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{{Short description|British television host and comedian (born 1952)}} | |||
{{Infobox person | |||
{{Use British English|date=July 2021}} | |||
| name = Michael Barrymore | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}} | |||
| birth_name = Michael Ciaran Parker | |||
{{Infobox comedian | |||
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|5|4|df=y}} | |||
| name = Michael Barrymore | |||
| birth_place = ], ], ] | |||
| |
| image = Michael Barrymore today (cropped).jpg | ||
| caption = Barrymore in 2020 | |||
| partner = Shaun Davis (1997–2007){{cn|date=March 2011}} | |||
| birth_name = Michael Ciaran Parker | |||
| nationality = ] | |||
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|5|4|df=y}} | |||
| ethnicity = ] | |||
| birth_place = ], London, England | |||
| occupation = Comedian, actor,<br>television personality,<br>game show host | |||
| medium = Stand-up, film, television | |||
| yearsactive = 1976–present <small>(recurring)</small> | |||
| years_active = 1976–2003, 2006,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.virginmedia.com/tvradio/bigbrothercelebrityhijack/pictures/best-of-cbb.php?ssid=9 |title=2006: Michael Barrymore's comeback |author=Staff |publisher=] |access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref> 2009–2014, 2018–present<ref>{{cite web |access-date=23 March 2018 |title=Michael Barrymore makes ITV return 16 years on from being dropped when Stuart Lubbock died in his swimming pool |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/entertainment/tv/michael-barrymore-makes-itv-return-16-years-on-from-being-dropped-when-stuart-lubbock-died-in-his-swimming-pool/ar-BBKA4BA?li=BBoPWjQ |publisher=MSN}}</ref> | |||
| television ={{nowrap|''The Michael Barrymore Show''<br>'']''<br>'']''<br>'']''<br>'']''<br>'']''<br>''Animals Do the Funniest Things''<br>'']''<br>'']''}} | |||
| genre = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>] | |||
| subject = {{flatlist| | |||
* Everyday life}} | |||
| spouse = {{Plainlist| | |||
* {{Marriage|]|1976|1997|end=div}} | |||
}} | }} | ||
| children = | |||
'''Michael Ciaran Parker''' (born 4 May 1952),<ref>http://web.researcha.com/iccquery/detail/?did=897861&c=uk</ref> better known by his ] '''Michael Barrymore''', is a ] ] who appeared as a presenter of ]s and ] programmes on ] in the 1980s and 1990s. These included '']'', '']'', '']'' and ''Kids Say the Funniest Things''. He headlined the 1993 ] and was voted the UK's favourite TV star several times, becoming one of the highest-paid stars on TV. | |||
| website = | |||
}} | |||
'''Michael Ciaran Parker''' (born 4 May 1952),<ref>''Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1984–2004.'' Gives name at birth as "Michael Ciaran Parker".</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://companycheck.co.uk/director/916782637/MR-MICHAEL-CIARAN-PARKER/summary |title=MR MICHAEL CIARAN PARKER director information. Free director information. Director id 916782637 |first=company check |last=ltd |website=Company Check}}</ref> known by his stage name '''Michael Barrymore''', is an English comedian, influencer and television presenter of game shows and ] programmes on British television in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. These included '']'', '']'', ''],'' '']'', and his own variety show, '']''. In 1993, he headlined the '']''. | |||
At his peak, Barrymore was voted the UK's favourite television star several times, and he became one of the highest-paid stars on television from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s. Barrymore subsequently appeared on '']'' and other shows including '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''. He starred in '']'' from 2000 to 2001, a comedy drama in which he played the title role of a failing television game-show host. | |||
Barrymore's television career effectively ended after the ] in 2001 following a party at Barrymore's house in ]. Barrymore was the subject of police investigations and legal action around the case over several years. | |||
==Early life== | |||
Barrymore's career went downhill after the March 2001 death of Stuart Lubbock in his swimming pool. Since then he has appeared on '']'' and other shows including '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''. | |||
Born Michael Ciaran Parker in ], he lived on the Dickens ] for the first 18 years of his life with his two elder siblings.<ref name="House"/> His father left when Barrymore was 11 and they never saw each other again. Barrymore and his siblings were raised in the Roman Catholic faith of their Irish mother, Margaret.<ref name="House">''The House That Made Me'', ], 16 December 2010.</ref> | |||
== |
==Career== | ||
===Early life=== | |||
Barrymore was born Michael Ciaran Parker in ] in 1952. He lived on the Dickens ], Bermondsey, for the first 18 years of his life.<ref name="House"/> His parents, George and Margaret, had moved there in 1950 with Barrymore's brother John (born c. 1944) and sister Ann (born c. 1946).<ref name="House"/> When Barrymore was 11, his father, a violent heavy drinker, left; they never saw each other again.<ref name="House">], 16 December 2010</ref> | |||
===Early career=== | ===Early career=== | ||
Barrymore spent his early career working as a ] at ] holiday camps |
Barrymore spent his early career working as a ] at ] holiday camps and then in the West End theatre shows of London, where he met dancer ] in 1974. They married in 1976.<ref>{{cite news |author=Staff |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/1253208.stm |work=] |title=Barrymore's Troubled Life |date=1 April 2001 |access-date=26 February 2013}}</ref> With Cheryl as manager and the mastermind behind Barrymore's rise to fame, he first won a 1975 edition of '']'', became a regular panellist on '']'' and then the warm-up man for ] on the '']''<ref name="autogenerated1"/> and also for ] theatre shows. In the early days, Barrymore used to do impressions of ] and ], among others.<ref name="Catch A Falling Star">{{cite book |last=Barrymore |first=Cheryl |title=Catch A Falling Star |publisher=Robson Books |year=2002}}{{ISBN missing}}</ref> | ||
=== |
===Television career (1976–2002)=== | ||
Barrymore rose to fame via appearances on '']'' and '']'' and his television career began firstly by having his own sketch show entitled ''The Michael Barrymore Show'' in 1983, which starred a young ], and he also appeared in ''Russ Abbot's Madhouse'' as various characters in 1981 and 1982. He walked out of his contract with LWT, who produced ''The Michael Barrymore Show'', after only one series; he then landed the presenter's role on the BBC game show ''Get Set, Go!''.<ref name="Awight Now: Michael Barrymore 84">{{cite book |last=Barrymore |first=Michael |title=Awight Now: Michael Barrymore |publisher=Simon Schuster Ltd. |year=2006 |page=84}}</ref> He appeared in a number of '']'' shows, his first being in 1983. He became the host of ] gameshow '']'' (which later became ''Strike It Rich'') in 1986 and it grew in popularity over the years, watched by 18 million viewers at its peak.<ref name="Awight Now: Michael Barrymore 82-87">{{cite book |last=Barrymore |first=Michael |title=Awight Now: Michael Barrymore |publisher=Simon Schuster Ltd. |year=2006 |pages=82–87}}</ref> | |||
From there Barrymore rose to fame presenting his own show, ''The Michael Barrymore Show'', and also appeared in a number of ] shows. He became the host of ] entertainment shows '']'' (which later became ''Strike It Rich'') from 1986, then it was his own light entertainment show entitled '']'' followed by a talent show '']''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/25522 |title=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/25522 |publisher=British Film Institute}}</ref> and gameshow '']'' together with '']'' and ''Animals Do the Funniest Things''. Barrymore was voted the UK's favourite TV star several times, and became one of the highest-paid stars on TV.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/2274571.stm | work=BBC News | title=Barrymore's ex to publish memoirs | date=22 September 2002 | accessdate=5 April 2010}}</ref> | |||
This was Barrymore's first successful presenting role (''Get Set Go!'' had been cancelled after only one single series<ref name="Awight Now: Michael Barrymore 84"/>), which led then to his own light entertainment show, '']'' in 1991. However, before that he had his own show between 1988 and 1989, produced for the BBC entitled ''Michael Barrymore's Saturday Night Out'';<ref name="Catch A Falling Star 70">{{cite book |last=Barrymore |first=Cheryl |title=Catch A Falling Star |publisher=Robson Books |year=2002 |page=70}}{{ISBN missing}}</ref> it was set in Jersey and the theme tune, "Doin' the Crab" had been released as a single in 1987. | |||
===Coming out=== | |||
At the height of his popularity, Barrymore suffered increasing ] problems. Barrymore claims he wanted to seek help, but that Cheryl continually told him: "No, you're not (alcoholic). Don't be stupid."<ref></ref> | |||
In 1991, Barrymore was given his own show entitled ''Barrymore'' where he interviewed guests, performed his comedy routines and joined in with other performers on the show. The show lasted throughout the 1990s right up to 2000, and was consistently nominated for awards over the years in the UK. Among the many famous guests that appeared on ''Barrymore'' were ], ], and ]. | |||
In mid-1995, at the height of his fame, Barrymore went to the ''The White Swan'' ] in London's East End, where he gave an impromptu stage performance to the largely local crowd singing the words: "Start spreading the news - I'm extra ] today". Within 48 hours, every ] newspaper had printed its own version of the evening's events, including an untrue claim that the star had thrown away his wedding ring.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news| url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,587474,00.html | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Aw wight now? | first=Ben | last=Summerskill | date=22 December 2001 | accessdate=5 April 2010}}</ref> | |||
Following his appearance on the 1993 ''Royal Variety Performance'', where he performed a version of "]" with soldiers, he became popular on television and on the stage. The Royal Variety Show performance brought the house down and cemented Barrymore's place at the heart of the British public. Barrymore became well known through his catchphrases of "Awight!", on making his entrance, and on '']'', "Top, middle or bottom?" and "What is a hot spot not?", to which the studio audience would reply "a good spot". | |||
After appearing as the headline act on the 1993 ], where he sang a version of '']'' with the ] gun drill, in November 1995, Barrymore attended the ], where, clearly ], he made a rambling, incoherent speech. At an after-show party on a live late night radio show, he publicly declared he was gay and "no longer wanted to ]", following which he split with Cheryl. She later claimed that Barrymore took the step and did not tell her because of his talks with ].<ref></ref> Barrymore, as of 2010, has said that he is no longer gay after setting up a relationship with a woman.<ref>http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/05/21/michael-barrymore-says-hes-no-longer-gay/</ref> However, he has acknowledged that he may be ].<ref> "When it was suggested he was bisexual, he said: 'I suppose so.'"</ref><ref>Cable, Simon (May, 2010), , Afterellen.com. Retrieved May 21, 2010.</ref> | |||
