Crowds line the streets as star-studded funeral of Paul O'Grady takes place

The funeral of much loved comedian and presenter Paul O'Grady took place today (April 20) with mourners invited to line the streets as his coffin proceeded through his home village of Aldington in Kent before a private service in nearby Bonnington attended by celebrities and family members.

The intimate funeral service was "very jolly," the Reverend Canon Roger Martin told PA. He added: "It was a very fitting send off," saying the eulogy delivered by Paul's long-time friend Julian Clary was "very entertaining... he spoke quite a lot about their stage life together."

The service commenced with a reading from actor-turned-Labour peer and LGBT rights activist Lord Cashman and O’Grady’s former PA and agent Joan Marshrons, who read a Woodland Burial. It also included reflections from Chad Rogers, who produced TV shows Blankety Blank and Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs, about his friendship with O’Grady.

Musical choices included the theme from British television drama series Upstairs Downstairs, Looking For Trouble by Elvis Presley and Meditation from the opera Thais by French composer Jules Massenet. The order of service featured a poem from Rumi, a photograph of O’Grady dressed in drag with the quote “See you down there”, and a picture of the comedian cuddling a baby orangutan.

The 67-year-old died at his home on March 28 "unexpectedly but peacefully" according to his husband, Andre Portasio. It was later confirmed the Lily Savage star died from sudden cardiac arrhythmia.

The private service featured a guard of honour with dogs from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and an appearance from the Salvation Army Band. Paul became an ambassador for the animal charity in 2012 and rehomed five dogs while filming his multiple award-winning