15 March 2024 , 19:00
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Paul O’Grady raked in around £1.7million in the year before he died.
The latest accounts for the much-loved telly star’s Buster Productions Ltd show it was worth £8.7m for the 12 months to the end of May 2022. And the books show he paid a Corporation Tax bill of £341,525, meaning his income was roughly £1.7m.
The accounts filed this week for the firm – named after his pet dog – show cash of £1.21m and investments of more than £7m. Paul died a year ago aged 67, leaving £15.5m in his will, £500,000 of which went to the Battersea Cats and Dogs Home that featured in his popular ITV series For the Love of Dogs.
His will also includes £125,000 set aside specially to care for his five dogs – Nancy, Arfur, Conchita, Eddie, and Sausage – who will be looked after by his agent Joan.
Paul's beloved dog Buster died in 2009 (Daily Mirror)
Paul fell in love with wire-haired dachshund 'Sausage' and adopted him from Battersea during filming For The Love Of Dogs in 2022The Mirror revealed last week how a tribute to the star, The Life and Death of Lily Savage, will be screened on ITV1 this Easter, along with his final TV project; Paul O’Grady’s Great Elephant Adventure. The feature length documentary will feature Paul’s daughter Sharyn interviewed for the first time about her beloved father alongside other close loved ones including Sir Ian McKellen, Julian Clary and Graham Norton.
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His family and friends will share deeply personal memories and first hand accounts, with much of it told in Paul’s own words. Jo Clinton-Davis, Controller of Factual at ITV told the Mirror: “This blue chip feature-length documentary reveals the little known biography of Paul's alter ego Lily - from her birth in the docks of Liverpool to her mysterious 'death' on mainstream TV.
"Set against the background of social and political change and upheaval, it features Paul's own voice and those who were closest to him - including his daughter Sharyn. This is a layered and richly entertaining tribute to the wonderful Paul O Grady.”
Paul was a National Treasure who hosted a number of chat shows, and also brought his love of dogs to the screen. But, for more than 20 years, he was also a razor-tongued drag queen. In the new 90-minute documentary, Paul’s story will be told through the prism of his famous creation, Lily Savage - an underground cabaret star who took mainstream telly by storm, against all the odds.