Following on from the success, Barrymore had a very public battle with substance abuse. He went into rehab due to his alcohol and drug addiction in 1994. He left after a couple of months and went on to write a best-selling book about his experiences, including rehab, and he also went on a stage tour called ''Back in Business'' in 1994.<ref name="Awight Now: Michael Barrymore 114">{{cite book |last=Barrymore |first=Michael |title=Awight Now: Michael Barrymore |publisher=Simon Schuster Ltd. |year=2006 |page=114}}{{ISBN missing}}</ref> | |||
He then regained his former status and made another series of ''Barrymore'' and recorded a new series called ''My Kind of People''. He came out as gay on 19 August 1995{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} and split from his wife in 1996. He made a new series of ''Strike It Lucky'', now called ''Strike It Rich'' and another ''Barrymore'' series. More editions of ''Strike It Rich'' and ''Barrymore'' were shown in 1997 and he also appeared in '']'' as Mr. Step. | |||
===Divorce=== | |||
He separated from wife Cheryl after the revalations about his sexuality in late 1995, and after several aborted reunions, Cheryl and Michael divorced in 1997 and Cheryl went on to publish the ]<ref></ref> ''Catch a Falling Star'' which contained details of their acrimonious split. The couple subsequently had no contact, and Cheryl at her request ceased to be Barrymore's agent or manager. | |||
A spin-off talent show, '']''<ref>{{cite web |author=Staff |url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/25522 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011150412/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/25522 |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 October 2012 |title=Michael Barrymore's My Kind of People |publisher=] |access-date=26 February 2013}}</ref> and game show '']'' followed the success of both ''Barrymore'' and ''Strike It Rich''. Following a dip in ratings, ''Barrymore'' was cancelled in 1997 (it later returned in 2000). He went on to new projects with '']'', ''Animals Do the Funniest Things'' and ''Barrymore on Broadway''.<ref name="imdb"/> He was voted the UK's favourite TV star several times, and became one of the highest-paid stars on TV.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/2274571.stm |work=] |title=Barrymore's Ex to Publish Memoirs |date=22 September 2002 |access-date=5 April 2010}}</ref> Barrymore won the ] for Most Popular Entertainment Presenter five out of the first six years, last at the ] in 2000. This makes him the last winner of that award before ], who since the ] in 2001 have been named Most Popular Entertainment Presenter (or, since 2016, Most Popular TV Presenter) every year the awards were held, 19 in all as of January 2020.<ref name="imdb"/> | |||
Barrymore later suggested in his 2006 autobiography ''Awight Now: Setting the Record Straight'' that Cheryl was a control freak who controlled his every movement including his clothes,<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=551&id=1424782006 | location=Edinburgh | title=My kind of autobiography – Scotsman.com News}} {{Dead link|date=February 2011|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> and she had created the character that was "Michael Barrymore", which consequently drove him to alcohol, drugs and gay affairs.<ref>http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/spectrum.cfm?id=58072007</ref> | |||
He recorded two new series called ''My Kind of Music'' and ''Kids Say the Funniest Things'' in 1998 along with more ''Strike It Rich''. Newer editions of all three series were shown and another series of ''Barrymore'' was recorded and shown in 2000. The year 2000 also saw Barrymore move into acting in '']'' where he played the character of Bob Martin; he recorded two series of the comedy (2000–01).<ref name="imdb"/> Barrymore also presented a second series of ''Kids Say the Funniest Things'' which aired in late 2000 and also a fourth series of ''My Kind of Music'' which was on the air at the time that Stuart Lubbock died in Barrymore's pool on 31 March 2001. Following Lubbock's death, both ''Bob Martin'' and ''My Kind of Music'' stayed on the air while the investigation was ongoing, but he did not record any further programmes for ITV. They constantly backed him when asked by the newspapers and simply waited for investigations to conclude. In October 2001, Barrymore was given a drugs caution<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1592147.stm |work=] |title=Barrymore given drugs caution |date=11 October 2001 |access-date=29 July 2015}}</ref> and began recording a new series of ''My Kind of Music''. | |||
In an interview in 2002, Barrymore admitted that he is an alcoholic.<ref></ref> | |||
==Death of Stuart Lubbock== | |||
On 1 April 2005, Cheryl died of ] at the age of 55 at St John and St Elizabeth Hospital in ]. Shortly before her death she asked that details of her condition be kept secret from her former husband, and left instructions that he should not be invited to attend her funeral.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4402321.stm | work=BBC News | title=Barrymore ex-wife dies of cancer | date=1 April 2005 | accessdate=5 April 2010}}</ref> | |||
{{Main|Death of Stuart Lubbock}} | |||
===Party=== | |||
===Death of Stuart Lubbock===<!--This section linked from ], ]--> | |||
Following a party in the early hours of 31 March 2001, a 31-year-old man, Stuart Lubbock, |
Following a party at Barrymore's house in Essex in the early hours of 31 March 2001, a 31-year-old man, Stuart Lubbock, was discovered unconscious in Barrymore's swimming pool. Three witnesses – including Barrymore – claimed to have found him motionless in the pool. Witnesses disagreed on whether Lubbock was found floating on top of the pool or at the bottom. Barrymore had said he was on top of the pool.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2256141.stm |title=Open Verdict at Pool Death Inquest |date=13 September 2002 |access-date=5 April 2010 |work=]}}</ref> Lubbock, described as a "bubbly partygoer", had traces of drugs and alcohol in his system. In the postmortem, pathologists discovered severe ] injuries, which several experts, including senior Home Office pathologist Nathaniel Cary, later agreed were consistent with a ].<ref>Judd, Terri. , '']''. 14 September 2002.</ref><ref name="Appeal: Parker v CC Essex Police">Leveson, Brian. , "]", 11 November 2018</ref> | ||
Many ]s accused Barrymore of holding drug-fuelled |
Many ]s accused Barrymore of holding drug-fuelled ] in his home and asserted he had some responsibility for the death. Kylie Merritt, a partygoer, had claimed that Barrymore had been seen at the party rubbing cocaine onto Lubbock's gums, an allegation Barrymore denied.<ref name="BreakingNews_">{{Cite web |url=http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2002/09/12/story67992.asp |title=Barrymore 'rubbed cocaine on party victim's gums' |work=Breaking News.ie |publisher=Thomas Crosbie Media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070812031557/http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2002/09/12/story67992.asp |archive-date=12 August 2007 |access-date=26 September 2014}}</ref> | ||
===Arrest and inquest=== | |||
Barrymore subsequently received a ] for possession and use of ], but no other charges were laid against him or anyone else in connection with the death, although two other party-goers, unemployed Justin Merritt and ] Jonathan Kenney were arrested on suspicion of murder on 6 June 2001.{{cn|date=March 2011}} The ] that took place in September 2002 reached an ].{{cn|date=March 2011}} | |||
Barrymore received a ] for possession and use of ]. Barrymore and two other people at the party, Justin Merritt and Jonathan Kenney, were arrested on suspicion of ] on 6 June 2001. No other charges were laid against him or anyone else in connection with the death. The ] that took place in September 2002 reached an ]. In light of the verdict, Cheryl Barrymore was approached by a friend of the Lubbock family. She provided the family's solicitor with both an ] and subsequent court testimony that her ex-husband had lied under oath, and could in fact swim; she also alleged he had rubbed ] onto the gums of other people as well as his own.<ref>, ''The Scotsman''. Retrieved 26 September 2014.</ref> | |||
In November 2002, Barrymore's lawyers successfully demanded that ] re-investigate matters surrounding Lubbock's death. Their focus was on Barrymore's allegations that the injuries inflicted upon Lubbock's body could have occurred while it was lying unguarded in the ]. A pathologist's report found that Lubbock's wounds were only four hours old at the time of the examination at 4 pm, while Lubbock had been pronounced dead at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in ] at 8.20 am that morning.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wells |first=Matt |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/jul/28/mondaymediasection.broadcasting1 |title=Why I'm Not Bitter |date=14 June 2007 |newspaper=] |access-date=5 April 2010}}</ref> Barrymore told ]: "We want to prove the fact that the anal injuries could not have happened at the house." He added: "If these injuries had happened then, why have the police not charged anyone with anything?"<ref>, BBC; 14 January 2003. Retrieved 26 September 2014.</ref> An investigation into these claims by Essex Police in 2003 found "no evidence" to support them, instead concluding there was "strong evidence" the injuries were sustained before the arrival of paramedics.<ref name="Appeal: Parker v CC Essex Police"/> | |||
In light of the verdict, and the fact that she was approached by a friend of the Lubbock family, Cheryl provided the Lubbock family solicitor with both a sworn ] and subsequent court testimony that her ex-husband had lied under oath, and could in fact swim. She also alleged the entertainer had rubbed ] on to the gums of other people as well as himself.<ref></ref> | |||
===Private prosecution=== | |||
In November 2002 Barrymore's lawyers successfully demanded that ] re-investigate matters surrounding Lubbock's death. Their focus was on Barrymore's allegations that the injuries inflicted upon Lubbock's body could have occurred while lying unguarded in the ]. A pathologist's report found that Lubbock's wounds were only four hours old at the time of the examination at 4pm, while Lubbock had been pronounced dead at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in ] at 8.20am that morning.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2003/jul/28/mondaymediasection.broadcasting1 | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Why I'm not bitter | first=Matt | last=Wells | date=14 June 2007 | accessdate=5 April 2010}}</ref> On his claims, Barrymore told ]: "We want to prove the fact that the anal injuries could not have happened at the house." He added: "If these injuries had happened then, why have the police not charged anyone with anything?"<ref>Author unknown. . ]. 14 Jan 2003</ref> | |||
On Barrymore's high-profile return to the UK in January 2006 to take part in '']'', former solicitor, politician and local activist ] initiated a private prosecution, comprising six charges regarding Barrymore's alleged misuse of drugs on the night of Stuart Lubbock's death. The action commenced in ] Magistrates' Court in January 2006 and, on 10 February 2006, a ] at Southend Magistrates' Court blocked the private prosecution against Barrymore on the grounds of insufficient evidence. Bennett was no longer a solicitor and was acting independently of Terry Lubbock, Stuart's father.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/essex/4700816.stm |title=Judge Blocks Barrymore Death Case |date=10 February 2006 |access-date=30 March 2011 |work=]}}</ref> | |||
