Linda Nolan has told how late comedian Paul O’Grady was a source of support for her during her cancer treatment.
On Monday, Nolan, 64, gave a heartbreaking report on her cancer diagnosis, disclosing that the illness had spread to her brain.
Her friend and comedian O’Grady passed ‘peacefully’ the next day at the age of 67, with his spouse, Andre Portasio, relaying the news on Wednesday.
For decades, O’Grady and Nolan had been close companions, having performed together in Prisoner Cell Block H: The Musical from 1995 to 1997.
Nolan reflected on her lengthy friendship with the Lily Savage star, saying O’Grady would frequently check in on her and she relied on him for support during her cancer fight.
‘I loved him. He was such a great friend. Although we didn’t live in each other’s pockets, he would always pick up the phone or text me out the blue to see how I was keeping,’ she told The Sun.
Nolan described him as an ‘incredible talent’, adding that he will be ‘sorely missed’.
Nolan had previously written on Instagram: ‘Devastated about the loss of the incredible #PaulOGrady, a great friend for at least 30 years.
‘I was lucky to work with him and of course Lily, in Prisoner Cell Block H: The Musical, what a time that was!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CqXsgEatyHR/
‘Such an amazing talent and great professional, he will be sorely missed. My thoughts are with his partner, family and friends. RIP Paul.’
The Nolans vocalist was afflicted with stage three breast cancer in 2005, but she was declared cancer-free in 2006. She was identified with incurable secondary cancer in her hip in 2017, which expanded to her liver in 2020.
She informed Good Morning Britain listeners this week that the disease had moved to her brain and that she would be undergoing radiotherapy.
On Wednesday morning, O’Grady’s spouse Portasio announced his ‘unexpected’ passing, verifying he passed the night before.
Linda Thorson, a friend of the late TV personality, has since stated that he perished in his own bed, with his spouse beside him.
A cause of death has not been revealed.
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