“This free exhibition will be Paul’s gift to his hometown”

A major exhibition delving into the private archive of Paul O’Grady, revealing his life in front of and behind the cameras will open in his hometown of Birkenhead at the end of this year. You Gotta Get A Gimmick – The Paul O’Grady Story will be a free exhibition at Williamson Art Gallery and will open on 4 December 2026. 

The exhibition, featuring a wider community and participation programme, will give a first glimpse into the extensive archive of Paul, contextualising him as an LGBTQIA+ icon, an award-winning broadcaster, passionate activist and someone who gave a voice to the voiceless, particularly those with four paws. From Tranmere to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, the “blonde bombsite of Birkenhead” to Battersea Dog’s Home, the exhibition will present Paul O’Grady is one of Britain’s most cherished, and significant cultural figures.

Birkenhead is at the heart of Paul O’Grady’s story, whether it is the acid tongue of Lily Savage, the humour and activism of Paul as a presenter and entertainer, the determination to stand up for a cause and the working-class identity at his core. Premiering the exhibition in the town has been the central ambition of the curatorial team, and The Paul O’Grady Estate with a commitment to keeping access free.

Early Years

Paul James O’Grady was born to Molly and Paddy on 14 June 1955 in Birkenhead and was brought up in a close-knit Irish Catholic household in Tranmere. The youngest of three children, he first attended St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Prenton and then St. Anselm’s College in Birkenhead, which was founded by the Christian Brothers.  After leaving school Paul worked in a variety of jobs including being a clerk in the Magistrates Courts and a care worker in a Children’s Convalescent Home in West Kirby.

Crossover into mainstream

Set against the turbulent social and political landscape of 1980s Britain, the exhibition charts the rise of Lily Savage within the context of Section 28 and widespread homophobia. Lily Savage emerged as a defiant response to the era’s unrest, channelling working-class resilience into high-glamour, razor-sharp satire.

As we mark the 60th anniversary of the 1967 Sexual Offences Act, the exhibition places Paul O’Grady at the vanguard of LGBTQIA+ visibility. It maps the moment queer culture crossed over from the pub and club underground into the collective heart of the British public, forever altering the national cultural fabric. 

Lily’s television career included hosting “The Lily Savage Show” (BBC); “Lily Live” (ITV); and “Lily Savage’s Blankety Blank”. After resting Lily, Paul O’Grady’s career flourished in many directions from the BAFTA award-winning “The Paul O’Grady Show”, “Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs” and “Paul O’Grady’s Little Heroes” to name but a few. He also had a definitive decade-long residency on BBC Radio 2, making him one of the most significant cultural figures of his generation.

He has written four volumes of his autobiography and in 2017 “Paul O’Grady’s Country Life” was published.  Paul’s children’s books about Eddie Albert focus on a boy who lives with his dad after his mum has died and who finds he has the ability to talk to animals.  They are his friends and they have adventures together which include rescuing a baby orangutan from a cruel owner.  Paul wanted his books to encourage children to be kind to animals as well as wanting to support children who are bullied in school or who feel they don’t fit in.

Despite all his success which undoubtedly changed his life he remained passionate about speaking out when he considered people were being treated unjustly and in his TV series about the Working Class and “The Sally Army and Me” he wanted to highlight the day to day struggles of ordinary people and show the hard work that goes on often unnoticed by the powers that be.

The Archive: Craft, Costume, and Character

For the first time, the public is invited to engage with the meticulous craft behind the persona. The exhibition brings together a unique selection of items from Paul O’Grady’s archive:

• Iconic Wardrobe: Original Lily Savage and pantomime costumes that defined an era of British drag.
• Media: Rare footage, scripts, photography, and oral histories documenting LGBTQIA+ activism and working-class life and entertainment.
• Private World: An intimate look at Paul’s personal eclectic collection of objects, figurines, and puppets, revealing the influences that shaped his creative psyche.

A Living Heritage

Thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund, this exhibition will spread from behind the gallery walls to document Paul’s legacy and the lived experience of his peers and community. Through a series of oral history sessions, the exhibition documents the lived experiences of the local LGBTQIA+ community, ensuring Paul O’Grady’s legacy is intertwined with the heritage of the Northwest and the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. The exhibition will be accompanied by a year-long public programme of Talking Heads, music, performance and cabaret to inspire and platform the next generation of queer talent alongside reading clubs of Paul O’Grady children’s books in libraries across the Wirral. good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.

With thanks to National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England