Jodie Prenger laughed off Kate Garraway's mistake as she made an emotional appearance on Good Morning Britain to chat about her friend Paul O'Grady. The actress and theatre star, who is currently starring in Coronation Street as Glenda Shuttleworth, was among those sharing their tributes last week when it was announced the comedian and TV star had died 'unexpectedly'.
There was an outpouring of shock and grief as O'Grady's death was confirmed by his husband Andre Portasio in a statement issued on March 29. He shared that O'Grady, also known for his drag queen persona Lily Savage, died "unexpectedly but peacefully" on the evening of March 28.
He added in his statement: "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."
Among those paying tribute was actress Jodie, who is currently starring in Corrie as Glenda Shuttleworth after years of wowing audiences on stage. "I just don’t want this to be true," she wrote beneath a picture of Paul posted to her Instagram account. "The world needs to be filled with Pauls.
"Imagine the laughter, imagine all the animals that would find their forever homes. Imagine that you have a dear friend that personifies such supporting love and gloriously sharpe comical repartee? Him and the beautiful Malcolm Prince have allowed me to experience that first hand."
She added: "I’ll never be able to thank you enough and bloody hell I’ll miss you Paul. Give Buster a treat from me. Thinking of all his family and friends." But that wasn't Jodie's only tribute as she revealed to fans that she had just welcomed a new member to her family.
Sharing a picture, the soap star and self-confessed animal lover, who has three rescue cows, three rescue ducks, three cats and three dogs, told her followers that she had adopted a rescue dog over the weekend and that after a call to the rescue centre, she's decided to rename the dog in honour of Paul.
"Well Paul, this is for you kidda," she said alongside an adorable picture of her new four-legged friend. "We picked up this little angel on Sunday. I’ve spoken to the amazing charity @silverfoxdogrescue and we will be renaming her Lily. May Paul’s dedication to loving and rehoming animals live on forever."
Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Thursday (March 6), Jodie appeared with Lily on her lap. But the new rescue pooch soon made her exit as she said her friend was "way too young" to die and she "never expected it at all."
She told Kate and her co-host Adil Ray: "He’s a stunning human being. I think there should be a statue in every city, in every town, because he had the nation behind him.I just think they should be everywhere because I tell you one thing they will do, they will make everyone smile."
West End star Jodie, 43, also spoke about what O’Grady would think about being immortalised as a statue after a petition to honour the late entertainer with a statue in his home town of Birkenhead passed 119,000 signatures as it climbs towards its target of 150,00.
She joked: "Whatever you do, whoever does it, I’m going to say this on behalf of Paul: do not get the one that made (Cristiano) Ronaldo to do it. He would be livid," before adding: "I think it should be like the Statue of Liberty with a fag in one hand and Buster (the dog) in the other, I think that’s what we should do. Phone your local council, there should be one in every city.!
Amid her appearance live from her Lancashire home, Jodie joked that it was chaos as she joked to the show's team that she should bring in her bunch of rescued farmyard animals. "You didn't see it, it was carange here before," she laughed. "There was dogs going everywhere, you thought you were going live to Battersea [Dogs and Cats home] but I'm at home."
Later, she was heard telling her pets to 'behave' but as Kate had just asked her a question, the presenter replied: "I thought you were talking to me then which is fine. I'm used to being told off like a pet." Jodie laughed as she replied: "You two behave," before Kate quipped: "You might have more look with your rescue dogs than getting us to behave."
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