{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1778173"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1778173/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PF6209/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PF6209/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2025PF6209","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PF6208","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PF6207","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PF6210","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1778173/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1778173","accessionNumber":"S.909:1 to 3-2024","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 The  Big Breakfast.\r\n\r\nIn 1997, Savage hosted her own comedy variety television series titled The  Lily Savage Show  (BBC One) which featured musical numbers, special  guests, sketches and TV spoofs. Savage wore this costume in episode three (30 November 1997) during a sketch featuring Dale Winton and Mystic Meg.","physicalDescription":"Costume worn by Paul O'Grady as Lily Savage. Blazer in indigo velvet fabric with black sequined lapels, hem, cuffs, pockets and bow at the back, with three black buttons and black satin lining. Attached to the left lapel is a gold spider shaped brooch with rhinestones. Mini skirt in indigo velvet fabric, with back zip and button closure, and black satin lining.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Martin Taylor","id":"AUTH411207"},"association":{"text":"Designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"velvet","id":"AAT133711"},{"text":"satin","id":"AAT132902"},{"text":"sequins","id":"x30374"},{"text":"metal","id":"AAT10900"},{"text":"rhinestone","id":"AAT10806"}],"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":["2025PF6209","2025PF6208","2025PF6207","2025PF6210"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"FLR","id":"THES402638"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"FLR","id":"THES402638"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"FLR","id":"THES402638"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"costumes","id":"x31908"}],[{"text":"costumes","id":"x31908"}],[{"text":"costumes","id":"x31908"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"No","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1997","earliest":"1997-01-01","latest":"1997-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Paul O'Grady and Andre Portasio","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"80","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":"52","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":"56","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":"38","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 in <i>The Lily Savage Show</i> (Episode Three, 30 November 1997, BBC One).","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Costume consisting of indigo velvet skirt and fitted blazer, with black sequined collar,cuffs, trim and bow, 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.909-2024","S.909:2-2024","S.909:3-2024"],"accessionNumberNum":"909","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2024,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-19","recordCreationDate":"2024-04-15","availableToBook":false}}