===Reopened investigation=== | |||
On Barrymore's high-profile return to the UK in January 2006 to take part in '']'', former solicitor, politician and local activist ] initiated a private prosecution, comprising six charges regarding Barrymore's alleged misuse of drink and drugs on the night of Stuart Lubbock's death. The action commenced in ] Magistrates Court in January 2006 and, on 10 February 2006, a ] at Southend Magistrates' Court blocked the private prosecution against Barrymore on the grounds of insufficient evidence being available for the case to continue. As has been noted above, Anthony Bennett was no longer a solicitor and was acting independently of ], Stuart's father.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/essex/4700816.stm |title=Judge blocks Barrymore death case |date=February 10, 2006 |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=30 March 2011}}</ref> | |||
In an interview with ] in the December 2006 edition of '']'', Barrymore stated there were other witnesses to the events who were hiding information. On 2 December 2006, police announced they would reopen the investigation into Lubbock's death after receiving a lengthy dossier submitted by Bennett, now Terry Lubbock's solicitor. The dossier described a series of alleged failures by Essex Police in the original investigation, and claimed an elaborate coverup of the true circumstances of Lubbock's death had taken place.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6202926.stm |title=New Barrymore Pool Death Inquiry |date=3 December 2006 |access-date=30 March 2011 |work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/25514/Police-To-Reopen-Michael-Barrymore-Death-Investigation |title=Police to Reopen Michael Barrymore Death Investigation |author=Taylor, Chris |date=3 December 2006 |publisher=] |access-date=30 March 2011}}</ref> | |||
===Complaints processes=== | |||
In an interview with ] in the December 2006 edition of '']'' magazine, Barrymore claimed there were other witnesses to the events who were hiding information. | |||
On 22 December 2006, following a successful complaint to the ] by Bennett, '']'' published a letter from Terry Lubbock replying to the newspaper's five-page feature on Barrymore earlier in the year which featured Terry's meeting with Barrymore.<ref name="PressComplaintsCommission_74">{{Cite web |url=http://www.pcc.org.uk/cases/adjudicated.html?article=NDI5Mw==&type= |title=Adjudicated Complaints – Mr Terry Lubbock |author=Press Complaints Commission |author-link=Press Complaints Commission |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508132747/http://www.pcc.org.uk/cases/adjudicated.html?article=NDI5Mw%3D%3D&type= |archive-date=8 May 2015 |access-date=8 May 2015}}</ref> | |||
On |
On 1 March 2007, the ] (IPCC), following a complaint lodged the previous December by Terry Lubbock, announced an investigation into aspects of the police inquiry into Lubbock's death after receiving complaints from the Lubbock family. It was reported that complaints surrounded information Essex Police gave to a coroner and pathologist after Lubbock's death. In May the IPCC agreed with Terry Lubbock a schedule of 36 separate complaints relating to the original investigation into Lubbock's death.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6408479.stm |title=Review into Lubbock Death Inquiry |date=1 March 2007 |access-date=5 April 2010 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930012950/http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2223489.html|date=30 September 2007}}, ananova.com. Retrieved 27 February 2017.</ref> | ||
===Further arrests=== | |||
On 22 December 2006, following a successful complaint to the ] by Bennett, ] published a letter from Terry Lubbock replying to the newspaper's five-page feature on Barrymore earlier in the year which featured Terry's meeting with Barrymore. | |||
On 14 June 2007, Essex Police arrested Barrymore and two other men on suspicion of murder and ] in the Lubbock case. The two other men arrested were Jonathan Kenney, Barrymore's partner at the time of the death, and Justin Merritt, an unemployed former dustman at the time, all present at the party when Lubbock died. The three men were held for questioning at ] police station.<ref>, ''The Guardian''. Retrieved 27 February 2017.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/6751965.stm |title=Pool Death Police Hold Barrymore |date=14 June 2007 |access-date=18 June 2007 |work=]}}</ref> | |||
This followed reports in ''The Harlow Herald'' that police had seized tapes from the home of Barrymore's literary agent, ], allegedly containing conversations between Cowell and Barrymore.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.harlowherald.co.uk/content/herald/news/story.aspx?brand=EHHOnline&category=NewsHarlow&tBrand=herts24&tCategory=newshlhnew&itemid=WEED14%20Jun%202007%2010%3A01%3A33%3A460 |title=Tapes Clue |date=15 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927182549/http://www.harlowherald.co.uk/content/herald/news/story.aspx?brand=EHHOnline&category=NewsHarlow&tBrand=herts24&tCategory=newshlhnew&itemid=WEED14%20Jun%202007%2010:01:33:460 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |access-date=18 June 2007}}</ref> | |||
On 1 March 2007, the ], following a complaint lodged the previous December by Terry Lubbock, announced an investigation into aspects of the police inquiry into Lubbock's death after receiving complaints from the Lubbock family. It was reported that complaints surrounded information Essex Police gave to a coroner and pathologist after Lubbock's death. In May the I.P.C.C. agreed with ] a schedule of no fewer than 36 separate complaints relating to the original investigation into Lubbock's death.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6408479.stm | work=BBC News | title=Review into Lubbock death inquiry | date=1 March 2007 | accessdate=5 April 2010}}</ref><ref> Lubbock death inquiry by IPCC</ref> | |||
On 15 June 2007, police were given permission to question Barrymore and one other man for a further 12 hours. Barrymore's solicitor Henri Brandman confirmed his client was one of the men arrested.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/6755925.stm |title=More Time to Question Barrymore |date=15 June 2007 |access-date=18 June 2007 |work=]}}</ref> Later that day Barrymore was released on ] pending further enquiries.<ref>{{cite news |author=Staff |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uklatest/story/0,,-6713765,00.html |title=I'm Innocent, Says Freed Barrymore |date=16 June 2007 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=18 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070624125430/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0%2C%2C-6713765%2C00.html |archive-date=24 June 2007}}</ref> His solicitor stated that Barrymore "categorically denied" the allegations made and had not been charged with any offence.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/6758861.stm |title=Barrymore Released Without Charge |date=15 June 2007 |access-date=18 June 2007 |work=]}}</ref> | |||
On 14 June 2007, Essex Police arrested Barrymore and two other men on suspicion of murder and serious sexual assault in the Lubbock case. The two other men arrested were Jonathan Kenney, Barrymore's lover and partner at the time of the death, and Justin Merritt, an unemployed former dustman at the time. The three men were held for questioning at ] police station, Essex. | |||
<ref></ref> | |||
<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/6751965.stm |publisher=] |title=Pool death police hold Barrymore |date=14 June 2007 |accessdate=2007-06-18 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title='Michael Barrymore arrested on suspicion of pool murder after police seize tapes' | publisher=Daily Mail | date=June 14, 2007 | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=461927&in_page_id=1770&ct=5 | location=London}}</ref> This followed reports in ''The Harlow Herald'' that police had seized tapes from the home of Barrymore's literary agent Tony Cowell allegedly containing conversations between Cowell and Barrymore.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.harlowherald.co.uk/content/herald/news/story.aspx?brand=EHHOnline&category=NewsHarlow&tBrand=herts24&tCategory=newshlhnew&itemid=WEED14%20Jun%202007%2010%3A01%3A33%3A460 |title=Tapes clue |date=15 June 2007 |accessdate=2007-06-18 }}</ref> | |||
On 15 June 2007, police were given permission to question Barrymore and one other man for a further 12 hours. Barrymore's solicitor Henri Brandman also confirmed his client was one of the men arrested.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/6755925.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=15 June 2007 |title=More time to question Barrymore |accessdate=2007-06-18 }}</ref> | |||
===Investigation dropped=== | |||
Later that day Barrymore was released on police bail pending further enquiries.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6713765,00.html |title=I'm innocent, says freed Barrymore |author=Press Association |date=June 16, 2007 |publisher=] |accessdate=2007-06-18 | location=London |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070624125430/http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6713765,00.html |archivedate = June 24, 2007}}</ref> His solicitor stated that Barrymore "categorically denied" the allegations made and had not been charged with any offence.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/6758861.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=15 June 2007 |title=Barrymore released without charge |accessdate=2007-06-18 }}</ref> | |||
On 31 July 2007, it was announced that Barrymore had been re-bailed to appear at an Essex Police station on 10 September.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=244367&command=displayContent&sourceNode=244365&contentPK=17978448&folderPk=112383&pNodeId=188965 |title=Barrymore bail extended |access-date=1 October 2020}}</ref> He answered bail on 10 September at ] police station. Police were then granted a further 12 hours to question him.<ref>{{cite news |last=Holt |first=Richard |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/10/nbarrymore110.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070914043118/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/10/nbarrymore110.xml |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 September 2007 |title=Michael Barrymore Held Over Pool Death |date=10 September 2007 |work=] |access-date=5 April 2010}}</ref> On that date, Barrymore and the other two men were told that they would not face charges for the events that occurred. The case was left open.<ref name="Ref-1">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/6986155.stm |title=Barrymore Will Not Face Charges |date=10 September 2007 |access-date=6 May 2013 |work=]}}</ref> In July 2008 Lubbock's father published the book ''Not Awight: Getting Away With Murder'', co-authored with Bennett, explaining their theory that Stuart had died as a result of a violent attack on him, which Barrymore and his associates that night covered up.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/feb/24/stuart-lubbock-timeline |title=Stuart Lubbock: timeline |date=24 February 2009 |website=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Not Awight: Getting Away with Murder: Amazon.co.uk: Lubbock, Terry, Bennett, Tony, Cichy, Harry E.: 9780954694913: Books |id={{ASIN|0954694910 |country=uk}}}}</ref> | |||
===Civil action=== | |||
