Photo Credit: Steve Punter / CC BY-SA 2.0

Animal lover Paul O'Grady has used his celebrity status to help find homes for the hundreds of abandoned dogs and cats being cared for by Battersea Dogs' Home. The one-time Social Services worker, who has enjoyed a long career in show business, now hosts the famous TV show, For the Love of Dogs. If it wasn't for the love of Paul O'Grady, many dogs and cats would be facing a bleak future, living in a shelter for the rest of their days. Thanks to the charismatic comedian's devotion, the charity has a vehicle to promote the adoption of the many animals in its care. Early years Born in Birkenhead, O'Grady was awarded the MBE in 2008 in the Queen's Birthday Honours in recognition of his services to entertainment. He left school at 16, initially working in the Liverpool office of the Department of Health and Social Security as a clerical assistant. He moved to London at 23 and worked for Camden Social Services, becoming involved in show business in his spare time by performing a drag act - known as Lily Savage, the "blonde bomb site". After initially performing around the UK cabaret circuit, he soon became a full-time artist, travelling overseas on international tours to countries as diverse as Israel and Finland. TV career His TV career began in 1988, when he won a role in ITV police drama, The Bill, playing a police informant until 1990. He also worked on Rik Mayall's ITV comedy series, The New Statesman and was the narrator of the BBC2 series, Life Swaps. As Lily Savage, he was given a late-night TV entertainment show, Live from the Lilydrome, by Channel 4. He also became a presenter on The Big Breakfast. He had a successful stage career in the West End musical, Prisoner in Cell Block H, in 1995. On returning to TV, O'Grady hosted The Lily Savage Show in 1998, when his famous guests included singing superstar Sir Elton John. He also presented the BBC game show, Blankety Blank, which was another big hit with viewers. After buying a country house in Kent in 1999, he opened a smallholding there. He gave a permanent home to many animals, including goats. For the Love of Dogs At the turn of the millennium, O'Grady said he had grown tired of his Lily Savage persona and decided to re-launch his show business career as himself. It proved an astute move - not only did he win the Television Personality of the Year Award in 2002, but he also hosted his own show, The Paul O'Grady Show, until 2005. Despite having two heart attacks, O'Grady has never let his health put a halt to his career. His popular Friday night chat show, Paul O'Grady Live, was broadcast from 2010 to 2012, when he was commissioned by ITV to present a new show, For the Love of Dogs, about animals in Battersea Dogs' Home. O'Grady realised he had found his niche and has been presenting the show ever since. During the past six years, he has helped to rehome hundreds of dogs by promoting the valuable work done by the charitable trust, Battersea Dogs' Home. As well as becoming an ambassador for the animal shelter, he has rescued several dogs himself and they have become stars in their own right. His cairn terrier, Olga, often appeared on his own TV show. He named his production company Olga TV in honour of his dog, who died this year, aged 14. O'Grady has adopted a Jack Russell-Chihuahua cross named Eddie from Battersea Dogs' Home. He was hand-reared by a veterinary nurse, as he was the runt of the litter and wasn't feeding properly when he was born. Presenting For the Love of Dogs means O'Grady meets dogs at the shelter's three sites in Battersea, Brand's Hatch and the Old Windsor Centre. He charts their progress from arriving at the centre to being treated for any ailments and hopefully being rehomed. Battersea never puts a healthy dog down. It has rescued and rehomed some three million dogs and cats since its launch in 1860. It was opened by animal-lover Mary Tealby, a 59-year-old resident of Holloway, who became concerned at the number of homeless dogs starving in the streets of London. She opened the shelter on St James's Road as a temporary home for lost dogs. It began rescuing cats too in 1960 and today rehomes around 7,000 animals every year. When you want to keep warm and look stylish while out walking your dogs, check out Griggs' range of top-branded clothing for men, women and children. We stock brands such as Barbour, Joules and many more.