Paul O’Grady’s husband admits he didn’t leave the house for months after TV personality shock death

Paul O’Grady’s husband hasn’t left the house in the three months since the star’s death. 

In a heart-wrenching interview, Andre Portasio speaks of his all-consuming grief after Paul died suddenly from from cardiac arrhythmia on March 28, aged 67. 

Andre, 42, attended the British LGBT Awards on Friday to collect the Broadcaster of the Year honour for his late husband and admitted it was the first time he had been out since his passing.

The ballet dancer, who married Paul in 2017, says Paul’s death was such a huge shock that he is still trying to process he is no longer here. 

‘I am trying to take it day by day and cope with it. At the moment I am coping. It was such a shock for me to lose him. It was a shock to all of us. It was so unexpected. I am still digesting it all,’ he tells  The Daily Star. 

‘I have kept myself to myself since Paul died. This is the first day that I actually left home.’

Andre went to the award ceremony in Paul’s honour and he just had to be there as his beloved late husband was a ‘trailblazer who always defended LBGT rights’.  

Known for his wit and love of animals, Paul became a household name in the early noughties, and hosted a string of television programmes.

Andre went on to say how he’s loved seeing how popular the funnyman was with the public and still gets amazed at people’s generosity.

He adds: ‘I spent 17 years with Paul and I know the wonderful person that he was. But it wasn’t until his death that I realised how much he affected, inspired and touched people. People are still going to his grave to leave things.’

Earlier this month, Andre shared a heartfelt tribute to the late star on what would have been his 68th birthday.

Sharing a touching Instagram post, he uploaded a sweet throwback photo of his love with a birthday cake and another image of the couple smiling together on a beach.

Andre penned: ‘HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY. Myself and dogs miss you lots and we can only wish you were here with us. Love you always @paulogrady.’

Big steps: Andre attended the British LGBT Awards on Friday to collect the Broadcaster of the Year honour for his late husband and admitted it was the first time he had been out 

National treasure: Paul was known for his love of animals and became a household name in the early noughties and hosted a string of television programmes 

The couple married in a low-key wedding ceremony in 2017.

Paul’s cause death was later confirmed as sudden cardiac arrhythmia.

Paul 

had spoken openly about his struggles with heart disease, which his death certificate showed was linked to his death.

The grandfather-of-two had three heart attacks between 2002 and 2014, while he also battled kidney failure and was unable to work for two months after contracting Covid in 2022.

Both his parents and grandparents died of heart issues, while his brother and other members of his family had also had heart attacks.

During Paul’s 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.