Paul O’Grady sues brewery for use of Lily Savage name

TV personality Paul O’Grady is embroiled in a legal dispute with a Liverpool brewery after the Scouse beer company named one of its ales Savage. 

A red, glittery ‘Bakewell Tart’ IPA is at the centre of a legal battle between Paul O’Grady and Dead Crafty Beer Company. The artwork on the beer, which is called Savage, features a cartoon-like replica of O’Grady’s character Lily Savage, which the latter claims the brewery does not have permission to use as ‘Lily Savage’ and her image is a registered trademark.

“I wouldn’t mind if this brewery showed me the courtesy of asking me if they could use the name, particularly when it comes to promoting alcohol,” O’Grady told The Mirror, adding that he is “highly suspicious” of anyone who uses  his alter ego’s name without permission.

The brewery has since rebranded the ale under new name ‘Salvaged’ and offered to donate profits from its sales to an animal sanctuary, knowing that O’Grady is an animal lover.

“If they had any business acumen at all, they would have asked to help with this so-called fundraising in the first  place,” O’Grady said.

He added: “I’d like to see them bring out a lager named after Mickey Mouse. Disney would not only sue them, they’d close them down.”

Shocked brewery owner Vicky Morgan said they named the beer Savage “due to being inspired by the character we loved”.

“While we have the utmost respect for Paul O’Grady, his intellectual property and reputation, we hope these actions will stop further legal recourse and go towards helping animals in need in Liverpool,” she said.