On 31 July 2007, it was announced that Barrymore had been re-bailed to appear at an Essex Police station on 10 September.<ref></ref> He answered bail on 10 September at a police station in Harlow, Essex. Police were then granted a further 12 hours to question him.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/10/nbarrymore110.xml | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=Michael Barrymore held over pool death | first=Richard | last=Holt | date=10 September 2007 | accessdate=5 April 2010}}</ref> On that date, Barrymore was told that he would not face charges for the events that occurred.<ref name="Ref-1">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/essex/6986155.stm BBC NEWS | paper=BBC News| title=Barrymore will not face charges}} {{Dead link|date=August 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> | |||
In July 2015, Barrymore sued Essex Police for ],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-33430373|title=Michael Barrymore sues Essex Police over damaged career|date=7 July 2015|work=BBC News}}</ref> valuing his claim for ] at more than £2.4{{nbsp}}million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15481792.michael-barrymore-entitled-to-more-than-nominal-damages-over-wrongful-arrest/|title=Michael Barrymore entitled to 'more than nominal' damages over wrongful arrest|website=The Herald|location=Glasgow|date=18 August 2017 }}</ref> Essex Police subsequently acknowledged that Barrymore had been wrongfully arrested, although this was due to administrative errors and not to a lack of evidence.<ref>, ''Daily Mirror''. Retrieved 27 February 2017.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-38248090|title=Michael Barrymore arrest officer 'not fully briefed'|date=9 December 2016|website=BBC News|access-date=9 December 2016}}</ref> | |||
In August 2017, the High Court in London ruled that Barrymore would be entitled to "more than nominal" damages against Essex Police. This decision was overturned in 2019 by the Court of Appeal which ruled that he would be entitled only to "nominal" damages. Essex Police subsequently announced that Barrymore had dropped his compensation claim and that no payments had been made to him.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-48829151|title=Michael Barrymore drops police compensation claim|date=1 July 2019|access-date=1 July 2019|work=]}}</ref> | |||
===Career revival=== | |||
Following the revelations of Lubbock's death, ] terminated his contract and his ] TV career subsequently collapsed. A new series of ''Kids Say the Funniest Things'' recorded prior to the scandal was pulled from the ] schedule and never broadcast. The Guardian reported that the ] cancelled publication of Barrymore's life story.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,916685,00.html | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=BBC backtracks on Barrymore book | first=Julia | last=Day | date=18 March 2003 | accessdate=5 April 2010}}</ref> | |||
===Renewed appeal=== | |||
In September 2003, Barrymore staged a one-man show at London's ], which closed after a few days. He subsequently emigrated to ] to live with his partner, Shaun Davis. He has since had live stage shows in ] and ]. In 2005, he appeared in the stage musical, '']'', in ]. | |||
On 4 February 2020, Essex Police offered a £20,000 reward for information leading to a conviction. The cash reward, funded by Essex Police and the charity ], was in response to a new ] documentary on the incident, '']'', that aired on 6 February 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-51361187 |title=Michael Barrymore pool death: Police offer £20,000 reward for conviction |work=BBC News |date=4 February 2020 |access-date=1 October 2020}}</ref> | |||
On 17 March 2021, nearly 20 years after Lubbock's death, Essex Police confirmed that they had arrested a 50-year-old man from ] in connection with the ] and murder of Stuart Lubbock, as a result of the appeal. He was later released without charge.<ref>{{Cite web |last=France |first=Anthony |date=19 August 2021 |title=Man, 50, held over Stuart Lubbock's murder released without charge |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/essex-police-michael-barrymore-terry-roydon-court-of-appeal-b951478.html |access-date=22 May 2022 |website=Evening Standard |language=en}}</ref> | |||
====''Celebrity Big Brother''==== | |||
In December 2005, it was announced that Barrymore was being paid ]150,000 by ] to take part in the ] version of '']'' commencing 5 January 2006. | |||
==Career revivals== | |||
His time in the house will particularly be remembered for his visibly strong dislike of model ],<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,1685498,00.html#article_continue | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Lay off poor Jodie, you big bullies | first=Germaine | last=Greer | date=13 January 2006 | accessdate=5 April 2010}}</ref> and his difficult relationship with housemate ], which culminated in a 20 minute slanging match between the two men. On 27 January 2006 he finished runner-up to ]. | |||
Following the revelation of Lubbock's death, ] terminated Barrymore's contract and his television career collapsed. A new series of ''Kids Say the Funniest Things'' recorded prior to the scandal was pulled from the ITV schedule and never broadcast. '']'' reported that the ] cancelled publication of Barrymore's life story.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk_news/story/0,,916685,00.html |newspaper=The Guardian |title=BBC Backtracks on Barrymore Book |first=Julia |last=Day |date=18 March 2003 |access-date=5 April 2010}}</ref> In September 2003, Barrymore staged a one-man show at London's ], which closed after a few days.<ref>{{cite news |author=Staff |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2003/sep/21/features.review67 |title=How bad and how sad |date=21 September 2003 |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref> He subsequently emigrated to New Zealand to live with his partner, Shaun Davis. He has since had live stage shows in New Zealand and Australia. In 2005, he appeared in '']'' in ]. | |||
=== |
=== ''Celebrity Big Brother'' === | ||
In December 2005, it was announced that Barrymore was being paid ]150,000 by ] to take part in '']'' commencing 5 January 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/frontpage/story/0,,1685498,00.html#article_continue |newspaper=The Guardian |title=Lay Off Poor Jodie, You Big Bullies |first=Germaine |last=Greer |date=13 January 2006 |access-date=5 April 2010}}</ref> He had a difficult relationship with housemate ], which culminated in a 20-minute heated argument between the two men. On 27 January 2006, he finished runner-up to ].<ref name="imdb">{{IMDb name|0058214}}</ref> | |||
Remaining in the UK, Barrymore was booked to be the guest host on ]'s '']'' for the edition broadcast on 3 February 2006. | |||
=== After ''Celebrity Big Brother'' === | |||
It was announced that for Christmas 2006, Barrymore would play the title role in ] new production of '']"''<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=551&id=1402952006 | location=Edinburgh | title=Barrymore to star as Scrooge in city – Scotsman.com News}} {{Dead link|date=February 2011|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> Barrymore performed the lead role at the Empire Theatre, ], but the production's scheduled transfer to the ] was cancelled. | |||
Remaining in the UK, Barrymore was booked to be the guest host on ]'s '']'' for the edition broadcast on 3 February 2006. This is the last time that Barrymore appeared on a show as the presenter. The months following Barrymore's appearance on ''Big Brother'' were full of speculation that Barrymore was in talks with a number of television channels over the possibility of new shows, but nothing ever came of this. Barrymore's appearance on the ''Friday Night Project'' is the last time he presented a primetime television show.<ref name="imdb"/> | |||
It was announced that for Christmas 2006, Barrymore would play the title role in ]'s production of '']''. He performed the lead role at the Empire Theatre, ], but the production's scheduled transfer to the ] was cancelled. In January 2008, Barrymore took the role of comedian and writer ] in the stage play ''Surviving Spike''. It played Windsor and later the ], but again, its West End transfer was cancelled. In February 2010, he appeared on Irish television on '']'', where he unexpectedly performed numerous bizarre and controversial antics, including pretending to be ]'s father.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Showbiz-News/Michael-Barrymore-Pretends-To-Be-Jedwards-Dad-On-Irish-TV/Article/201002215545355?lpos=Showbiz_News_Carousel_Region_4&lid=ARTICLE_15545355_Michael_Barrymore_Pretends_To_Be_Jedwards_Dad_On_Irish_TV |title=Barrymore Behaves Bizarrely on Irish TV |date=9 February 2010 |publisher=] |access-date=9 February 2010}}</ref> | |||
In January 2008, Barrymore took the role of comedian and writer ] in the stage play 'Surviving Spike'. | |||
In May 2010, Barrymore startled his co-contestants on a reality TV show by revealing that he had fallen in love with a woman. Barrymore was filming an episode of Channel 4 show ] with former Generation Game host ] and presenters ] and ] when he said he was going to have a party to celebrate that he was " |
In May 2010, Barrymore startled his co-contestants on a reality TV show by revealing that he had fallen in love with a woman. Barrymore was filming an episode of Channel 4 show '']'', with former '']'' host ] and presenters ] and ], when he said he was going to have a party to celebrate that he was "coming back in".<ref name="pink">{{cite web |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/05/21/michael-barrymore-says-hes-no-longer-gay |title=Michael Barrymore says he's no longer gay |work=PinkNews.co.uk |date=21 May 2010 |access-date=2 May 2012}}</ref> | ||
Barrymore's personal publicity, particularly in the tabloid press, continued to be negative. In December 2011, he was convicted of cocaine possession and fined £780.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16067813 |work=] |title=Michael Barrymore Admits Cocaine Possession |date=7 December 2011}}</ref> His only work in 2012 was on local radio stations, and on hospital radio. One was on ], on Greg Scott's breakfast show on 25 February 2012, where he was surprised to meet one of his all-time favourite television guests, ], who had appeared on his show twenty years earlier.<ref>{{YouTube|HfTWqdKrb4c}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=A YouTube video does not establish the importance of including this content|date=September 2023}} | |||
In March 2011, it was announced that Barrymore would be returning to the stage for a season at Blackpool's North Pier Theatre, for the summer of that year.{{cn|date=May 2011}} | |||
In 2013, Barrymore appeared on the ] programme ''The Saturday Night Show'', where he discussed his harsh treatment by the press, his addiction and also the possibility of a new show called ''My Kind of Twits''. He subsequently claimed on Twitter that a pilot for ''My Kind of Twits'' would be filmed in May, but this did not happen.<ref>{{dead link|date=January 2024}}</ref> Barrymore also appeared on '']'' in June 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01b3h6s |title=Michael Barrymore talks openly to Stephen |work=The Nolan Show |date=7 June 2013 |access-date=17 January 2024}}</ref> | |||
Barrymore is a contestant in a forthcoming series of Channel 4 reality television show Celebrity ].<ref></ref> | |||
