Comedian and television presenter Paul O’Grady, who lives in Aldington, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours for services to entertainment.

Mr O'Grady is a keen supporter of Aldington village school, whose fete he has opened on several occasions.

Born in Birkenhead near Liverpool, he moved down to London when he was 18.

Before finding fame he had a variety of jobs including everything from cleaning to social work.

He first found success as the blonde bombshell Lily Savage, who launched her TV career by interviewing celebrities on the bed in Channel 4’s Big Breakfast.

Her hit shows included The Lily Savage Show and Blankety Blank.

Lily made her last appearance in the sell-out West End pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 2004.

Mr O’Grady then acted as guest host on TV show Today with Des and Mel, and loved the chat show format so much he decided to come up with a show of his own.

The Paul O’Grady Show was launched in October, 2004, and became an instant success.

Honours for comedy, teaching and community work

Away from the London TV scene Mr O’Grady maintains a fairly low profile when he is at his 200-acre Kent farm home.

Two years ago, in front of a national TV audience of millions, he thanked the staff at Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital for saving his life when he presented an award at the Pride of Britain Awards, which celebrate the courage of ordinary people.

Mr O’Grady suffered his second heart attack in the summer of 2006 and was treated at the William Harvey’s cardiac catheter suite, which ironically he had opened in 2003.

In December 2006, he invited 24 hospital staff to be in the studio audience for his Christmas show, as a gesture of thanks.

He suffered his first heart attack back in April, 2002, when he had an operation to widen a blocked artery, before pledging to give up smoking.