Paul O’Grady has said working on a documentary about Great Ormond Street Hospital has been a “humbling” and “inspiring” experience.
The 63-year-old’s own production company made the six part series for ITV – which begins on Wednesday evening – after he visited the hospital for his show For The Love Of Dogs.
“As soon as we walked through the door I knew we had to do a series,” Paul told Gok Wan and Rylan Clark-Neal on Wednesday’s This Morning.
The Radio 2 DJ said even though the young patients are battling serious illnesses, they and the staff are so upbeat that he never found filming the series depressing.
“These are marvellous kids, they are so brave and get on with their treatment without moaning. Their parents are the same. Then there’s the wonderful staff.
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“It really does cater for the kids, there’s bright colours, Disney characters, LED lights everywhere, it wasn’t a depressing experience at all.”
He added of the children he met, who have conditions such as cystic fibrosis: “They are just remarkable children, they are inspiring, it is quite humbling.”
Paul said he didn’t mind being exposed to the hospital environment or mucking in as he was a care worker before he found fame.
“I worked in a children’s home for three years, I was only a couple of years older than the kids myself,” he explained.
“I would change colostomy bags, it never bothered me. Then I was a care officer in Camden. I was sort of like Mary Poppins going into people’s homes.”
Paul said his biggest issue working on the Little Heroes documentary was not getting too attached to the children he met.
“You can’t help getting attached. My producer said it’s not like Battersea, you can’t take one home at the end of the series,” he joked.
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He added that the staff told him he was a welcome presence on the wards as “they said I was diversion as I was keeping them amused and keeping their mind off serious issues like going to theatre.”
But the Blind Date presenter modestly added: “They don’t need me, they are so brave.”
Paul, who is a champion of the NHS and grateful that they have saved his life following a number of heart scares, said he hopes the series will raise further awareness and funds for GOSH.
Paul O’Grady’s Little Heroes starts on ITV Wednesday at 8pm. Will you be watching? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!