Strictly's Craig Revel Horwood says it was 'hard to…

Strictly's Craig Revel Horwood says it was 'hard to breathe' after Paul O'Grady death news days after 'goodbyes'

Craig Revel Horwood spoke of the moment he found Paul O'Grady's had died. The Strictly Come Dancing judge was sharing the role of Miss Hannigan in the musical stage show Annie with O'Grady in the weeks before his tragic passing.

The comedian and TV star died 'unexpectedly, but peacefully' on March 28, aged 67. His husband Andre Portasio confirmed the tragic loss in a statement following O'Grady's death on March 28. "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 added in a statement.

The funeral for O'Grady, who rose to fame as his platinum wig-wearing drag queen alter ego Lily Savage before going on to host a string of television programmes, took place last month featuring a guard of honour with dogs from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and an appearance from the Salvation Army Band.

Discussing the loss of O'Grady on This Morning amid touring with Annie, Craig told Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: "It was after Edinburgh, he said his goodbyes and how much he was enjoying doing it. He did two weeks of the run and then we were to share the role out and suddenly we had the news that he’d passed and no one could really believe it. He said in Edinburgh ‘I’ll see you all in Southampton’..."

Craig added: "When I turned up for my week, we then of course dedicated all the performances that week to Paul. It was a shock for the company, it was a shock for all of us. We didn’t know what was going to happen, but we had to get on with the show… as they say the show must go on, but it was really emotional. It was really hard to breathe and to get through because we were all in that state of panic and shock."

Remembering the fun times with the later star, the Strictly judge added: "He said that my Miss Hannigan was very glamorous and that his was very downtrodden! He was just absolutely brilliant. So funny. He was much loved and is missed…"

Holly and Phillip also asked Craig about the death of Strictly favourite Len Goodman. The BBC One show's former head judge passed after a 'short illness', with his family saying he had been in a hospice before he died on the evening of Saturday, April 22.

Craig remembered both Paul and Len Goodman (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

"It was a double whammy…" he told them. "It really hit me [with Len] because I’m performing in Dartford at the moment and that’s where Len and his lovely wife taught me ballroom and latin. When I joined Strictly, I was a classical dancer but not ballroom and latin and he said ‘you need to get down my school’ and I learnt to dance there with him. I have fantastic memories of him…"

He added: "He never stopped complaining! We were quite the opposite - I was like that on television and he was the nice smiley one - and the role reversed completely when we did the tour! He was brilliant. He used to pay for dinner with fivers - presumably that he’d get from his [dance] school.

"He was brilliant fun. I will miss him. But the thing is, like Brucie, he will live inside me… and every time I hear the words ‘Seven’ you know, that will always ring in my head and in my heart. And my love goes out to his wonderful wife Sue and his family who are absolutely wonderful. I didn’t even know he was ill, so it was a huge shock for me and I know he wanted to keep it quiet… but a brilliant brilliant man who brought ballroom back to the world. He was fantastic."

READ NEXT:

Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here