In this special following the sad passing of Paul in 2023, Radio 2 remembers and celebrates Paul O'Grady through his own words from the BBC Archive, looking back on his life and career.

From his early years growing up in Birkenhead to his breakthrough as his alter ego Lily Savage, Paul was always a compelling storyteller. Here he recounts the strong female characters in his early life, working at the DHSS in Liverpool, the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and the impact that had on his life, particularly at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern where he would spend eight years perfecting the character of Lily Savage. These memories are recounted through Paul's BBC interviews with Sue Lawley on Desert Island Discs, Steve Wright, Jools Holland, Gay Britannia and Inheritance Tracks.