Andre Portasio, the widower of late television presenter Paul O’Grady, has sold the couple’s Amsterdam apartment. The property, located in the Dutch capital, was described by Mr Portasio as holding a ‘very dear place in my heart’ despite the sale.
In an emotional Instagram post, Mr Portasio shared photographs of himself and his late husband enjoying the city, along with images of the luxurious interior. He wrote: ‘Today, with a heavy heart, I hand the keys to the new owners of our apartment in Amsterdam. This was our first home together - the place that inspired Paul’s second children’s book, where we made friends for life and where Paul could relax, socialise, and enjoy the simple things in life.’ He added that the property, a UNESCO site and historical home, would now be cared for by new custodians.
Mr Portasio is also attempting to sell the couple’s Kent home in Aldington, where Mr O’Grady lived before his death in March 2023. The Edwardian mansion, set on 20 acres, has been on the market for some time. Its price has been reduced twice, from £3.5 million to £2.65 million, and now stands at £2.4 million.
The Kent property, purchased by Mr O’Grady in 1999, includes a swimming pool, two self-contained cottages, a barn, and stables. The star, known for presenting ‘For the Love of Dogs’, kept a menagerie of animals there, including sheep, dogs, pigs, chickens, ducks, alpacas, goats, and barn owls. It was also where he died at the age of 67 from sudden cardiac arrhythmia, having previously suffered three heart attacks and severe effects of Covid.
