{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1778169"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1778169/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PF6199/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PF6199/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2025PF6199","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PF6201","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PF6202","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1778169/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1778169","accessionNumber":"S.905:1, 2-2024","objectType":"Costume","titles":[{"title":"Costume worn by Paul O'Grady as Lily Savage","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Paul O'Grady M.B.E (1955 - 2023) was one of the UK’s most significant drag performers. O’Grady cut his teeth in working men’s clubs and drag bars throughout London and the North of England whilst juggling his job as a carer, later achieving wider acclaim through his residency as Lily Savage at the historic Royal Vauxhall Tavern from 1984 – 1992.\r\n\r\nA staunch advocate for LGBT+ rights, O’Grady used his act as a platform to campaign and provoke. In January 1987, the police raided the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, as they regularly did, along with other queer venues. On this occasion the police wore wearing rubber gloves to ‘protect’ them from what they perceived as a potential HIV risk. O’Grady recalls appearing on stage and remarking “Oh good, have you come to do the washing up?” BBC News Online (30 March 2023) described the incident thus: “What might have seemed like a throwaway line has gone down in history as an example of deadpan defiance in the face of suspicion and often hostility towards gay people.”\r\n\r\nSavage’s acid tongue and quick-wittedness was an important aspect of O’Grady’s character, influenced by his own cultural upbringing and providing a platform for working-class Northern voices. Savage rejected the glamour of other drag queens, preferring miniskirts, animal print and garish colours along with her trademark white bouffant wig. \r\n\r\nSavage performed all over the UK, including seasons at Blackpool and the Edinburgh Fringe, winning the Perrier Award in 1991. Four of Savage’s shows were filmed and later released on VHS: <i>Paying the Rent</i> (1993), <i>Live and Outrageous</i> (1995), <i>An Evening with Lily Savage</i> (1996) and <i>The Live Show</i> (1998). In 1995, Savage was introduced to television audiences when she took over interviewing duties from Paula Yates on Channel 4’s <i>The Big Breakfast.</i> Savage hosted a revival of the television gameshow <i>Blankety Blank</i> on BBC One from 1997 to 1999, followed by <i>Lily Savage's Blankety Blank</i> on ITV from 2001 to 2002.\r\n\r\nSavage wore this costume during an appearance on the television chat show <i>Parkinson</i> (BBC One) on the 20th of February 1998 to promote <i>Blankety Blank.</i> After greeting the host Michael Parkinson, who says, \"What a sensational outfit\", Savage references the costume - \"It's the sort of thing I wear to the PTA, you know what I mean. If I'm up in court, normally stuns the magistrate and I get off.\" \r\n\r\nSavage also wore this costume in episode one (8 May 1998) of <i>Blankety Blank</i> following the revival.","physicalDescription":"Costume worn by Paul O'Grady as Lily Savage. Blazer in black velvet fabric with zebra print faux fur lapels and cuffs, black sequined trim, four silver and mirrored buttons, and black satin lining. Mini skirt in black velvet fabric with silver button, zip closure and black satin lining.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Martin Taylor","id":"AUTH411207"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Paul O'Grady","id":"AUTH377014"},"association":{"text":"Designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"velvet","id":"AAT133711"},{"text":"faux fur","id":"x38540"},{"text":"sequins","id":"x30374"},{"text":"metal","id":"AAT10900"},{"text":"satin","id":"AAT132902"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Television","id":"THES269530"},{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"LGBTQ","id":"THES266921"},{"text":"Costumes","id":"THES269529"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2025PF6199","2025PF6201","2025PF6202"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES402729"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES402729"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"costumes","id":"x31908"}],[{"text":"costumes","id":"x31908"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1998","earliest":"1998-01-01","latest":"1998-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Paul O'Grady and Andre Portasio","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"82","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"16/07/2024","earliest":"2024-07-16","latest":"2024-07-16"},"part":"blazer","note":"approximate longest point (flat)"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"54","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"16/07/2024","earliest":"2024-07-16","latest":"2024-07-16"},"part":"blazer","note":"approximate widest point (flat) "},{"dimension":"Length","value":"58.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"16/07/2024","earliest":"2024-07-16","latest":"2024-07-16"},"part":"skirt","note":"approximate longest point (flat)"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"42","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"16/07/2024","earliest":"2024-07-16","latest":"2024-07-16"},"part":"skirt","note":"approximate widest point (flat) "}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This costume was worn by Paul O'Grady as Lily Savage on <i>Parkinson</i> (BBC One, 20 February 1998) and <i>Blankety Blank</i> (Series 14, Episode One, BBC One, 8 May 1998).","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Costume consisting of black velvet skirt and jacket with zebra print collar and cuffs, worn by Paul O’Grady as Lily Savage.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Commissioned, made or bought by Paul O'Grady for Lily Savage.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[{"text":"Paul O'Grady","id":"AUTH377014"}],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[{"text":"BBC","id":"AUTH343965"}],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.905-2024","S.905:2-2024"],"accessionNumberNum":"905","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2024,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-26","recordCreationDate":"2024-04-15","availableToBook":false}}