TV legend Paul O’Grady spent his final hours surrounded by his beloved dogs as his other half Andre Portasio releases an unseen video taken just 20 minutes before the star died at his home

Paul O’Grady introduces his dog Eddie in posthumous video

Paul O’Grady’s husband has shared a heartbreaking video of the TV presenter taken just 20 minutes before he died as more detail of his final moments are revealed. Beloved presenter Paul died in March 2023 from sudden cardiac arrhythmia at just 67 years old, surrounded by his beloved pets and partner, Andre Portasio.

The video taken shortly before his sudden death shows Paul sitting in an armchair cuddling one of his much-loved dogs. The presenter seemed in great spirits as he thanked fans for their support. Just 20 minutes later, the iconic broadcaster died from a cardiac arrhythmia.

Paul and Andre married in 2017 and moved in together during the pandemic(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Paul was “full of life” before his death and those closest to him said there were no signs before his sudden death. His grieving husband Andre Portasio, who married the entertainer in 2017, shared the video as a tribute to the presenter.

Posting the clip to Instagram, Andre wrote: “It’s incredible how our minds can shield us from the pain of loss in moments of shock. Today, my iPhotos reminded me of a lost video I recorded of Paul just 20 minutes before he sadly passed – what became the last recording he ever made to camera. In this bittersweet moment, you see him as the genuinely kind man he was, expressing heartfelt gratitude to everyone for supporting his book, which he recorded for an award ceremony he couldn’t attend.

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“It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since his passing. All the while, he’s surrounded by his beloved dogs. We miss you dearly @paulogrady. Happy heavenly birthday! #paulogrady.”

Speaking in the video, Paul said: “Hello everybody, I’m Paul O’Grady and I just want to say a massive thank you for reading my book, and also for voting for it. I’m absolutely delighted with my award so thank you very much.”

The Mirror spoke to Andre last year who heartbreakingly told how another of Paul’s dogs, called Arfur, nuzzled Paul after he died. “The saddest part of this all is that when all of this happened, and as I was trying to resuscitate him, I was trying to keep the dogs out of the room.”

Andre said, “But somehow Paul’s dog Arfur, who is one of his favourites, escaped and he nuzzled his face as he always did on Paul’s shoulder, as if to say ‘wake up’. It was just heartbreaking.”

Paul and Andre moved in together following the pandemic. They shared their Adlington home in Kent with their beloved brood of animals including five rescue dogs, Nancy, Arfur, Conchita, Eddie and Sausage, as well as pigs, alpacas, chickens, sheep and goats.

In a statement released on March 28, Andre said: “He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all those who enjoyed his humour, wit and compassion. I know that he would want me to thank you for all the love you have shown him over the years.”

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Andre with one of their beloved dogs at Paul’s funeral (Image: PA)

He said Paul spent his final moment smoking a spliff at home(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)

According to Paul’s close friend and colleague Malcolm Prince, Paul was “full of life” when he called in for a visit the day before his death. In a heartfelt tribute, Malcolm tweeted on the day of his death: “Yesterday afternoon I popped round to Paul’s for a good old catch-up. Surrounded by his beloved dogs, he was laughing, smiling, and full of life.

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“He was so proud of (musical) ‘Annie’, so happy to be back on Boom Radio, and he was looking forward to so many new projects. And now he’s gone. I can’t believe it. We have lost a unique talent – and I’ve lost a dear friend. We were all lucky to have Paul in our lives. My heart goes out to Andre, Paul’s family, and friend. Oh how I’ll miss him.”

Andre also explained how the telly star lived that day like every other. “We’d had a very ordinary day, just watching TV together at home, when Paul said he wanted to make a ‘cup of tea’, and that was our ­little code for rolling a spliff,” he told the audience at the funeral.

“So Paul went to the kitchen to make a cup of tea, brought it back, lit it and started smoking it – and that was our last time together, the last thing we did. He passed away there in his chair.”

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Paul’s final social media post showed him opening up about losing his pet pig, just two weeks before his death. He wrote a heartfelt caption to tell his followers that he was grieving the death of Tom Tom, who was diagnosed with a tumour and had to be put to sleep.

The 67-year-old “knew it was coming” but said it was still “awful” to lose a pet and described the hog as “the cheekiest of the gang”. Though he added: “On a lighter note I’m thoroughly enjoying playing Hannigan again after so long especially with a truly amazing and lovely cast. Next stop Edinburgh.”

Right up until his death, the actor had been happily touring around the country in a production of Annie, playing character Ms Hannigan. He was even due to play the part for an additional week in June in Liverpool. While his sudden passing came as a shock, the comedian’s health had been ailing for years and he previously survived several heart attacks.