The definitive biography of the late, great comedy legend, Paul O'Grady

The late, great comedian, teatime talk show host and all-round entertainer, Paul O'Grady was one of the most popular figures on British television. But his real-life journey was more dramatic than any of his on-stage stories.

Born into a noisy Irish Catholic household in Birkenhead, Paul was always determined to live a colourful life. He was a boxing champion as a boy and became a dad as a teenager. He was a barman in a brothel and spent his first years in London working as a carer to some of the capital's most at-risk kids.

In this, the first major biography of the star, Neil Simpson reveals the extraordinary highs and the terrible lows of

Paul's life. He explains:

How Lily Savage was born as a way to make more money - and help Paul take his mind off the horrors he saw every day as a social worker.

How tough it was for the 'blonde bombsite from Birkenhead' to break into the entertainment mainstream.

The depression, the private grief and the near-fatal heart attacks that struck as Paul re-invented himself as the funniest and most successful chat show host in the country.

Frequently hilarious and sometimes heart-wrenchingly sad, Paul O'Grady has always lived his life on a rollercoaster of emotions. A man who was loved by millions of devoted fans, this is the incredible story of one of the nation's greatest comedy legends.