Product Description

Comedian, teatime talk show host and all-round entertainer, multi-award winning Paul O'Grady is one of the most popular figures on British television.But his real-life journey has been more dramatic than any of his on-stage stories.Born into a noisy Irish Catholic household in Birkenhead, Paul was always determined to live a colourful life. He was a boxing champion as a boy. He became a dad as a teenager. He has been a barman in a brothel and spent his first years in London working as a carer to some of the capital's most at-risk kids.In this, the first major biography of the star, Neil Simpson reveals the extraordinary highs and the terrible lows of Paul's life. He explains: how Lily Savage was born as a way to make more money - and help Paul take his mind off the horrors he saw every day as a social worker; how tough it was for the 'blonde bombsite from Birkenhead' to break into the entertainment mainstream; and, why Paul decided to risk everything by throwing off Lily's wig and carving out a new career as himself.The depression, the private grief and the near fatal heart attacks that struck as Paul re-invented himself as the funniest and most successful chat show host in the country. Frequently hilarious and sometimes heart-wrenchingly sad, Paul O'Grady has always lived his life on a rollercoaster of emotions. Today he is a proud grandfather, a multimillionaire and a man loved by millions of devoted fans. This is his incredible story.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5330 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

About the Author
Neil Simpson has been a staff reporter on the Daily Mirror, Sunday Telegraph and Mail on Sunday as well as writing for various newspapers and magazines.

Customer Reviews

waste of time
Yet another biog that has bee thrown together by a journalist keen on making a quick buck. Cobbled together from
out of date newspaper interviews, this inaccurate account isn't worth bothering with. Buy O'Grady's own story if you want a good read, At my Mothers Knee...and other low joints, very funny and gives a real insight to the man. You can hear his voice as you read. Simpsons is a load of badly written pap. Give this book a wide berth, you learn nothing from it.Paul O'Grady: The BiographyPaul O'Grady: The Biography

Wonderful !
Paul O'Grady's biography made me laugh out loud and burst into tears with each chapter.
It's been a long time since i have read a book full of such hidden emotions.
You have to purchase this book whether you like Paul or not, if you aren't fond of him, then you soon will be after reading this book.
So impressed that i've just pre-ordered his next one, At my mother's knee.
Well done to Neil Simpson for the brilliantly writen book.
I couldn't put the book down!!
This book should have a health warning on the cover:
IF YOU ARE GOING TO PUCHASE THIS BOOK, YOUR HOUSEWORK WILL SUFFER!
The world will be populated with rats due to lack of housework!!

Not the real thing!
OMG! If like me you have been watching Paul O'Grady talking about his autobiography all year on his show - DON'T BUY THIS BOOK! It has been written by some journalist, it isn't his book and it's not even very good!!!! His REAL BOOK is called AT MY MOTHER'S KNEE and is brilliant! It's Paul o'Grady through and through. If you love Paul, you'll love it. Make sure you buy the right one!!!