Paul O'Grady's Country Life: Heart-warming and hilarious tales from Paul

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Paul O’Grady lived with his husband Andre Portasio in Adlington, near Ashford in Kent, and his countryside home looks incredibly idyllic. Photos shows Paul lying on his bed with one of his dogs on top of his head, or pigs looking out of their pen and puppies running alongside. And most importantly, having his own land meant Paul could finally give free rein to his love of animals. I remember my dad when I was a kid used to say we were related to Irish royalty, and we all used to laugh at him,” he recalled. “He’d say: ‘King Athel of Glinsk.’ And there’s actually Glinsk castle, and I wonder if there’s any truth in it. I’d quite fancy being Irish royalty!” Signing up to the KentLive newsletter means you'll get the latest news direct to your inbox twice a day.

When Paul bought an isolated smallholding in the depths of the Kent countryside, complete with a barn, outbuildings and even its own wood, he confessed that not everyone was convinced he’d be suited to rural life. However, farm life isn’t always idyllic. In his book Country Life, the star said there’s a “real learning curve to living in a rural community”. He said: “Never buy a puppy off the internet as it’s more than likely they’ve come from unscrupulous puppy farms. The same goes for pet shops.I’d never been to Kent but I was drawn to the house, which was falling down. I love living here now. Everything is heightened when you live in the country. O’Grady’s partner Andre Portasio said in a statement: “It is with great sadness that I inform you that Paul has passed away unexpectedly but peacefully yesterday evening.” He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all those who enjoyed his humour, wit and compassion,” the professional ballerina said.

Any fan of Paul O'Grady will know of the love he has for animals so it will come as no surprise to find out he shares his home with a multitude of pets. The joy for me of living in the countryside, you can let yourself go, I do anyway. I have friends who come down and go… when did you last have a wash? I’ve got no shoes and feet like a hobbit,” he continued. The TV star, also known for his drag queen persona Lily Savage, died “unexpectedly but peacefully” on Tuesday evening, a statement shared with the PA news agency via a representative said. He’s never showed pictures of the outside of the house, but often posted his pets, including pigs, llamas, goats, donkeys and his famous pooches.O’Grady had a role in Jim Sheridan’s In the Name of the Father (1993), in which Daniel Day-Lewis won best leading actor at the Oscars. He spent three weeks filming in Kilmainham Gaol, including Easter Sunday, on the anniversary of the Easter Rising. Paul is a supporter of many charities, Ambassador for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, and Save the Children, and a patron of, among others, Orangutan Appeal UK and Wildlife SOS. Paul O’Grady’s Country Life documents his Kent countryside lifestyle with some tongue-in-cheek jokes thrown in for good measure. Born in Birkenhead, near Liverpool, O’Grady was born to Irish parents. His mother’s maiden name was Savage – which is believed to have inspired his famous drag alter ego, Lily Savage. His father came from Glinsk, Co Galway, and his mother from Co Louth.