Paul O’Grady’s radio producer and friend Malcolm Prince has paid tribute to the late star and recalled their final meeting hours before to his death at the age of 67.

Tributes have poured in for the legendary presenter and radio star after his partner Andre Portasio shared that he had passed away ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’ last week.

Malcolm wrote a piece in the Radio Times, where he reflected on Paul’s incredible career and their long friendship and partnership on Radio 2.

But he added that Paul became disillusioned with the BBC by the time of his show’s end and was ‘so disappointed’ by how he was treated. 

Talking about the last time he saw Paul, Malcolm revealed he was with him just hours before his death.

Pals: Paul O’Grady ‘s radio producer and friend Malcolm Prince has paid tribute to the late star and recalled their final meeting hours before to his death at the age of 67

Tragic: Tributes have poured in for the legendary presenter and radio star after his partner Andre Portasio shared that he had passed away ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’ last week

He said: ‘On the day that Paul died, I was at his home, having a cup of tea. We were meant to be making plans for our new show, due to launch on Boom Radio, but really we were laughing, reminiscing, plotting, doing what we always did.

‘It was the perfect afternoon. When I left, he gave me a hug and said, ‘I’ll talk to you tomorrow.’ I said, ‘Go inside, I don’t want you watching me try to reverse the car down the drive.’ We’d had two hours of fun, and two hours later he was gone.’

Talking about Paul’s relationship with the BBC, he wrote: ‘When I pitched the Radio 2 show to him and he said yes, he was so proud to be working for the BBC. 

‘But by the end of it, when Radio 2 told us the show was coming to an end, he was so disappointed with the way he was treated. 

‘He fulfilled his contract, did as he was asked and then, in August last year, he politely left. 

‘There was no hamper or leaving party, or any of that. He told me recently that Radio 2 wasn’t what it was when he joined.’

Tribute: Malcolm wrote a piece in the Radio Times, where he reflected on Paul’s incredible career and their long friendship and partnership on Radio 2

Malcolm reminisced on Paul’s wit calling it his ‘superpower’ and expressed his gratefulness for having the star’s friendship for so many years.

Paul 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 debilitating Covid battle that left him unable to work for two months.

Paul 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. 

Paul 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.

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.’

Iconic: The TV star was best known for his drag alter-ego Lily Savage, hosting the beloved game show Blankety Blank

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)

Paul and Portasio were married during a low-key wedding ceremony in 2017 .

During his career, he hosted The Paul O’Grady Show, Blind Date and Blankety Blank, as well as ITV’s multi-award-winning For The Love Of Dogs. He also hosted ITV celebrity game show, Paul O’Grady’s Saturday Night Line Up.

Paul took over the reins from Blind Date’s long-running presenter and his close friend Cilla Black, who died in 2015, as he hosted the Channel 5 reboot of the show in 2017.

Last year he was joined by the Queen Consort in a special one-off episode of For The Love Of Dogs to mark 160 years of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, an organisation for which he was an ambassador.

In August last year he presented his final BBC Radio 2 show having hosted the Sunday afternoon programme for nearly 14 years, later saying the station’s drive for younger listeners ‘doesn’t make sense’ .

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

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

In a statement, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home paid tribute to Paul as a ‘devoted animal lover’ and a ‘champion for the underdog’.

Screen favourite: During his career, he hosted The Paul O’Grady Show (pictured with his dog Olga), Blind Date and Blankety Blank, as well as ITV’s For The Love Of Dogs

The organisation’s chief executive, Peter Laurie, said: ‘Battersea will forever remember Paul as a devoted animal lover with the biggest heart, who fell head over heels in love with every dog he met at our centres.

‘Paul will always be associated with Battersea and we are truly saddened to have lost such a true friend and huge part of our charity.’

Paul’s love for animals was well-known, and he had lived in a farmhouse in Kent with Portasio along with a menagerie of animals including four dogs, goats, sheep, chickens and barn owls.

During the coronavirus lockdown, he wrote his debut children’s book, Eddie Albert And The Amazing Animal Gang, which was published in September 2021.