Paul O’Grady has been granted the Freedom of Wirral posthumously

Much loved comedian and entertainer Paul O’Grady has been granted a posthumous Freedom of Wirral, the region he was born and raised.

There’s been calls for this to be granted since the television star, who was loved by many across the nation, passed away on March 28th this year, aged 67. Wirral councillors voted unanimously awarding the Birkenhead-born O’Grady the posthumous Freedom of the Borough.

Growing up in Merseyside, the presenter, famous for his portrayal of alter-ego Lily Savage, later moved to London and eventually settled in Kent.

More than 100,000 people have also signed a petition to have a statue of the national treasure erected to honour him in Birkenhead.

At the council meeting where the motion was passed, Conservative councillor Andrew Hodson said: “This is a very significant step for the council to take as to date only 12 people have been honoured in this way.”

Mr Hodson added that the posthumous award would mean he was being honoured for his ‘eminent service to the borough and people of Wirral’.

Labour councillor Stephen Bennett also said the star ‘never forgot his roots’, and added: “He always promoted this area.”

In an Instagram post on O’Grady’s page on Friday, a spokesperson for his family wrote: “@wirralcouncil have just voted to posthumously bestow the highest honour it has – the Freedom of the Borough – on @paulogrady.

“@andre_portasio and the family are over the moon with the news and would like to thank the then council leader Cllr Janette Williamson, who put forward the motion and all those who supported and voted for it.

“The boy from Birkenhead! Paul would no doubt be surprised but very pleased with this honour. #england #birkenhead #honour.”

O’Grady rose to fame in the 1990s with his comedic drag persona Lily Savage, who was loosely based on his female family members using his mother’s maiden name.

He went on to present BBC One game show Blankety Blank and other light entertainment programmes. Later in his career, the renowned animal lover presented For the Love of Dogs, based at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

Others to have received the Freedom of Wirral include former Birkenhead MP Lord Field, the victims of the Hillsborough disaster and PC David Phillips, who was killed on duty in 2016 when he was knocked down by a teenager driving a stolen truck.