Paul O’Grady’s secret spouse has joked about their profitable showbiz marriage.
The 67-year-old TV star – who died in mattress final month of a coronary heart arrhythmia – married bisexual Teresa Fernandes, 73, in 1977 and “forgot to break up” for 28 years.
Teresa instructed MailOnline: ‘We most likely loved one of many longest marriages in present enterprise! Paul was a really particular expensive pal of mine, however we did not actually love one another.
“I used to be lesbian and he was homosexual, so the wedding was by no means going to work out, however we had a good time as associates and though it has been nearly 50 years, I’ve some nice reminiscences.
“Clearly I used to be unhappy after I heard Paul had handed away, he is at all times been an excellent pal however I have not seen him for the reason that early 80s.
“We simply drifted aside across the time he began getting well-known, however I did not go to the funeral as a result of it is too far to journey.”
Talking of the wedding, which she says was by no means consummated, Teresa mentioned: “My mom was chasing me to get married, however my papers have been at all times so as, I’d by no means have been kicked out.
“I actually have a British passport now as a result of I’ve lived within the UK for thus lengthy however yeah my mum was at all times asking me ‘when are you getting married you are nearly 28’ so Paul stepped in to assist me and preserve my mum completely satisfied.
“I instructed Paul what my mum was saying and he turned to me and mentioned ‘Look, if it’s essential to get married I am going to enable you’ and some months later we have been within the Harrow Highway register workplace with associates they have been getting married.
“We then had a bit social gathering to rejoice with a few of his associates and mine after which it was over. We each continued our jobs however by no means lived or slept collectively.
“I instructed my mom that I used to be married and she or he was delighted, we have been planning to go to Portugal and have the ceremony however ultimately plans modified as a result of Paul could not take day without work from work however a pal of his went so he did not do not waste your cash for the ticket.
“My mum by no means met Paul and I feel she would have recognized one thing was fallacious, however so far as she knew I used to be married.
“Paul instructed me he’d by no means been married however he mentioned he had a daughter from when he was youthful and at first I believed he was joking when he provided to marry me nevertheless it actually helped.”
Paul and Teresa lastly divorced in 2005.
She mentioned: “After all I knew I used to be married all these years, however I did not actually take into consideration how I used to be getting on with my life.
“Paul at all times made me snicker and at all times mentioned he would make somebody very completely satisfied and he was a beautiful man, we had such a wonderful friendship and it is such a disgrace we drifted aside.”
