Friends of television personality Paul O’Grady suspect that he may have struggled with an eating disorder. The revelation comes from his producer Malcolm Prince in his new book, “Paul O’Grady – Not The Same Without You,” which is being serialized by the Daily and Sunday Mirror.
The book delves into O’Grady’s life through accounts from his inner circle, shedding light on his complex relationship with food for the first time. Malcolm acknowledges, “Until some of the people I’d spoken to expressed it, I probably hadn’t spotted it…but it makes sense.”
It appears that O’Grady’s struggles with food could have originated from his desire to maintain a slim figure while portraying his alter-ego, Lily Savage. His makeup artist Vanessa White recalls, “I think it all stemmed from his days with Lily, when he was wearing corsets, and he had to be slim.” She further reveals, “He was a very tricky eater, and on filming trips with him, I would always take a box of Weetabix, just in case, because often he just wouldn’t be able to eat anything.”
Close acquaintances noticed similar eating patterns. Amanda Mealing explains, “Food was a necessity, he didn’t particularly like [having to eat] it.” Friend Moira Stewart added, “There was something about food that was tough for him. He told me that his aunty, Chrissie, who was a major influence in his early life, was probably anorexic. And Paul either binged or didn’t eat for days.”
The book also recounts a moment when O’Grady expressed fear about his mortality shortly before his passing. Moira recalls a conversation where O’Grady shared, “I’m not going to be here for much longer,” hinting at a sense of foreboding. Similarly, Malcolm remembers a phone call where O’Grady calmly remarked, “I won’t make old bones, Malcolm,” suggesting his awareness of his mortality.
Malcolm Prince’s book, “Paul O’Grady – Not the Same Without You” (HarperCollins, £22), is set for release on November 6th.
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