Ta-ra! O’Grady says farewell to listeners as radio show ends

FOR almost 14 years his voice has dominated the Sunday airwaves on his popular Radio 2 show.

But Paul O’Grady last night signed off from his final BBC show and thanked his listeners for getting involved over the years, saying it ‘wouldn’t have been the same without you’.

O’Grady, 67, has hosted the Sunday afternoon programme for nearly 14 years, before a schedule shake-up saw him regularly swapping with comic Rob Beckett.

Ahead of his last show, O’Grady said he had decided to leave as he ‘wasn’t really happy’ with the new arrangement.

Speaking to his producer, Malcolm Prince, as he ended his final show on Sunday, he said: ‘This is the last Sunday Paul O’Grady show here on Radio 2 ever.

‘It’s hard to say this, Malcolm, because it’s been almost 14 years hasn’t it. Do you know this is one of the longest jobs I’ve ever held down. I only came to do a few hours for Elaine Paige and look what happened.’

He thanked his listeners, adding: ‘I really appreciate it because, let’s face it, it wouldn’t have been the same without you, would it?’

He also gave a special mention to his producer, who returned the gesture on behalf of his ‘loyal listeners’. After playing his last song, Friends by Bette Midler, he added: ‘From all of us here, from me and from Malcolm and everybody, thank you for tuning in these past 546 programmes. So you look after yourselves, stay safe and well. Ta-ra everyone.’

His last show included many of his popular segments, including providing the recipe for a Hawaiian-style cocktail and paying tribute to listeners’ pets who have recently died. He also hosted a special edition of his Thank You Letter Of The Week.

As part of a segment where he plays three songs from one artist, he dedicated the track I’m Alive by Celine Dion to Mr Prince, who is leaving the BBC after 24 years.

O’Grady is the latest established presenter to leave the station, after Steve Wright, also 67, was replaced by Scott Mills, 48, after 24 years on the network.

Vanessa Feltz, 60, is also stepping back from her Radio 2 and BBC Radio London shows after almost 20 years.

The BBC confirmed Mr Beckett will return for at least another 13 weeks of shows from August 21.