Andre Portasio, husband of the late Paul O’Grady, brought a treasured travel trunk to BBC’s The Repair Shop.
Chris Shaw realised the trunk had seen better days(Image: BBC)
The Repair Shop expert Chris Shaw was tasked with fixing an important item for Andre Portasio, the husband of the late Paul O’Grady.
During an episode of the BBC show, Andre was hoping the experts would be able to help restore a travelling trunk which had once belonged to the iconic TV star. However, when looking at the trunk a bit closer, the BBC star noticed the damage.
Admitting it looked ‘a bit worse for wear’, Chris highlighted the problems with the trunk as he realised there were many sections which were ‘all over the place’. In a cutaway, Andre gave more information on the trunk, calling it ‘very important’.
However, Andre explained that Paul had got the trunk at an auction in America, as it had once belonged to performer Gypsy Rose Lee, whom Paul had admired. Andre shared that the trunk was ‘pride of place, in their home but he didn’t know what was inside until Paul died, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Sadly, the comedian died at the age of 67 back in 2023 after a sudden cardiac arrhythmia. When Andre opened the trunk for the first time, he realised it was full of ‘personal memories’ for Paul. One item included their wedding invitation, whilst another was a photo of them on a ride.
Another item which was in the trunk was a framed certificate confirming Paul had been an ambassador for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. Once Andre noticed the trunk itself was falling apart, he confessed it became ‘very clear’ it needed to be restored.
Inspecting the trunk, Chris commented, “So, this trunk really has travelled the world. It’s travelled all over America with Gypsy Rose Lee, and then Paul has used it as his memory trunk, and what a trunk to use! “But, along the way, the paper has suffered. There are scruffs, there are scrapes, it’s dirty. Just internally, it’s a bit sad. So, this is going to be a real challenge for me.”
Chris explained it needed to have new handles, along with having the woodwork fixed, as a lot of it was damaged. He added: “There’s an awful lot of things within this trunk that I can’t do.
“So, I need a shopping list of experts that I can call on. But, what a way to commemorate the national treasure that was Paul O’Grady by mending his memory trunk. I can’t wait to get going.”
Ultimately, Chris successfully restored the trunk to its former glory, travelling to Birkenhead to unveil the finished result to viewers, where it was incorporated into an exhibition honouring Paul in his hometown.
Upon meeting Andre, he lavished praise on the expert’s handiwork, calling his restoration ‘absolutely incredible’.After carefully examining every aspect of the trunk, Chris noted it had been a ‘big team effort’.
When questioned about what Paul would have thought of the trunk in its restored state, Andre confessed Paul ‘would’ve loved it’. Andre explained the trunk was going to be a big part of the exhibition, which also included the infamous leopard print coat which he wore in his persona Lily Savage.
The Repair Shop: Beyond the Barn is available to watch on BBC iPlayer
