Paul O’Grady has turned down the chance to turn his life story into a television drama.
The ‘For The Love of Dogs’ host has snubbed the idea of a biopic – in a similar vein to ITV’s highly praised ‘Cilla’ series which saw Sheridan Smith play his late friend Cilla Black – because he isn’t sure if they would pull off his strong Liverpudlian accent.
He’s quoted by The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre TV column as saying: "It would have to have proper accents. I could not bear fake accents."
The 64-year-old star also admitted he finds it difficult to accept "praise" – even when it comes to live performances – which would make a TV series about his life a bit too much to handle.
He added: "I am no good at taking praise. I am no good at taking applause on stage either. I can’t bear it. It’s strange isn’t it?"
Earlier this year, Paul – who grew up in the North of England and went to went to a "rough" secondary modern school – revealed his delight at never losing his accent, despite having elocution lessons as a kid and moving to London to pursue his career in the entertainment business.
He also revealed he was "punched" by both his brother and cousin when he came home from school speaking more eloquently.
He said: "I remember coming home one day and saying, ‘I’d really like budgerigar’, and getting punched off my brother and my cousin.
"And then I failed the 11-plus of course and went to a secondary modern school which was, shall we say, a little bit rough, and ended up speaking like this.
"And then I came down to London and softened my accent – well I think it’s softened and they think it’s softened when I go back. Look at the way I speak now … beautiful.
"But I did have a very thick Scouse accent, very, very thick. I still have got a Scouse accent and I’ve not intention of losing it either.
"People at drama school, they came out speaking frightfully posh. But I’ve hung onto mine. Sometimes I lay it on really thick with certain people.”