Paul O’Grady faced ongoing heart issues for years before his untimely passing at 67 in March 2023. Interestingly, he had often anticipated he would pass away before his dear friend Cilla Black, despite her being 12 years older. O’Grady had even envisioned a special role for Black at his funeral.

Malcom Prince, O’Grady’s close friend and longtime producer, recounted Paul’s reaction upon learning of Cilla’s death, which occurred just seven weeks after their last celebration together. Black, known for hosting Blind Date, died at age 72 from a subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by a fall. In Prince’s new book, “Not the Same without You,” he details a memorable occasion: “One of the last times I saw them together was at Paul’s 60th birthday party in June 2015, held at the Blueprint Café in Butler’s Wharf, near Paul’s London residence. With a view of the River Thames and Tower Bridge, the room was filled with Paul’s friends, family, and notable figures from the entertainment industry.

Prince further shared: “Cilla attended as well, but at 72, she appeared frail and moved slowly around the room, accompanied by her son Robert. It saddened me to see her like this, and Paul felt the same. Despite her frailty, they shared a dance that night, their final one, as she passed away just seven weeks later at her vacation home in Spain.”

Discussing Paul’s reaction to Cilla’s death, Malcolm noted: “On August 20, 2015, Paul attended Cilla Black’s funeral at St Mary’s RC Church in Liverpool.

“During the service, he delivered a heartfelt and humorous eulogy, saying, ‘I always thought Cilla was indestructible and that I would be the first to go, given my heart issues. In fact, Cilla and I often talked about my funeral, where she had a significant part to play involving a mantilla and lilies.’”

Paul suffered with his heart for years before it led to his death. He suffered his first heart attack in 2002, aged 47, and described it as a “life-changing experience”.

In Not the Same without You, Malcolm tells the stories that Paul didn’t get to share himself. It’s a treasure trove of anecdotes and memories, all drawn from Malcolm’s extensive collection of private recordings and interviews with the people that knew Paul best.

It’s a surprising account of the man behind the icon – the man known to his friends as ‘Savage’ and to the public, in many much-loved guises.

This wonderful book tells never-before-heard stories of the much-missed national treasure, featuring the great and the good of the entertainment world, his unlikely friendship with the Queen, his departure from the BBC, and a ghost story of two thrown in for good measure.

Paul O’Grady – Not The Same Without You is available from bookstores from November 6.