Bradley Walsh pays tribute to Paul O’Grady ahead of Blankety Blank return

Bradley Walsh has paid an emotional tribute to the late Paul O’Grady, describing him as an "irreplaceable class act." O’Grady, a beloved television presenter and former drag queen, passed away earlier this year at the age of 67. With Blankety Blank set to return to the BBC, Walsh spoke about his admiration for O’Grady and his alter ego Lily Savage in an interview with The Celeb Report’s TV Mag.

Remembering a genius

Walsh praised O’Grady as an "absolute genius" and expressed his sadness at his passing. He highlighted the unique qualities of O’Grady’s character Lily Savage, describing her as having a "cutting tongue" and being able to "get away with just about anything." Walsh also shared his personal experience of being a contestant on Blankety Blank when O’Grady was the host, emphasizing that O’Grady was an "irreplaceable class act."

A new era for Blankety Blank

As Blankety Blank makes its return to the BBC, Walsh discussed the line-up of celebrity contestants for the show. Stars such as Emma Willis, Sue Perkins, and Anita Rani are set to appear. However, Walsh revealed that he is still trying to convince other famous faces to take part in the revived format. He expressed his desire to see heavyweight actors like Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, and Dame Helen Mirren join the show, and even extended an invitation to Jodie Whittaker.

A show that doesn't take itself too seriously

Walsh emphasized the reason behind Blankety Blank's success, stating that the celebrities who participate do so to have a laugh and not take themselves too seriously. He expressed his excitement for the upcoming series and the fun that is guaranteed for both the contestants and viewers.

Blankety Blank returns to the BBC this evening from 9:35pm with a fresh batch of celebrity contestants. For more updates, grab a copy of The Celeb Report’s TV Mag, available for free this Saturday’s newspaper.