Paul O’Grady shared of the “joy” he felt when he returned to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home to film Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs.
The presenter shared the news in one of his final interviews before he “unexpectedly but peacefully” died last week at the age of 67.
Speaking in the interview, O’Grady was asked how he felt returning to the animal rescue centre for another season, and said: “It’s always such a joy to be back at Battersea. It really is my second home and I’m part of the furniture now.
“There are some smashing dogs in the new series, they really are lovely. But some sad stories as well and of course there is a dog that I fall in love with too. There always is.
“When we first made this programme, I certainly didn’t expect to stay this long but here I am, 12 years later. It’s such a simple little show really.
"No special effects, no shiny floor. Just the dogs, the incredible people who work with the dogs, and me. But the reaction it still gets is really lovely.”
ITV changes schedule in tribute to Paul O'Grady
ITV shared that it would be changing its schedule to air a tribute to the late broadcaster called, For The Love Of Paul O’Grady.
O'Grady presented a string of programmes across the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, including Blankety Blank, The Big Breakfast, Blind Date and The Paul O’Grady Show.
The public has been asked to share their video memories of O'Grady by sending them to tributevideos@itv.com.
Ahead of the new series, O’Grady said he had been “obsessed” with a Newfoundland called Peggy, who he said was the “size of a donkey” and “so loving”.
He added: “I thought, ‘I can’t bring her back, I don’t know what (my dogs) would say’. Especially Eddie, my Chihuahua – he’d go for him.
“Eddie’s got no idea of his own size, he’d be straight in for a fight, even though we’ve got bigger rats than Eddie.”
Our staff have been kindly sharing their favourite moments with Paul. 💙
— Battersea (@Battersea_) April 1, 2023
"My fondest memories are when he would fall in love with an animal and take them off for a walk! I remember Linda, a big white fluffy dog—she dragged him off down the site! He came back in fits of giggles." pic.twitter.com/W98vyNyz7A
During the first series of the show, O’Grady rehomed Chihuahua-Jack Russell cross puppy Eddie at his Kent farmhouse.
This addition was followed by Boycie, a shih-tzu, in 2014, Conchita, a Maltese, in 2015, Arfur, a mongrel puppy, in 2017, Nancy, another mongrel puppy, in 2020, and Sausage, a wire-haired dachshund, in 2021.
Following his death, Battersea set up a fund dedicated to the late presenter, who became an ambassador for Battersea in 2012, which has seen more than £200,000 donated to the charity so far.
Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs returns on Thursday April 13 at 8.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
