Paul O’Grady’s grieving husband Andre Portasio has thanked fans and loved ones for their outpouring of support this week after the death of the star.

Andre shared a new post on Instagram on Thursday evening, two days after the beloved TV star died at the age of 67.

Paul’s husband shared the final photo of the couple together, taken during what would be their last holiday in January.

‘In time I hope to write to everyone individually and thank you for all posts, messages, phone calls, emails, cards and flowers of support,’ Andre told fans.

Last photo: Paul O’Grady’s grieving husband Andre Portasio has thanked fans and loved ones for their outpouring of support this week after the death of the star

‘I much appreciate you all taking the time to reach out. I’m so very touched and I’m sure Paul would be too!

‘Browsing for a picture I found the last picture we ever took together. Unbeknownst to us back in January this would be our last ever holiday together.’

Tributes poured in for the legendary presenter and radio star after his partner shared that he had passed away ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’ on Tuesday night. 

Portasio said: ‘It is with great sadness that I inform you that Paul has passed away unexpectedly but peacefully yesterday evening.

‘We ask, at this difficult time, that whilst you celebrate his life you also respect our privacy as we come to terms with this loss.

‘He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all those who enjoyed his humour, wit and compassion.’

‘I know that he would want me to thank you for all the love you have shown him over the years.’ 

O’Grady and Portasio were married during a low-key wedding ceremony in 2017 .

O’Grady had been set to return to the airwaves next month to host a one-off Easter Sunday radio show on Boom Radio.

Tribute: Paul’s death was announced by his partner Andre Portasio, who he married in 2017 (the couple are pictured here at the Royal Opera House in London in 2018)

And he was performing right until the end – taking to the stage as Ms Hannigan in Annie at the Edinburgh Playhouse.

He became a household name in the early noughties , known for his wit and love of animals, and hosted a string of television programmes including his self-titled daytime chat show, The Paul O’Grady Show, which began airing in 2004. 

He also took over the reins from Blind Date’s long-running presenter and his close friend Cilla Black, who died in 2015, to host the Channel 5 reboot of the show in 2017. And he fronted Blankety Blank, as well as ITV’s award-winning For The Love Of Dogs.

The father-of-one’s cause of death wasn’t immediately known, but he had previously spoken of surviving heart attacks in 2002, 2006 and 2014, and also kidney failure . He also had a debiltating Covid battle that left him unable to work for two months.

O’Grady married Portuguese lesbian barmaid Teresa Fernandes in 1977 to stop her deportation. They divorced in 2005 and he married ex-ballerina Mr Portasio in 2017.

Decades earlier in 1974, he had his only child, a daughter called Sharyn Mousley, with his dear friend Diane Jansen. O’Grady is also a grandfather to Sharyn’s son Abel, who was born in 2006 and is now aged 16, and Sharyn’s daughter Halo, born in 2009.