For decades, Paul O’Grady occupied a rare and treasured space on British television. He was funny without cruelty, outspoken without arrogance, and compassionate without performance. When he died in 2023, many wondered whether that space — warm, witty, deeply human — would simply disappear with him.
Increasingly, viewers are coming to the same conclusion: it hasn’t disappeared at all.
It has quietly found a new voice.
And that voice belongs to Tom Read Wilson.
A Different Era, The Same Instinct
Tom Read Wilson does not imitate Paul O’Grady — and that is precisely why the comparison works.
Like O’Grady, Tom is unapologetically himself. He doesn’t chase controversy, overshare his private life, or lean on shock value. Instead, he wins audiences with intellect, kindness, and a gently mischievous sense of humour that feels almost old-fashioned in today’s attention economy.
Where Paul brought warmth from the council estates of Birkenhead, Tom brings wit shaped by literature, history, and a delightfully eccentric British sensibility. Different backgrounds — same emotional intelligence.
Humour With A Heart
Paul O’Grady understood something many presenters never grasp: humour works best when it comes from empathy.
That same instinct defines Tom Read Wilson’s on-screen presence. Whether offering advice, reacting to chaos around him, or calmly skewering absurdity with a perfectly timed remark, Tom never punches down. His comedy invites people in rather than pushing them away.
Viewers don’t laugh at Tom.
They laugh with him.
That shared warmth is exactly what made Paul O’Grady so trusted — and so loved.
Representation Without Grandstanding
Paul O’Grady became a beloved LGBTQ+ figure not by making sexuality the headline of his career, but by refusing to apologise for who he was. His confidence made visibility feel normal rather than confrontational.
Tom Read Wilson embodies that same quiet confidence.
He doesn’t frame his identity as a provocation or a brand. It’s simply part of who he is — woven naturally into his worldview, humour, and humanity. For audiences weary of culture wars and performative outrage, that restraint feels refreshing.
It’s representation without lectures.
Visibility without noise.
The Missing Ingredient on Modern TV
British television has no shortage of personalities. What it lacks — increasingly — are presenters who feel safe to watch.
Paul O’Grady was safe in the best sense: emotionally intelligent, grounded, reliable. You could leave him on with your parents, your children, or yourself after a difficult day.
Tom Read Wilson offers that same reassurance.
He brings calm where others bring chaos. Curiosity where others bring ego. And in an industry increasingly driven by extremes, that balance is powerful.
Not A Replacement — A Continuation
No one can replace Paul O’Grady. His voice, history, and cultural impact are singular.
But legacies don’t always end. Sometimes, they evolve.
Tom Read Wilson represents a continuation of something Britain values deeply: entertainment that is clever without cruelty, inclusive without aggression, and funny without forgetting to be kind.
In a quieter, subtler way, he is carrying the torch.
And perhaps that is exactly how Paul O’Grady would have wanted it.