The TV star, also known for his drag queen persona Lily Savage, died “unexpectedly but peacefully” on Tuesday evening, a statement shared with the PA news agency via a representative said.
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.
5. Paul O'Grady performing as Lily Savage
File photo dated 21/12/04 of Paul O'Grady performing as Lily Savage, as the Wicked Queen, in Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs -at the Victoria Palace Theatre, London. Photo: Yui Mok
6. Maggie Kirkpatrick and Paul O'Grady as Lily Savage (right), in rehearsals
Maggie Kirkpatrick and Paul O'Grady as Lily Savage (right), in rehearsals for the musical Prisoner Cell Block H 'The Musical' at the Queen's Theatre, London in 1995 Photo: PA
7. Paul O'Grady after receiving an honorary fellowship
Paul O'Grady after receiving an honorary fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University for services to entertainment in 2005. Photo: Martin Rickett
8. Paul O'Grady and his dog Buster
Paul O'Grady and his dog Buster arriving for the National Television Awards 2005 (NTA), at the Royal Albert Hall, central London. Photo: Steve Parsons