Paul O'Grady needs heart surgery after angina attack

Television presenter Paul O'Grady is in hospital after suffering an angina attack, a friend has said.

The 58-year-old comedian, who has had two heart attacks previously, told radio DJ Pete Price he was undergoing surgery today.

In a text message sent to Mr Price yesterday, he said: "I have had an angina attack and I will need a few days' rest.

"I am going to be out of the game for quite a while, and am going in for surgery tomorrow."

Mr Price told the Liverpool Echo that O'Grady had been overworking.

He said: "I just love him to bits, and he has been overdoing it.

"He has just come back from Africa doing some work for a new TV show next year, and then there are all his animals and all the other things he does.

"When I saw he wasn't on TV I texted to ask what had happened and he told me about it. He is a total workaholic, and I have told him he needs to take things easy."

Paul's ITV early evening chat show was instead hosted by singer Michael Ball yesterday.

A message on the show's Twitter feed read: "Sadly Paul's feeling poorly, but join Michael Ball and guests tonight, it'll be a hoot!"

Presenter Stephen Mulhern said he had been brought in to front today's show, tweeting: "Get well soon Paul I will look after the show for you!"

TV stars took to Twitter to wish Paul their best.

Phillip Schofield said: "Sending lots of love to Paul O'Grady tonight. Get well soon mate x"

 

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.