Emotional Lorraine fights back tears as she pays tribute to pal Paul O’Grady after his shock death

LORRAINE Kelly appeared devastated this morning after hearing Paul O’Grady had passed away overnight.

The TV presenter paid tribute to iconic drag act and TV star Paul after his sudden death last night aged 67.

His partner Andre Portasio said in a statement at around 3am today that the TV and radio star had passed away last night, ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’.

Paying tribute to her trailblazer pal, Lorraine, 63, had tears in her eyes as she told viewers about the time Paul had joined her on her show on her 50th birthday.

She was speaking to Susanna Reid and Martin Lewis as they cut to Lorraine, and explained: “It’s so so sad. But every time you think of him and you remember, you just smile and you laugh.

“I turned 50 and they said to me, we’ve got a surprise for you, you don’t have to do anything, and Paul hosted the whole show.

“Do you remember when he had his own TV show, I stood in for him, and I have never been on a show where the atmosphere was so lovely. And that comes from the top. He was just so nice.

“And dogs loved him, they always know, don’t they.”

Lorraine later opened her show with lots of tributes to the legendary TV star.

She shared a clip of an interview with Paul, who dedicated his life to helping animals.

In the sweet clip, Paul revealed he had been forced to add a clause to his TV contract that said he would not adopt any more dogs when hosting his show Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs, at Battersea Dogs Home.

But a defiant Paul told Lorraine on her sofa: “This is it. But just try and stop me! Just really try and stop me. There are so many puppies, so many older dogs, and people can’t afford to adopt them.”

During his life, kind-hearted Paul welcomed a number of rescue dogs into his loving home over the years.

He had five pooches living with him and husband Andre.

The dogs are called Nancy, Arfur, Conchita, Eddie, and Sausage.

Paul had openly spoken about his health problems and struggles over the years.

As well as husband Andre Paul leaves behind daughter Sharon Moseley, who Paul became a father to when he was only 18.