In March 2019 Barrymore appeared on '']''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/mar/04/michael-barrymore-hits-back-at-vile-and-vicious-channel-4-documentary |title=Michael Barrymore hits back at 'vile and vicious' Channel 4 documentary |work=The Guardian |last=Davies |first=Hannah J. |date=5 March 2020 |access-date=17 January 2024}}</ref> In September 2019, it was announced that Barrymore would take part in the ] of ITV's '']'' starting in January 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-49812959 |title=Caprice completes Dancing on Ice line-up |date=1 October 2019 |work=BBC News |access-date=17 January 2024 |language=en-GB}}</ref> However, on 18 December 2019, he had to withdraw because of a broken hand and was replaced by former '']'' presenter ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/michael-barrymore-on-ice-place-broken-wrist-a4316291.html |title=Michael Barrymore quits Dancing On Ice after breaking wrist during rehearsals |work=The Standard |last=Akingbade |first=Tobi |date=18 December 2019 |access-date=17 January 2024}}</ref> | |||
==Personal life== | |||
Barrymore met ] in 1974 while she was a dancer in a West End theatre show.<ref name=autogenerated4>, ''The Scotsman''. Retrieved 27 February 2017.</ref> They married in 1976.<ref>, BBC News. Retrieved 27 February 2017.</ref> | |||
Cocklin became his manager and was the mastermind behind Barrymore's rise to fame. She later said that Barrymore had problems with alcohol and depression, and as a result of his attack on her at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, she was placed by British police on the "at risk" register.<ref name=autogenerated2>, ''The Scotsman''. Retrieved 27 February 2017.</ref> | |||
At the height of his popularity, Barrymore suffered increasing alcohol problems. He claims that he wanted to seek help, but that Cocklin continually told him "No, you're not (alcoholic). Don't be stupid."<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060924172430/http://www.aa-uk.org.uk/alcoholics-anonymous-reviews/2006/02/cheryl-stopped-drink-help.html |date=24 September 2006 }}. Retrieved 26 September 2014.</ref> | |||
===Sexuality=== | |||
In mid-1995, at the height of his fame, Barrymore went to The White Swan ] in London's ], where he gave an impromptu stage performance to the largely local crowd, singing the words: "Start spreading the news, I'm gay today", in the style of the "]". Within 48 hours, every ] newspaper had printed its own version of the evening's events, including an untrue claim that Barrymore had thrown away his wedding ring.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,587474,00.html |work=] |title=Aw Wight Now? |first=Ben |last=Summerskill |date=22 December 2001 |access-date=5 April 2010}}</ref> | |||
In August 1995, Barrymore attended the ]. At an after-show party on a live late night radio show, he publicly declared he was gay and "no longer wanted to live a lie", following which he broke up with Cocklin. She later claimed Barrymore took the step and did not tell her because of his talks with ].<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929145922/http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2002/10/19/story73289.asp |date=29 September 2007 }}, TCM.ie, 19 October 2002.</ref> | |||
===Divorce=== | |||
After several aborted reunions, Barrymore and Cocklin divorced in 1997. In 2002, she published her autobiography, ''Catch a Falling Star'', which described their acrimonious split. They subsequently had no contact. In his 2006 autobiography ''Awight Now: Setting the Record Straight'', Barrymore claimed that Cocklin was a "control freak" who determined his every move, including the clothes he wore, and that she created "the character that was Michael Barrymore", consequently driving him to alcohol, drugs and gay affairs.<ref>{{cite web |author=Staff |url=http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/spectrum.cfm?id=58072007 |title=If I See Insanity in the Street I Will Walk towards It |work=] |date=14 January 2007 |access-date=26 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202054526/http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/spectrum.cfm?id=58072007 |archive-date=2 February 2013}}</ref> In a 2002 interview, he said he was an alcoholic and was in recovery.<ref>, BBC. Retrieved 26 September 2014.</ref> | |||
On 1 April 2005, Cocklin died of lung cancer, aged 55, at the ] in ].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4402321.stm |work=] |title=Barrymore Ex-Wife Dies of Cancer |date=1 April 2005 |access-date=5 April 2010}}</ref> | |||
==Filmography== | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|- | |||
!Transmitted | |||
!Title | |||
!Role | |||
!Channel | |||
!Notes | |||
|- | |||
| 1976 | |||
|'']'' | |||
| Himself | |||
| BBC | |||
| Barrymore appeared and did impressions, as was the norm for this show. | |||
|- | |||
| 1977 | |||
|''Seaside Special'' | |||
| Performer | |||
| rowspan="2" | ITV | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| 1981–1982 | |||
|''Russ Abbot's Madhouse'' | |||
| Various characters | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| 1982 | |||
|''Give Us a Clue'' | |||
| rowspan="2" | Performer | |||
| BBC | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="2" | 1983 | |||
|'']'' | |||
| | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| ''The Michael Barrymore Show'' | |||
| Various characters | |||
| ITV | |||
| Cancelled after Barrymore walked out of his contract with Thames. | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="5" | 1984 | |||
|''Get Set Go!'' | |||
| rowspan="2" | Presenter | |||
| BBC | |||
| Quiz show. Cancelled following one series. | |||
|- | |||
|''Starting from Now'' | |||
| Unaired | |||
| Pilot episode of a game show | |||
|- | |||
|''Surprise, Surprise'' | |||
| Guest | |||
| rowspan="2" | ITV | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|''Tarby and Friends'' | |||
| Guest performer | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|''Jackanory'' | |||
| Storyteller | |||
| BBC | |||
| Barrymore read out a story. | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="3" | 1985 | |||
|''The Laughter Show'' | |||
| rowspan="3" | Performer | |||
| | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|''Something to Treasure'' | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|''Kenny Everett's Christmas Carol'' | |||
| rowspan="2" | BBC | |||
| Kenny Everett's Christmas special | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="4" | 1986 | |||
|''Sebastian the Incredible Drawing Dog'' | |||
| Mick | |||
| Full series made for children's TV where Barrymore plays Mick who has a dog called Sebastian who is his friend. | |||
|- | |||
|''Saturday Live'' | |||
| Host | |||
| Channel 4 | |||
| Barrymore hosted one episode in 1986. | |||
|- | |||
|'']'' | |||
| Guest performer | |||
| | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|'']'' | |||
| Performer | |||
| rowspan="4" | ITV | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| 1986–1994 | |||
| '']'' | |||
| Presenter | |||
| Attracted up to 20 million viewers at its peak and shot Barrymore to stardom. | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="2" | 1987 | |||
|''The Michael Barrymore Special'' | |||
| Himself | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|''The Royal Variety Performance 1987'' | |||
| Performer | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| 1988–1989 | |||
| ''Michael Barrymore's Saturday Night Out'' | |||
| Himself | |||
| BBC | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="4" | 1989 | |||
|''The TV Times TOP TEN Awards'' | |||
| Presenter | |||
| rowspan="3" | ITV | |||
| Barrymore hosted the show. | |||
|- | |||
|''Sunday Sunday'' | |||
| rowspan="2" | Interviewee | |||
| Barrymore was interviewed on this show. | |||
|- | |||
|'']'' | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|''Comedy Christmas Box'' | |||
| Performer | |||
| | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="4" | 1990 | |||
|'']'' | |||
| Guest | |||
| ] | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|'']'' | |||
| Mick | |||
| Children's BBC | |||
| Children's television show. | |||
|- | |||
|''] 90'' | |||
| rowspan="2" | Performer | |||
| ITV | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|''A Night of One Hundred Stars'' | |||
| | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| 1991–1997, 2000 | |||
|'']'' | |||
| Presenter | |||
| rowspan="5" | ITV | |||
| Barrymore was nominated for numerous TV awards. | |||
|- | |||
| 1992 | |||
|'']'' | |||
| Interviewee | |||
| Barrymore was talking about his career and role in pantomime as Buttons in ''Cinderella'' at the Manchester Opera House. | |||
|- | |||
| 1993 | |||
|''] 7'' | |||
| Performer | |||
| A 60-minute show that features outtakes and mistakes from TV, film and advertisements. | |||
|- | |||
| 1995 | |||
|'']'' | |||
| rowspan="2" | Presenter | |||
| Spin off from ''Barrymore''. Cancelled after one series and returned to 5-minute segment on ''Barrymore''. | |||
|- | |||
| 1996–1999 | |||
|'']'' | |||
| Rebranding of ''Strike It Lucky''. Nominated for numerous TV awards between 1996 and 1999. | |||
|- | |||
| 1997 | |||
| '']'' | |||
| Mr. Step | |||
| | |||
| ] film. | |||
|- | |||
| 1998–2000 | |||
|'']'' | |||
| rowspan="4" |Presenter | |||
| rowspan="7" |ITV | |||
| Barrymore spoke to children about their views on life. | |||
|- | |||
| 1998–2002 | |||
|'']'' | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| 1999–2000 | |||
|''Animals Do the Funniest Things'' | |||
| . | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="2" |2000 | |||
|''Barrymore on Broadway'' | |||
| Followed Barrymore in America speaking to musical stars. Three part series. | |||
|- | |||
| ''Michael Barrymore: My Favourite Christmas Hymns'' | |||
| Himself | |||
| Barrymore chooses his favourite Christmas Hymns. | |||
|- | |||
| 2000–2001 | |||
|'']'' | |||
| Bob Martin | |||
| Comedy series where Barrymore played the lead character; Bob Martin. Ran for two series. | |||
|- | |||
| 2002 | |||
|'']'' | |||
| Himself – interviewee | |||
| Interviewed by ] in Dubai. | |||
|- | |||
| 2003 | |||
|'']'' | |||
| Himself | |||
| E4 | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="2" | 2006 | |||
| '']'' | |||
| Himself – contestant | |||
| rowspan="6" | Channel 4 | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|'']'' | |||
| Guest presenter | |||
| Guest presenter of one episode in February 2006. | |||
|- | |||
| 2009 | |||
|'']'' | |||
| Roving reporter | |||
| Roving reporter during the 2009 edition of ''Celebrity Big Brother''. | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="2" | 2010 | |||
| ''The House That Made Me'' | |||
| Himself – guest | |||
| Guest appearance in one episode that dealt with Barrymore's childhood. | |||
|- | |||
| '']'' | |||
| Himself | |||
| Appeared alongside Pat Sharp, Anthea Turner and Jenny Powell. | |||
|- | |||
| 2011 | |||
| '']'' | |||
| Contestant | |||
| Appeared with former producer Maurice Leonard. | |||
|- | |||
| rowspan="3" | 2013 | |||
| '']'' | |||
| rowspan="2" | Guest | |||
| RTÉ One | |||
| Barrymore was interviewed for at least 10 minutes, he discussed his fall from grace and the possibility of a new show called ''My Kind of Twits''. | |||
|- | |||
| '']'' | |||
| BBC NI | |||
| Barrymore was interviewed for 30 minutes, discussing his life story. | |||
|- | |||
| ] | |||
| rowspan="2" | Himself – guest | |||
| rowspan="2" | ITV | |||
| Barrymore was interviewed on ''Money Matters'' explaining his rise to stardom and his fall and how it affected both his money and his life. | |||
|- | |||
| 2014 | |||
| '']: The Celebrity Specials'' | |||
| Barrymore discussed the highs and lows of his life – with ]. | |||
|- | |||
| 2018 | |||
| ''Larry Grayson: Shut That Door!'' | |||
| Himself | |||
