We are still surprised at the sheer number of people who believe that RuPaul actually invented drag.  True he/she was the one who introduced them to mainstream TV in the U.S. in 2008, where a vast majority of viewers suddenly discovered their actual existence. The theory behind Drag Race centers on gender as performance, camp capitalism, and overproduced narrative television. The only real talent that was expected from participants was the ability to wear outrageous costumes.

However, looking at Brit History, the whole concept of drag queens….. or at least men on stage dressed in women’s clothing dates back to the 17th Century and the birth of pantomime, including the ubiquitous pantomime dame. Their success wasn’t down to their clothing but a combination of quick wit and a wonderful, somewhat radical, sense of humour.  These are traits that have served the very best of the British drag queens since then and have produced some amazing drag queens that lifted the whole culture of queer pubs to a whole different.  Some even went full circle and also magnificently portrayed pantomime dames.

One such star performer was Paul O’Grady aka LILY SAVAGE, who in the early 1980s made the RVT (Royal Vauxhall Tavern) THE place for seemingly every gay man in London.  O’Grady was born to a working-class Irish family in Liverpool; he developed Lily upon traits found among female relatives, and we very soon learned not to get too close to the stage and be the subject of her quick-witted, foul-mouthed humor.  What cemented the relationship between star and audience is that he always used Lily to speak out for gay rights. These were, after all, the dark days of Thatcher 

After being nominated for a 1992 Perrier Comedy Award, O’Grady attracted mainstream attention and made various television, radio, and theatrical appearances. As Savage, he presented the television shows The Big Breakfast (1995–1996), Blankety Blank (1997–2002), and Lily Live! (2000–2001), earning various awards and becoming a well-known public figure.  Then, in the early 2000s he ‘retired’ Lily and became a major TV star as Paul O’Grady.  He may have lost the frocks, BUT he never lost his rapid-fire wit.

This ‘new ‘career didn’t just win O’Grady fame but also several major awards from the likes of British Academy Television Awards  In 2017 he married André Portasio, and they bought a farm together where they owned sheep, pigs, goats, donkeys, ducks, chickens, geese, ferrets, bats, mice and dogs. Then at the very height of his fame, this where he died O’Grady died at his 28 March 2023, aged 67, from sudden cardiac arrhythmia. After André Portasio  annouced the news and tributes poured in from global figures and celebrities, including from Queen Camilla, television presenter Lorraine Kelly and LGBT rights campaigner Peter Tatchell. O’Grady has been hailed by many (including this writer) as a national treasure.  

Now the next part of this story is a play based on O’Grady’s life called Savage written by fellow Liverpudlian Jonathan Harvey (Beautiful Thing) will open at the Curve, Leicester in February 2027, prior to a UK tour and West End run. It will be directed by Curve artistic director Nikolai Foster and will star Danny Beard as O’Grady/Lilly Savage. The play was in development with O’Grady with him receiving a first draft of the script a few months before passing. It has since been in development with his husband, André Portasio.  BEG, STEAL OR BORROW TO GET A TICKET : Meanwhile, check this out