'X-rated' eulogy at Paul O’Grady’s funeral had to be censored

A eulogy delivered at Paul O'Grady's funeral by comic Julian Clary was censored to make it appropriate for the religious setting.

The service for the beloved presenter took place yesterday (20 April) following his sudden passing on 28 March.

Humans weren't the only ones paying tribute to O'Grady, as dozens of dogs also lined the streets in Aldington, Kent, as his coffin passed in a procession.

O’Grady’s husband, Andre Portasio, had one of the couple's dogs, Conchita, on his lap as he arrived at the church, while a dog-shaped wreath was placed with the coffin in a tribute to O'Grady's dog Buster, who appeared regularly with his owner on television.

O'Grady's loved ones gathered in a church in the village, where O’Grady had lived for more than 20 years, and Clary addressed the crowd as he paid tribute to his friend.

However, Clary didn't get very far into his speech - in fact, he hadn't even started it - when he announced that the eulogy would be censored because he was in church.

Instead, the comic said he would be replacing expletives with 'blanks’ - leading mourners to honour O'Grady with 'their very own game of Blankety Blank’.

In character as Lily Savage, the presenter hosted the British game show which asked contestants to fill in the missing words of statements and phrases.

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Norman Corfield, churchwarden for St Rumwold’s Church Bonnington, praised the light-hearted way Clary approached the eulogy as he told the Daily Express: “It was amusing and caused a lot of laughter.

“He started it by saying because it was in a church he wouldn’t be using any swear words so he amused everybody by putting a lot of ‘blanks’ in. There were lots of blanks in amongst the words he said."

Corfield said Clary was 'telling stories about his time' with O'Grady, adding: "He obviously had a great time with him and he was very fond of him.”

The Reverend Canon Roger Martin also praised Clary's speech as he described it as 'every entertaining'.

"He spoke quite a lot about their stage life together," he added.

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Actor Michael Cashman is also said to have delivered a speech at O'Grady's funeral, while other stars in attendance included Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, comedians Alan Carr and Jo Brand, Coronation Street's Sally Lindsay and EastEnders actors Cheryl Fergison and Linda Henry.

O'Grady's husband announced last month that he had passed away 'unexpectedly but peacefully'.

Following the funeral service, mourners went to a wake at Port Lympne Safari Park.