Thursday, 13 August 2009

• Prev
• Next

OMG! Paul O'Grady mistaken for Cuban immigrant

Chat show host detained by officials in Miami

Paul O'Grady moved to London to be a social worker before beginning his comedy career on the pub and club circuit

Paul O’Grady was held for two hours by US officials who thought he was an illegal immigrant from Cuba.

The chat show host, 54, was on his way to Peru when he was taken into a holding room at Miami airport.

He was was told he had 'a funny accent', and quizzed about when he’d last visited Cuba.

'I said, "Well you've been studying that passport for the last hour like it was a lost testament and you'll see there's no stamp in my passport that says Cuba",' he told listeners of his Radio 2 show.

'How can I be accused of being an illegal Cuban alien? I’ve been to the jaws of hell folks, and it’s called Miami airport.’

Anna Brinck-Johnsen