Comic in hospital with chest pains

Comic turned daytime TV host Paul O'Grady has suffered a suspected heart attack.

The 51-year-old Lily Savage creator was taken to hospital on Friday morning after suffering chest pains, a friend said.

They added: ‘It does appear he has had a heart attack. He was taken to hospital with chest pains this morning.’

He was taken to intestive care, given a minor operation to help with the blood flow and is now recuperating in the cardiac unti, according to reports.

A spokeswoman for Channel Four, which airs The New Paul O’Grady Show, said: ‘We are shocked and concerned by the news, and along with Paul's many fans we are wishing him all the very best.’

The comic suffered a heart attack in 2002, and underwent a procedure to widen a blocked artery. He said that the scare forced him to review his lifestyle and give up smoking.

However he started smoking again after the death of his former lover Brendan Murphy in June last year.

Published: 1 Jul 2006