BBC schedule shake-up as channel pays tribute to Paul O’Grady and axes Bradley Walsh
BBC One has undergone a schedule shake-up as the channel pays tribute to Paul O’Grady and axes Bradley Walsh.
Paul passed away suddenly earlier this week at the age of 67 with his husband Andre by his side.
His shock death has prompted the TV channels he had worked on during his long and impressive career to make changes so they can pay tribute in their own way.
Today, BBC One announced that it will broadcast a classic episode of Blankety Blank in Paul’s memory.
Paul hosted the classic show as his drag alter ego Lily Savage from 1997 to 2002.
The episode that will air features guests Rebecca Callard, Sophie Lawrence, Davina McCall, Sir Ian McKellen, Gray O’Brien and the late Dale Winton.
Paul’s episode will air at 7pm on Saturday, April 1 and will replace the scheduled episode of Blankety Blank that was set to air at the same time.
That episode was set to feature current Blankety Blank host Bradley Walsh, who took over when the quiz was rebooted for a Christmas Special in 2020.
The BBC One schedule change comes hours after ITV confirmed the fate of Paul’s beloved show, For The Love of Dogs.
After his death, some were wondering what the future held for the programme, but ITV have confirmed that the upcoming eleventh series will hit our screens as planned.
The programme, which first aired in 2012, will return on Thursday, April 13 on ITV at 8.30pm.
Paul was a huge animal lover – and the show would follow him around Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, meeting the animals and staff.
Lily Savage’s Blankety Blank will be broadcast on Saturday April 1 2023 at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.