O'Grady may face more heart surgery

Lily Savage is said to be "feeling a bit lousy"

Comedian Paul O'Grady, better known to TV viewers as larger than life drag act Lily Savage, may have to undergo a second operation after suffering a heart attack.

O'Grady, 46, is currently recovering from a two-hour operation he underwent on Friday morning at a London hospital.

Doctors were waiting to see how he responded to the initial surgery before deciding on the next course of action.

But his agent Brendan Murphy announced on Saturday that the star is not yet in the clear and may need to undergo further surgery after the heart attack on Thursday.

He is under observation for damage to the heart

Brendan Murphy, Agent

He said: "The operation was a success as far as it goes but we're not sure whether it's the first and final or the first of several."

The performer is understood to have undergone an angioplasty, a procedure in which a small balloon is passed into a narrowed or blocked artery to widen it.

Mr Murphy said the star of the game show Blankety Blank was "feeling a bit lousy" but that his condition had improved.

"He is recovering normally," he said.

Lifestyle changes

"It is not very easy for him. He is under observation for damage to the heart and will have to be in hospital for a minimum of five days if all goes well."

The much-loved coarse-speaking comedian suffered the heart attack at his home near London's Tower Bridge, central London, and immediately rang Mr Murphy.

Paul O'Grady has made travel shows for ITV1

"He called at 3am saying 'I think I'm having a heart attack'," Mr Murphy said.

"I went straight round there and he was in a lot of pain, although he didn't look too bad.

"I called an ambulance and the rest happened very quickly and efficiently.

"It was a shock because he had not complained of any heart trouble before and he had no prior warning at all.".

Mr Murphy said that this would affect his work schedule.

"He is obviously going to have to make some huge adjustments," he said.

"It is too early to say what, but there are no long-term plans."