| ITV3 | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
| 2019 | |||
| '']'' | |||
| rowspan="2" | Himself – guest | |||
| rowspan="2" | ITV | |||
|- | |||
| 2023 | |||
| ] | |||
| Barrymore was interviewed about his career and co-directing West End play ''Laurel & Chaplin: The Feud''. | |||
|} | |||
==Stand-up videos== | ==Stand-up videos== | ||
{| class="wikitable |
{| class="wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
!Title | !Title | ||
Line 104: | Line 429: | ||
| ''The Unpredictable... Live'' | | ''The Unpredictable... Live'' | ||
| 19 September 1994 | | 19 September 1994 | ||
| Live at ]'s |
| Live at ] | ||
|- | |- | ||
| ''Live And Uplifting |
| ''Live And Uplifting – Back in Business! – Live at the Hammersmith Apollo'' | ||
| 9 November 1998 | | 9 November 1998 | ||
| Live at |
| Live at London's ] | ||
|} | |} | ||
== |
==References== | ||
{{ |
{{Reflist|30em}} | ||
== |
==Further reading== | ||
* ] Barrymore not to blame for son's death, said father | * '']'' Barrymore not to blame for son's death, said father | ||
* {{cite news | |
* {{cite news |title=Tears of a Clown (interview, uncut version) |last=Simpson |first=Mark |newspaper=Independent on Sunday |date=2 March 2003 |url=http://www.marksimpson.com/blog/2006/10/03/tears-of-a-clown-michael-barrymores-trial-by-media/}} | ||
* {{cite news | |
* {{cite news |title=Barrymore Quits Comeback Show |work=] |date=19 September 2003 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/3121832.stm}} | ||
* {{cite news | |
* {{cite news |title=Barrymore death pathologist to stop working for police |last=Tendler |first=Stewart |work=] |date=16 January 2006 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1987763,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060118045707/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1987763,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 January 2006 |location=London}} | ||
* {{cite news |title=Solicitors bid to delay Barrymore prosecution |publisher=ITN |date=23 January 2006 |url=http://www.itn.co.uk/news/britain_1186780.html}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} | |||
url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1987763,00.html | location=London}} | |||
* {{cite news | title=Solicitors bid to delay Barrymore prosecution | publisher=ITN |date=January 23, 2006 | url=http://www.itn.co.uk/news/britain_1186780.html}} | |||
== |
==External links== | ||
* |
* {{IMDb name|id=0058214|name=Michael Barrymore}} | ||
* at the ]{{better source needed|reason=Help request: a live link can be searched for at https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/search/expert - if available, replace the archive URL with the live link. Or if none found, remove this 'better source needed' template. | date=October 2023}} | |||
* {{imdb name | id = 0058214 | name = Michael Barrymore }} | |||
{{CBBUKHMS}} | |||
{{National Television Award for Special Recognition}} | |||
{{Authority control}} | |||
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see ]. --> | |||
| NAME = Barrymore, Michael | |||
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | |||
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = | |||
| DATE OF BIRTH = 4 May 1952 | |||
| PLACE OF BIRTH = ], ], ] | |||
| DATE OF DEATH = | |||
| PLACE OF DEATH = | |||
}} | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barrymore, Michael}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Barrymore, Michael}} | ||
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Latest revision as of 20:34, 19 December 2024
British television host and comedian (born 1952)
Michael Barrymore | |
---|---|
Barrymore in 2020 | |
Birth name | Michael Ciaran Parker |
Born | (1952-05-04) 4 May 1952 (age 72) Bermondsey, London, England |
Medium | Stand-up, film, television |
Years active | 1976–2003, 2006, 2009–2014, 2018–present |
Genres | Observational comedy One-liners Improvisational comedy Character comedy Physical comedy |
Subject(s) |
|
Spouse |
|
Michael Ciaran Parker (born 4 May 1952), known by his stage name Michael Barrymore, is an English comedian, influencer and television presenter of game shows and light entertainment programmes on British television in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. These included Strike It Lucky, My Kind of People, My Kind of Music, Kids Say the Funniest Things, and his own variety show, Barrymore. In 1993, he headlined the Royal Variety Performance.
At his peak, Barrymore was voted the UK's favourite television star several times, and he became one of the highest-paid stars on television from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s. Barrymore subsequently appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and other shows including The Friday Night Project, Graham Norton's Bigger Picture, This Morning, The Sharon Osbourne Show and The Saturday Night Show. He starred in Bob Martin from 2000 to 2001, a comedy drama in which he played the title role of a failing television game-show host.
Barrymore's television career effectively ended after the death of Stuart Lubbock in 2001 following a party at Barrymore's house in Essex. Barrymore was the subject of police investigations and legal action around the case over several years.
Early life
Born Michael Ciaran Parker in Bermondsey, he lived on the Dickens estate for the first 18 years of his life with his two elder siblings. His father left when Barrymore was 11 and they never saw each other again. Barrymore and his siblings were raised in the Roman Catholic faith of their Irish mother, Margaret.
Career
Early career
Barrymore spent his early career working as a Redcoat at Butlins holiday camps and then in the West End theatre shows of London, where he met dancer Cheryl Cocklin in 1974. They married in 1976. With Cheryl as manager and the mastermind behind Barrymore's rise to fame, he first won a 1975 edition of New Faces, became a regular panellist on Blankety Blank and then the warm-up man for Larry Grayson on the Generation Game and also for Little and Large theatre shows. In the early days, Barrymore used to do impressions of John Cleese and Norman Wisdom, among others.
Television career (1976–2002)
Barrymore rose to fame via appearances on Blankety Blank and Who Do You Do? and his television career began firstly by having his own sketch show entitled The Michael Barrymore Show in 1983, which starred a young Nicholas Lyndhurst, and he also appeared in Russ Abbot's Madhouse as various characters in 1981 and 1982. He walked out of his contract with LWT, who produced The Michael Barrymore Show, after only one series; he then landed the presenter's role on the BBC game show Get Set, Go!. He appeared in a number of Royal Variety Performance shows, his first being in 1983. He became the host of ITV gameshow Strike It Lucky (which later became Strike It Rich) in 1986 and it grew in popularity over the years, watched by 18 million viewers at its peak.
This was Barrymore's first successful presenting role (Get Set Go! had been cancelled after only one single series), which led then to his own light entertainment show, Barrymore in 1991. However, before that he had his own show between 1988 and 1989, produced for the BBC entitled Michael Barrymore's Saturday Night Out; it was set in Jersey and the theme tune, "Doin' the Crab" had been released as a single in 1987.
In 1991, Barrymore was given his own show entitled Barrymore where he interviewed guests, performed his comedy routines and joined in with other performers on the show. The show lasted throughout the 1990s right up to 2000, and was consistently nominated for awards over the years in the UK. Among the many famous guests that appeared on Barrymore were Cliff Richard, Uri Geller, and Spike Milligan.
Following his appearance on the 1993 Royal Variety Performance, where he performed a version of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" with soldiers, he became popular on television and on the stage. The Royal Variety Show performance brought the house down and cemented Barrymore's place at the heart of the British public. Barrymore became well known through his catchphrases of "Awight!", on making his entrance, and on Strike It Lucky, "Top, middle or bottom?" and "What is a hot spot not?", to which the studio audience would reply "a good spot". Following on from the success, Barrymore had a very public battle with substance abuse. He went into rehab due to his alcohol and drug addiction in 1994. He left after a couple of months and went on to write a best-selling book about his experiences, including rehab, and he also went on a stage tour called Back in Business in 1994.
He then regained his former status and made another series of Barrymore and recorded a new series called My Kind of People. He came out as gay on 19 August 1995 and split from his wife in 1996. He made a new series of Strike It Lucky, now called Strike It Rich and another Barrymore series. More editions of Strike It Rich and Barrymore were shown in 1997 and he also appeared in Spice World as Mr. Step.
A spin-off talent show, My Kind of People and game show My Kind of Music followed the success of both Barrymore and Strike It Rich. Following a dip in ratings, Barrymore was cancelled in 1997 (it later returned in 2000). He went on to new projects with Kids Say the Funniest Things, Animals Do the Funniest Things and Barrymore on Broadway. He was voted the UK's favourite TV star several times, and became one of the highest-paid stars on TV. Barrymore won the National Television Award for Most Popular Entertainment Presenter five out of the first six years, last at the 6th NTAs in 2000. This makes him the last winner of that award before Ant and Dec, who since the 7th NTAs in 2001 have been named Most Popular Entertainment Presenter (or, since 2016, Most Popular TV Presenter) every year the awards were held, 19 in all as of January 2020.
He recorded two new series called My Kind of Music and Kids Say the Funniest Things in 1998 along with more Strike It Rich. Newer editions of all three series were shown and another series of Barrymore was recorded and shown in 2000. The year 2000 also saw Barrymore move into acting in Bob Martin where he played the character of Bob Martin; he recorded two series of the comedy (2000–01). Barrymore also presented a second series of Kids Say the Funniest Things which aired in late 2000 and also a fourth series of My Kind of Music which was on the air at the time that Stuart Lubbock died in Barrymore's pool on 31 March 2001. Following Lubbock's death, both Bob Martin and My Kind of Music stayed on the air while the investigation was ongoing, but he did not record any further programmes for ITV. They constantly backed him when asked by the newspapers and simply waited for investigations to conclude. In October 2001, Barrymore was given a drugs caution and began recording a new series of My Kind of Music.
Death of Stuart Lubbock
Main article: Death of Stuart LubbockParty
Following a party at Barrymore's house in Essex in the early hours of 31 March 2001, a 31-year-old man, Stuart Lubbock, was discovered unconscious in Barrymore's swimming pool. Three witnesses – including Barrymore – claimed to have found him motionless in the pool. Witnesses disagreed on whether Lubbock was found floating on top of the pool or at the bottom. Barrymore had said he was on top of the pool. Lubbock, described as a "bubbly partygoer", had traces of drugs and alcohol in his system. In the postmortem, pathologists discovered severe anal injuries, which several experts, including senior Home Office pathologist Nathaniel Cary, later agreed were consistent with a sexual assault.
