Last photo of Paul O’Grady while performing in Annie – three days before his death

The last photo of Paul O’Grady shows the late TV star and drag act posing with a dog in Edinburgh where he was performing in a stage production of the musical Annie before his death aged 67.

The actor and comedian was seen smiling warmly as he clutched a dog in a photo shared on Instagram three days ago.

Another photo from three days ago showing O’Grady, who has died suddenly, posing with a fan outside the Edinburgh Playhouse. And another snap from five days ago shows the star dressed as Miss Hannigan, the main antagonist in Annie, and holding another dog.

In a statement released early this morning, O’Grady’s partner Andre Portasio confirmed he had passed away ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’. His cause of death is not immediately clear.

This photo of Paul O’Grady was posted by a fan after a performance of Annie in Edinburgh three days ago

He was an ambassador for Battersea Cats and Dogs Home and had rehomed several rescue dogs himself.

O’Grady’s partner Mr Portasio said early this morning: ‘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 was playing Miss Hannigan in a theatre production of Annie in Edinburgh

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

The father-of-one’s cause of death was not immediately revealed, however he had previously spoken of surviving heart attacks in 2002, 2006 and 2014, and also kidney failure.

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.

O’Grady 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.