O'Grady is back....but Buster misses out

I’m not particularly an aficianado of daytime television, it all seems a bit too brightly coloured and valium stained for my, admittedly rather dry and dour, televisual preferences. But a hearty welcome back to screens for the lovely Paul O’Grady, only three months after he suffered heart attack number two.

A source tells me that the host is fighting fit and raring to go, with first show guests including old pal Barbara Windsor and Desperate Housewives’ Jesse Metcalfe. Sadly though his hugely popular pooch Buster, who has been with him since his Lily days and these days is rarely not seen in some part of the show, is poorly and so will not be on the show. Insiders couldn’t say when the wee dog, which is a Shih Tzu/ Bichon Frise, will be back but one of the star’s other pets may stand in at the vital moments.

The comedian’s return to the tea time slot with The New Paul O’Grady Show sees him go head to head with one Sharon Osbourne, now taking up the space he once presided in before his very public spat with ITV, in what is a much-talked about clash of the titans. O’Grady reckons there is no bad feeling and the pair are still chums, but we’ll see once the gloves come off and the ratings figures are out.

He told The Sun: “I know what it’s like when you’re brought in to be a ratings winner - the 5pm slot has become like prime time. And it’s hard work if you feel like you’ve got no one on your side.”

Word is this week the Channel 4 show has a host of lively stars including Terry Wogan, Charlotte Church, Ricky Tomlinson and Lenny Henry.