Former Coronation Street star Sally Lindsay held back tears during an interview as she recalled the final time she spoke to close friend Paul O'Grady.
It comes following the unexpected passing of the 67-year-old TV star and comedian as his husband Andre Portasio confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement on Wednesday morning.
Paul's death has come as a shock to fans and loved ones across the world, with Andre revealing it was "unexpected" but "peaceful".
Actress Sally, 49, remembered her dear friend on This Morning on Wednesday, hours after the news broke of her pal's death.
Fighting back tears in an emotional interview, The Mirror reports how she explained why she needed to appear on the show while also revealing her final conversation with the star.
The 49-year-old explained the pair had recently begun working on a new project together, as she told of the world being "a darker place" now that Paul was gone.
Visibly emotional and fighting back tears, the actress revealed she and all those who knew Paul were "devastated" by his passing.
Speaking to hosts Holly Willoughby and Joel Dommett just hours on from his death, Sally said: "[I've known him for a] long, long time.
"It was quite a shock this morning. I'm with you because I know if you had got anyone he didn't know he’d have said, 'why've you got her on for, I can't stand her'.
"That’s why I am here, I'd rather not be let's put it this way. It's a big shock and everyone is devastated."
Sally first met Paul around 20 years ago when she was on Coronation Street, and around the time Paul's series The Paul O'Grady Show kicked off.
The pair formed a close friendship and have remained that way ever since, so Paul's sudden death came as a huge shock to the star who revealed on Wednesday they were working on a new project together.
Sally revealed all on the last time she spoke with Paul just days before his death, unaware that this would be their final conversation.
She told the hosts: "We were working on a project very recently, a new project together. So the last time I spoke to him was last Thursday and he had to go, because one of his pigs was ill and the vet was knocking on the door.
"So that was the last time I spoke to him which I never thought was the last time, you never do do you."
Describing her late friend, Sally paid tribute to him and said: "Paul was a whirlwind, he was funny, intelligent, there was no one like him. He was always a very, very real man but hysterically funny.
"You went out for dinner with him and it was exhausting because you were laughing that much. There was no one like him, the world is a darker place today."
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV1 and ITVX.
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