A petition has been set up calling for the late Paul O’Grady to be honoured with a statue in his hometown of Birkenhead following his tragic passing last week.
The beloved British comedian and TV personality passed away on Wednesday, 29 March, aged 67 and while the cause of death is yet to be confirmed, he is said to have suffered from numerous health problems down the years, including kidney failure and multiple heart attacks.
An icon across Merseyside at large, fans were heartbroken and appalled to discover that among the flood of touching national tributes — including a truly moving dedication from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home — a mural painted by Birkenhead locals was vandalised just days after it was finished.
As a result, residents across the region and the UK are now calling for a more permanent way to immortalise the animal-loving funny man by starting a petition for a Paul O’Grady statue.
Set up by fan Kieran Gabriel, he wrote: “Paul has left a huge legacy with his trailblazing work as a drag artist, social and political causes, LGBT rights and of course, his love of animals.”
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As well as being a long-serving Battersea ambassador and famous dog fanatic, owning numerous pets throughout his life and a total of five dogs when died, O’Grady was also a hugely important figure in the UK’s LGBTQ+ community, portraying the character of Lily Savage many years.
Kieran states that “Wirral Council must surely take stock of the huge outpouring of love in the wake of Paul’s passing”, adding that if “Liverpool has Cilla [Black], Birkenhead deserves Paul.”
More than 100,000 members of the general public signed the petition in the space of just a few short hours and issuing an update on a separate post, the campaigner thanked every signature and urged others to join the Change.org appeal.
As he goes on to explain, “the next stage in this process is to secure funding to allow us to commission the statue”, noting that he has already and that although the goal is now set at £70,000, he believes it is achievable given the response and support displayed already.
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He reiterated that any donations, no matter how small, are much appreciated and that he knows “it would warm Paul’s heart to know of the love that’s been shared over the past week.”
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Danny Jones -
5th April 2023 
