Paul O’Grady’s sudden death in March shocked his legions of fans and left his husband heartbroken.
The Birkenhead-born TV personality died unexpectedly, but peacefully at his home in Kent on March 28, aged just 67, from sudden cardiac arrhythmia, and his husband Andre Portasio has been struggling to cope without him.
The former professional ballet dancer, who tied the knot with O’Grady in 2017 after 11 years together, didn’t leave their home for nearly three months and has admitted he has not been dealing with his grief very well.
He told the Daily Star Sunday: “I am trying to take it day by day and cope with it. At the moment I am coping.
“It was such a shock for me to lose him. It was a shock to all of us. It was so unexpected. I am still digesting it all.”
Portasio attended the British LGBT Awards on Friday (June 23) to collect the Broadcaster of the Year award on behalf of O’Grady.
He said: “I have kept myself to myself since Paul died. This is the first day that I actually left home.
“But I came here for a good cause. Paul is a trailblazer and always defended LGBT rights. I just had to be here.”
On the night, organisers described O’Grady as a “truly iconic” member of the LGBT community who is “truly missed”.
Portasio has been amazed by the outpouring of love since his death at 67. He said: “I spent 17 years with Paul and I know the wonderful person that he was.
“But it wasn’t until his death that I realised how much he affected, inspired and touched people.
“I have received so many letters. There have been thousands. I am still trying to reply to them all three months on.
“And people are still going to his grave to leave things. I am amazed how someone can touch people in the way he did. And it wasn’t just humans… every animal he met too!”
Portasio is hoping his husband’s legacy will be about kindness.
He said: “One thing I’ve learned with him is one must be kind, be generous and also be yourself.
“And I hope that’s how he will be remembered.”
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