Many tabloid newspapers accused Barrymore of holding drug-fuelled orgies in his home and asserted he had some responsibility for the death. Kylie Merritt, a partygoer, had claimed that Barrymore had been seen at the party rubbing cocaine onto Lubbock's gums, an allegation Barrymore denied.
Arrest and inquest
Barrymore received a police caution for possession and use of cannabis. Barrymore and two other people at the party, Justin Merritt and Jonathan Kenney, were arrested on suspicion of murder on 6 June 2001. No other charges were laid against him or anyone else in connection with the death. The inquest that took place in September 2002 reached an open verdict. In light of the verdict, Cheryl Barrymore was approached by a friend of the Lubbock family. She provided the family's solicitor with both an affidavit and subsequent court testimony that her ex-husband had lied under oath, and could in fact swim; she also alleged he had rubbed cocaine onto the gums of other people as well as his own.
In November 2002, Barrymore's lawyers successfully demanded that Essex Police re-investigate matters surrounding Lubbock's death. Their focus was on Barrymore's allegations that the injuries inflicted upon Lubbock's body could have occurred while it was lying unguarded in the mortuary. A pathologist's report found that Lubbock's wounds were only four hours old at the time of the examination at 4 pm, while Lubbock had been pronounced dead at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow at 8.20 am that morning. Barrymore told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We want to prove the fact that the anal injuries could not have happened at the house." He added: "If these injuries had happened then, why have the police not charged anyone with anything?" An investigation into these claims by Essex Police in 2003 found "no evidence" to support them, instead concluding there was "strong evidence" the injuries were sustained before the arrival of paramedics.
Private prosecution
On Barrymore's high-profile return to the UK in January 2006 to take part in Celebrity Big Brother, former solicitor, politician and local activist Anthony Bennett initiated a private prosecution, comprising six charges regarding Barrymore's alleged misuse of drugs on the night of Stuart Lubbock's death. The action commenced in Epping Magistrates' Court in January 2006 and, on 10 February 2006, a District Judge at Southend Magistrates' Court blocked the private prosecution against Barrymore on the grounds of insufficient evidence. Bennett was no longer a solicitor and was acting independently of Terry Lubbock, Stuart's father.
Reopened investigation
In an interview with Piers Morgan in the December 2006 edition of GQ, Barrymore stated there were other witnesses to the events who were hiding information. On 2 December 2006, police announced they would reopen the investigation into Lubbock's death after receiving a lengthy dossier submitted by Bennett, now Terry Lubbock's solicitor. The dossier described a series of alleged failures by Essex Police in the original investigation, and claimed an elaborate coverup of the true circumstances of Lubbock's death had taken place.
Complaints processes
On 22 December 2006, following a successful complaint to the Press Complaints Commission by Bennett, The Sun published a letter from Terry Lubbock replying to the newspaper's five-page feature on Barrymore earlier in the year which featured Terry's meeting with Barrymore.
On 1 March 2007, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), following a complaint lodged the previous December by Terry Lubbock, announced an investigation into aspects of the police inquiry into Lubbock's death after receiving complaints from the Lubbock family. It was reported that complaints surrounded information Essex Police gave to a coroner and pathologist after Lubbock's death. In May the IPCC agreed with Terry Lubbock a schedule of 36 separate complaints relating to the original investigation into Lubbock's death.
Further arrests
On 14 June 2007, Essex Police arrested Barrymore and two other men on suspicion of murder and sexual assault in the Lubbock case. The two other men arrested were Jonathan Kenney, Barrymore's partner at the time of the death, and Justin Merritt, an unemployed former dustman at the time, all present at the party when Lubbock died. The three men were held for questioning at South Woodham Ferrers police station.
This followed reports in The Harlow Herald that police had seized tapes from the home of Barrymore's literary agent, Tony Cowell, allegedly containing conversations between Cowell and Barrymore.
On 15 June 2007, police were given permission to question Barrymore and one other man for a further 12 hours. Barrymore's solicitor Henri Brandman confirmed his client was one of the men arrested. Later that day Barrymore was released on police bail pending further enquiries. His solicitor stated that Barrymore "categorically denied" the allegations made and had not been charged with any offence.
Investigation dropped
On 31 July 2007, it was announced that Barrymore had been re-bailed to appear at an Essex Police station on 10 September. He answered bail on 10 September at Harlow police station. Police were then granted a further 12 hours to question him. On that date, Barrymore and the other two men were told that they would not face charges for the events that occurred. The case was left open. In July 2008 Lubbock's father published the book Not Awight: Getting Away With Murder, co-authored with Bennett, explaining their theory that Stuart had died as a result of a violent attack on him, which Barrymore and his associates that night covered up.
Civil action
In July 2015, Barrymore sued Essex Police for wrongful arrest, valuing his claim for damages at more than £2.4 million. Essex Police subsequently acknowledged that Barrymore had been wrongfully arrested, although this was due to administrative errors and not to a lack of evidence.
In August 2017, the High Court in London ruled that Barrymore would be entitled to "more than nominal" damages against Essex Police. This decision was overturned in 2019 by the Court of Appeal which ruled that he would be entitled only to "nominal" damages. Essex Police subsequently announced that Barrymore had dropped his compensation claim and that no payments had been made to him.
Renewed appeal
On 4 February 2020, Essex Police offered a £20,000 reward for information leading to a conviction. The cash reward, funded by Essex Police and the charity Crimestoppers, was in response to a new Channel 4 documentary on the incident, Barrymore: The Body in the Pool, that aired on 6 February 2020.
On 17 March 2021, nearly 20 years after Lubbock's death, Essex Police confirmed that they had arrested a 50-year-old man from Cheshire in connection with the indecent assault and murder of Stuart Lubbock, as a result of the appeal. He was later released without charge.
Career revivals
Following the revelation of Lubbock's death, ITV terminated Barrymore's contract and his television career collapsed. A new series of Kids Say the Funniest Things recorded prior to the scandal was pulled from the ITV schedule and never broadcast. The Guardian reported that the BBC cancelled publication of Barrymore's life story. In September 2003, Barrymore staged a one-man show at London's Wyndham's Theatre, which closed after a few days. He subsequently emigrated to New Zealand to live with his partner, Shaun Davis. He has since had live stage shows in New Zealand and Australia. In 2005, he appeared in Chicago in Napier, New Zealand.
Celebrity Big Brother
In December 2005, it was announced that Barrymore was being paid £150,000 by Channel 4 to take part in Celebrity Big Brother commencing 5 January 2006. He had a difficult relationship with housemate George Galloway, which culminated in a 20-minute heated argument between the two men. On 27 January 2006, he finished runner-up to Chantelle Houghton.
After Celebrity Big Brother
Remaining in the UK, Barrymore was booked to be the guest host on Channel 4's The Friday Night Project for the edition broadcast on 3 February 2006. This is the last time that Barrymore appeared on a show as the presenter. The months following Barrymore's appearance on Big Brother were full of speculation that Barrymore was in talks with a number of television channels over the possibility of new shows, but nothing ever came of this. Barrymore's appearance on the Friday Night Project is the last time he presented a primetime television show.
It was announced that for Christmas 2006, Barrymore would play the title role in Bill Kenwright's production of Scrooge – The Musical. He performed the lead role at the Empire Theatre, Sunderland, but the production's scheduled transfer to the West End was cancelled. In January 2008, Barrymore took the role of comedian and writer Spike Milligan in the stage play Surviving Spike. It played Windsor and later the Edinburgh Fringe, but again, its West End transfer was cancelled. In February 2010, he appeared on Irish television on The Saturday Night Show, where he unexpectedly performed numerous bizarre and controversial antics, including pretending to be Jedward's father.
In May 2010, Barrymore startled his co-contestants on a reality TV show by revealing that he had fallen in love with a woman. Barrymore was filming an episode of Channel 4 show Come Dine with Me, with former Generation Game host Anthea Redfern and presenters Pat Sharp and Jenny Powell, when he said he was going to have a party to celebrate that he was "coming back in".
Barrymore's personal publicity, particularly in the tabloid press, continued to be negative. In December 2011, he was convicted of cocaine possession and fined £780. His only work in 2012 was on local radio stations, and on hospital radio. One was on Minster FM, on Greg Scott's breakfast show on 25 February 2012, where he was surprised to meet one of his all-time favourite television guests, Fiona Iverson, who had appeared on his show twenty years earlier.
In 2013, Barrymore appeared on the RTÉ programme The Saturday Night Show, where he discussed his harsh treatment by the press, his addiction and also the possibility of a new show called My Kind of Twits. He subsequently claimed on Twitter that a pilot for My Kind of Twits would be filmed in May, but this did not happen. Barrymore also appeared on The Nolan Show in June 2013.
In March 2019 Barrymore appeared on Piers Morgan's Life Stories. In September 2019, it was announced that Barrymore would take part in the twelfth series of ITV's Dancing on Ice starting in January 2020. However, on 18 December 2019, he had to withdraw because of a broken hand and was replaced by former Blue Peter presenter Radzi Chinyanganya.
Personal life
Barrymore met Cheryl Cocklin in 1974 while she was a dancer in a West End theatre show. They married in 1976.
Cocklin became his manager and was the mastermind behind Barrymore's rise to fame. She later said that Barrymore had problems with alcohol and depression, and as a result of his attack on her at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, she was placed by British police on the "at risk" register.
At the height of his popularity, Barrymore suffered increasing alcohol problems. He claims that he wanted to seek help, but that Cocklin continually told him "No, you're not (alcoholic). Don't be stupid."
Sexuality
In mid-1995, at the height of his fame, Barrymore went to The White Swan gay pub in London's East End, where he gave an impromptu stage performance to the largely local crowd, singing the words: "Start spreading the news, I'm gay today", in the style of the "Theme from New York, New York". Within 48 hours, every tabloid newspaper had printed its own version of the evening's events, including an untrue claim that Barrymore had thrown away his wedding ring.
In August 1995, Barrymore attended the National Television Awards. At an after-show party on a live late night radio show, he publicly declared he was gay and "no longer wanted to live a lie", following which he broke up with Cocklin. She later claimed Barrymore took the step and did not tell her because of his talks with Diana, Princess of Wales.
