who] try @ many recordings possible , in many cases arriving @ studio gates 2 hours before advertised starting time best seats. o grady s biographer neil simpson commented on crowds coming see show being recorded when related groups of middle aged women dominate – joined beautiful twenty-something women flawless make-up, flash city boys louis vuitton briefcases, hip-looking students out time , pensioners wanting laugh in afternoon. in many cases, fans queuing see show had turned away because many had turned up, , live shows many hundred had turned away.

biographer neil simpson, 2008

although failed gain greater audience bbc quiz show weakest link, paul o grady show attracted audience half million larger of rival daytime chat show, channel 4 s richard & judy. british tabloids stoked rivalry between these 2 competing shows, calling rivalry chat wars . after richard , judy s production company warned joan collins banned further appearances on channel 4 if agreed appear on both show , paul o grady show. o grady accused them of (...)fighting dirty now. m not bothered s on other side have said, if come on show don t go on theirs 3 years. how stupid that? later claimed tabloids had been making false quotes attributed him, describing richard , judy lovely couple , haven t fallen out. hate fuss being made.

in winter 2004, o grady again performed in pantomime, time in snow white , 7 dwarfs @ west end s victoria palace; contract attracted attention due fact being paid £70,000 week in addition profit-related bonuses. after second series of paul o grady show commissioned, in march 2005 awarded best daytime programme royal television society, , o grady himself subsequently awarded best entertainment performance @ baftas. in personal life, o grady devastated when manager , best friend brendan murphy contracted brain cancer; o grady hid diagnosis press , cared murphy @ kent home; later commented watch love, healthy, eloquent man, unable speak or walk hideous. murphy died aged 49, 2 days before o grady s fiftieth birthday, , buried in local kentish churchyard. o grady subsequently became embroiled in legal arguments surrounding murphy s will, although continued working distract himself grief. in august 2005 furore enveloped show when publicly revealed staff member responsible interviewing prospective child reporters had written derogatory notes on many of them, such think special needs , common , thick , , black girl: no . o grady on holiday when story hit tabloids, proceeding offer public apology, sending card , flowers affected, , firing staff member responsible.