Paul O’Grady’s Savage quip to police as they raided the Vauxhall Tavern in 1987

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In 2021, O’Grady reflected on a time when police officers raided the venue, which remains a popular social spot for the LGBT+ community. I remember saying something like, ‘Well well, it looks like we’ve got help with the washing up.’” Paul O’Grady as Lily Savage As this took place in 1987, during the height of the HIV and Aids crisis, officers wore gloves as a way to avoid touching those they were arresting, due to ignorance at the time over how the virus was transmitted. I was beginning to think it was me – in fact the South London Press in an extremely homophobic article called Lily ‘a lascivious act’ which I was very proud of.” Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. Though many saw this as the police’s attempt to intimidate the LGBTQ+ community, the official reason for the raids was due to “customers being drunk on licensed premises”.