Paul O'Grady's left 'HUGE fortune from his roles hosting For The Love of Dog and Blind Date' - as his widower wins bitter legal battle to turn late star's £3M home into holiday let
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Late Paul O'Grady reportledy left a huge fortune from his work on TV, which included hosting For The Love of Dogs, Blind Date as well as his own chat show.
The beloved broadcaster died 'unexpectedly but peacefully' from sudden cardiac arrhythmia at home with his partner Andre Portasio on March 28 2023 aged 67.
Now according to The Sun Paul's company Buster Production, which channeled his earnings, boasted a whopping £8.4M in profits at the time of his death, with £1.7M alone made in the final year of his life.
The comedian set up the company, named after his beloved dog, in 2001 before going on to host numerous shows including The Paul O'Grady Show on ITV from 2004 to 2015.
Paul's fortune was revealed in new filings by pal and agent Joan Marshrons, who had also been left £125K in the star's will to care for his five dogs, Nancy, Arfur, Conchita, Eddie, and Sausage.
Late Paul O'Grady reportledy left a huge fortune from his work on TV, which included hosting For The Love of Dogs, Blind Date (pictured) as well as his own chat show
The beloved broadcaster died 'unexpectedly but peacefully' from sudden cardiac arrhythmia at home with his partner Andre Portasio on March 28 2023 aged 67
MailOnline have contacted Paul's estate for comment.
He hosted the ITV series for 11 years as well as Paul O'Grady's Animal Orphans and Paul O'Grady's Great British Escape.
Meanwhile Paul stepped into late friend Cilla Black shoes as the host of Channel 5's Blind Date reboot while Paul O'Grady's Great Elephant Adventure aired posthumously.
In his will Paul shared his £15.5million fortune with charities close to his heart, as the TV legend's will serves as his final act of kindness to the world.
The presenter left £775,000 to charities such as Battersea Dogs Home, which featured in his popular ITV show For the Love of Dogs.
The animal lover also gave generous donations of £50,000 to elephant and orangutan charities, as well as giving over £50,000 to the Salvation Army, of whom he had been a lifelong fan.
A friend close to of Paul, famous for his drag alter ego Lily Savage, said the will was 'typical of Paul as he put his money where his mouth was'.
Last week MailOnline exclusively revealed that widower had won a bitter battle with neighbours over his bid to turn part of the beloved TV star's £3 million Kent estate into a holiday let.
Now according reports Paul's company Buster Production, which channeled his earnings, boasted a whopping £8.4M in profits at the time of his death, with £1.7M alone made in the final year of his life (pictured with late dog Buster in 2005)
The comedian set up the company, named after his beloved dog, in 2001 and he went on to host numerous shows including The Paul O'Grady Show on ITV from 2004 to 2015 (pictured)
Paul's fortune was revealed in new filings by pal and agent Joan Marshrons, who had also been left £125K in the star's will to care for his five dogs, Nancy, Arfur, Conchita, Eddie, and Sausage (Blind Date pictured)
Paul stepped into late pal Cilla Black shoes as the host of Channel 5's Blind Date reboot while Paul O'Grady's Great Elephant Adventure (pictured) aired posthumously
Former professional dancer Andre - who inherited the property when his husband died - sparked objections from locals over the plans.
They involved the former ballet dancer's plans for the conversion of an existing groundkeeper's house on the grounds into a cottage to be rented to tourists.
Some neighbours had accused Andre of effectively building a new home 'by the back door' and said there was no need for more holiday lets in the area.
They also cited fears of road accidents with a 'constant stream of visiting car drivers unfamiliar with the property's awkward access' - and some even suggested that Paul himself would not have approved.
But it has now emerged that other neighbours had written in support of the proposal.
And officials at the local council have now given the scheme the green light.
Planning officer Sally Hodgson said: 'Central government guidance supports sustainable business, enterprise and tourism in rural areas, both through the conversion of existing buildings and well-designed new buildings.
'This is endorsed by the Local Plan which seeks to encourage the sustainable growth of tourism.'
Last week MailOnline exclusively revealed that widower had won a bitter battle with neighbours over his bid to turn part of the beloved TV star's £3 million Kent estate into a holiday let
Paul had initially been given the go-ahead four years ago for a groundskeeper's outbuilding, gym and dance studio at his rural estate, which already boasts an outdoor swimming pool, orchard of fruit trees and a summerhouse.
But following his death last year, his Brazilian ballet dancer husband tried to turn that outbuilding into a separate two-bedroom house after the estate near Ashford was bequeathed to him.
Andre applied for a 'change of use' of the lodge which has an office, kitchen and shower, and lies next to the family pet cemetery.
He was refused planning permission but then applied to turn it into a holiday let, sparking further objections from neighbours.
