Paul O’Grady fans ‘sobbing’ after late star makes moving posthumous appearance in Eurovision opening-Josie Copson-Entertainment – Metro

Eurovision Song Contest fans were feeling emotional just minutes into the first semi-final of the song contest after Paul O’Grady made a posthumous appearance.

Fans filled the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool as the international competition got under way in Merseyside, with Paul making his cameo during the opening film titled Welcome to Liverpool.

As 160 million people watched on, the film began with the moment a young Liverpudlian boy discovers that his home city is set to host the 2023 contest before travelling across the city telling his friends and family the news.

Throughout the journey, a number of celebrities and recognisable faces make an appearance who have their own personal connection to the city.

O’Grady is one of those people, and is seen preparing his home in anticipation of Eurovision’s arrival, mopping the floor while holding one of his beloved dogs.

Wearing a red polka dot apron with his sleeves rolled up, the Blind Date star looks in his element.

Paul appeared in the opening sequence (Picture: BBC)

The Wirral-born TV personality and comedian recorded the cameo before his death last month.

One fan approved the sweet tribute: ‘A gorgeous little nod to the great and utterly fabulous Paul O’Grady in the opening titles to #Eurovision.’

‘Paul O’Grady in the intro: sobbing,’ another added about the short clip.

Eurovision fans were left feeling emotional (Picture: BBC)

A fellow Liverpudlian shared his emotional reaction to the appearance: ‘Three minutes into #Eurovision and I’m already bawling – not least due to the poignant opening cameo by my favourite fellow Scouser, Paul O’Grady.’

Their sentiments were echoed by another viewer: ‘Not even 5 mins in and I’m crying. that wee shot of Paul o’Grady in the intro film!!!’

O’Grady died ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’ on March 28 at the age of 67, and his funeral was held in April.

It was later confirmed that his cause of death was sudden cardiac arrhythmia syndrome (SADS).

Also included in the video was Wirral-born baker Paul Hollywood, Ukrainian Everton footballer Vitalii Mykolenko and Liverpool Women’s footballers Sofie Lungaard and Emma Koivisto, from Denmark and Finland respectively, as well as Ukrainian Strictly Come Dancing professional Nikita Kuzmin.

The King and Queen, who revealed the new-look stage in Liverpool last month, also appeared in the pre-recorded clip.

O’Grady’s producer Malcolm Prince, wrote last week in a since-deleted tweet: ‘From Joan (Paul’s manager): ‘There will be a brief clip of Paul in the opening titles of the Eurovision programme at 8pm on Tues 9th May on BBC One…

‘Paul wasn’t a fan of Eurovision as I’m sure you all know, but it turned out to be the last bit of filming he did.’

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Replying to comments from fans, Prince added: ‘He was never a fan of it, bless him.’

He elsewhere confirmed that O’Grady will feature on another animal-related programme set in Thailand that will air ‘soon’ on ITV, having ‘completed’ the series in December.

The second Eurovision semi-final is due to air on Thursday at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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