Battersea dogs to form guard of honour ahead of Paul O’Grady’s funeral

Paul O’Grady arriving at the Battersea Dogs’ Collars and Coats Gala fundraising ball (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)

Paul O’Grady will be laid to rest on Thursday with a private service featuring a guard of honour with dogs from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and an appearance from the Salvation Army Band.

O’Grady, who rose to fame as his platinum wig-wearing drag queen alter ego Lily Savage before going on to host a string of television programmes, died “unexpectedly but peacefully” at his home on March 28 at the age of 67.