Divorce
After several aborted reunions, Barrymore and Cocklin divorced in 1997. In 2002, she published her autobiography, Catch a Falling Star, which described their acrimonious split. They subsequently had no contact. In his 2006 autobiography Awight Now: Setting the Record Straight, Barrymore claimed that Cocklin was a "control freak" who determined his every move, including the clothes he wore, and that she created "the character that was Michael Barrymore", consequently driving him to alcohol, drugs and gay affairs. In a 2002 interview, he said he was an alcoholic and was in recovery.
On 1 April 2005, Cocklin died of lung cancer, aged 55, at the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth in St John's Wood.
Filmography
Transmitted | Title | Role | Channel | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1976 | Who Do You Do? | Himself | BBC | Barrymore appeared and did impressions, as was the norm for this show. |
1977 | Seaside Special | Performer | ITV | |
1981–1982 | Russ Abbot's Madhouse | Various characters | ||
1982 | Give Us a Clue | Performer | BBC | |
1983 | Punchlines | |||
The Michael Barrymore Show | Various characters | ITV | Cancelled after Barrymore walked out of his contract with Thames. | |
1984 | Get Set Go! | Presenter | BBC | Quiz show. Cancelled following one series. |
Starting from Now | Unaired | Pilot episode of a game show | ||
Surprise, Surprise | Guest | ITV | ||
Tarby and Friends | Guest performer | |||
Jackanory | Storyteller | BBC | Barrymore read out a story. | |
1985 | The Laughter Show | Performer | ||
Something to Treasure | ||||
Kenny Everett's Christmas Carol | BBC | Kenny Everett's Christmas special | ||
1986 | Sebastian the Incredible Drawing Dog | Mick | Full series made for children's TV where Barrymore plays Mick who has a dog called Sebastian who is his friend. | |
Saturday Live | Host | Channel 4 | Barrymore hosted one episode in 1986. | |
All Star Secrets | Guest performer | |||
Live from Her Majesty's | Performer | ITV | ||
1986–1994 | Strike It Lucky | Presenter | Attracted up to 20 million viewers at its peak and shot Barrymore to stardom. | |
1987 | The Michael Barrymore Special | Himself | ||
The Royal Variety Performance 1987 | Performer | |||
1988–1989 | Michael Barrymore's Saturday Night Out | Himself | BBC | |
1989 | The TV Times TOP TEN Awards | Presenter | ITV | Barrymore hosted the show. |
Sunday Sunday | Interviewee | Barrymore was interviewed on this show. | ||
Des O'Connor Tonight | ||||
Comedy Christmas Box | Performer | |||
1990 | Match Game | Guest | ABC | |
Mick and Mac | Mick | Children's BBC | Children's television show. | |
ITV Telethon 90 | Performer | ITV | ||
A Night of One Hundred Stars | ||||
1991–1997, 2000 | Barrymore | Presenter | ITV | Barrymore was nominated for numerous TV awards. |
1992 | This Morning | Interviewee | Barrymore was talking about his career and role in pantomime as Buttons in Cinderella at the Manchester Opera House. | |
1993 | It'll Be Alright on the Night 7 | Performer | A 60-minute show that features outtakes and mistakes from TV, film and advertisements. | |
1995 | My Kind of People | Presenter | Spin off from Barrymore. Cancelled after one series and returned to 5-minute segment on Barrymore. | |
1996–1999 | Michael Barrymore's Strike It Rich | Rebranding of Strike It Lucky. Nominated for numerous TV awards between 1996 and 1999. | ||
1997 | Spice World | Mr. Step | Spice Girls film. | |
1998–2000 | Kids Say the Funniest Things | Presenter | ITV | Barrymore spoke to children about their views on life. |
1998–2002 | Michael Barrymore's My Kind of Music | |||
1999–2000 | Animals Do the Funniest Things | . | ||
2000 | Barrymore on Broadway | Followed Barrymore in America speaking to musical stars. Three part series. | ||
Michael Barrymore: My Favourite Christmas Hymns | Himself | Barrymore chooses his favourite Christmas Hymns. | ||
2000–2001 | Bob Martin | Bob Martin | Comedy series where Barrymore played the lead character; Bob Martin. Ran for two series. | |
2002 | GMTV | Himself – interviewee | Interviewed by Fiona Phillips in Dubai. | |
2003 | The Salon | Himself | E4 | |
2006 | Celebrity Big Brother | Himself – contestant | Channel 4 | |
Friday Night Project | Guest presenter | Guest presenter of one episode in February 2006. | ||
2009 | Big Brother's Little Brother | Roving reporter | Roving reporter during the 2009 edition of Celebrity Big Brother. | |
2010 | The House That Made Me | Himself – guest | Guest appearance in one episode that dealt with Barrymore's childhood. | |
Celebrity Come Dine with Me | Himself | Appeared alongside Pat Sharp, Anthea Turner and Jenny Powell. | ||
2011 | Celebrity Coach Trip | Contestant | Appeared with former producer Maurice Leonard. | |
2013 | The Saturday Night Show | Guest | RTÉ One | Barrymore was interviewed for at least 10 minutes, he discussed his fall from grace and the possibility of a new show called My Kind of Twits. |
The Nolan Show | BBC NI | Barrymore was interviewed for 30 minutes, discussing his life story. | ||
This Morning | Himself – guest | ITV | Barrymore was interviewed on Money Matters explaining his rise to stardom and his fall and how it affected both his money and his life. | |
2014 | The Jeremy Kyle Show: The Celebrity Specials | Barrymore discussed the highs and lows of his life – with Jeremy Kyle. | ||
2018 | Larry Grayson: Shut That Door! | Himself | ITV3 | |
2019 | Piers Morgan's Life Stories | Himself – guest | ITV | |
2023 | This Morning | Barrymore was interviewed about his career and co-directing West End play Laurel & Chaplin: The Feud. |
Stand-up videos
Title | Released | Notes |
---|---|---|
The Unpredictable... Live | 19 September 1994 | Live at Blackpool Opera House |
Live And Uplifting – Back in Business! – Live at the Hammersmith Apollo | 9 November 1998 | Live at London's HMV Hammersmith Apollo |
References
- Staff. "2006: Michael Barrymore's comeback". Virgin Media. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
- "Michael Barrymore makes ITV return 16 years on from being dropped when Stuart Lubbock died in his swimming pool". MSN. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
- Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1984–2004. Gives name at birth as "Michael Ciaran Parker".
- ltd, company check. "MR MICHAEL CIARAN PARKER director information. Free director information. Director id 916782637". Company Check.
- ^ The House That Made Me, Channel 4, 16 December 2010.
- Staff (1 April 2001). "Barrymore's Troubled Life". BBC News. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- ^ Summerskill, Ben (22 December 2001). "Aw Wight Now?". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- Barrymore, Cheryl (2002). Catch A Falling Star. Robson Books.
- ^ Barrymore, Michael (2006). Awight Now: Michael Barrymore. Simon Schuster Ltd. p. 84.
- Barrymore, Michael (2006). Awight Now: Michael Barrymore. Simon Schuster Ltd. pp. 82–87.
- Barrymore, Cheryl (2002). Catch A Falling Star. Robson Books. p. 70.
- Barrymore, Michael (2006). Awight Now: Michael Barrymore. Simon Schuster Ltd. p. 114.
- Staff. "Michael Barrymore's My Kind of People". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- ^ Michael Barrymore at IMDb
- "Barrymore's Ex to Publish Memoirs". BBC News. 22 September 2002. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- "Barrymore given drugs caution". BBC News. 11 October 2001. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
- "Open Verdict at Pool Death Inquest". BBC News. 13 September 2002. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- Judd, Terri. "Open Verdict on Partygoer Found Dead at Star's Home", The Independent. 14 September 2002.
- ^ Leveson, Brian. "Appeal: Parker v CC Essex Police", "Court of Appeal", 11 November 2018
- "Barrymore 'rubbed cocaine on party victim's gums'". Breaking News.ie. Thomas Crosbie Media. Archived from the original on 12 August 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
- Barrymofre story, The Scotsman. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
- Wells, Matt (14 June 2007). "Why I'm Not Bitter". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- "New Barrymore Pool Death Inquiry", BBC; 14 January 2003. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
- "Judge Blocks Barrymore Death Case". BBC News. 10 February 2006. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
- "New Barrymore Pool Death Inquiry". BBC News. 3 December 2006. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
- Taylor, Chris (3 December 2006). "Police to Reopen Michael Barrymore Death Investigation". Entertainmentwise. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
- Press Complaints Commission. "Adjudicated Complaints – Mr Terry Lubbock". Archived from the original on 8 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- "Review into Lubbock Death Inquiry". BBC News. 1 March 2007. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- Lubbock Death Inquiry by IPCC Archived 30 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, ananova.com. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
- "Barrymore Arrested over Pool Death", The Guardian. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
- "Pool Death Police Hold Barrymore". BBC News. 14 June 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
- "Tapes Clue". 15 June 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
- "More Time to Question Barrymore". BBC News. 15 June 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
- Staff (16 June 2007). "I'm Innocent, Says Freed Barrymore". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 June 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
- "Barrymore Released Without Charge". BBC News. 15 June 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
- "Barrymore bail extended". Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- Holt, Richard (10 September 2007). "Michael Barrymore Held Over Pool Death". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 14 September 2007. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- "Barrymore Will Not Face Charges". BBC News. 10 September 2007. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
- "Stuart Lubbock: timeline". The Guardian. 24 February 2009.
- Not Awight: Getting Away with Murder: Amazon.co.uk: Lubbock, Terry, Bennett, Tony, Cichy, Harry E.: 9780954694913: Books. ASIN 0954694910 .
- "Michael Barrymore sues Essex Police over damaged career". BBC News. 7 July 2015.
- "Michael Barrymore entitled to 'more than nominal' damages over wrongful arrest". The Herald. Glasgow. 18 August 2017.
- Michael Barrymore cleared over Stuart Lubbock death, Daily Mirror. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
- "Michael Barrymore arrest officer 'not fully briefed'". BBC News. 9 December 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
- "Michael Barrymore drops police compensation claim". BBC News. 1 July 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- "Michael Barrymore pool death: Police offer £20,000 reward for conviction". BBC News. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- France, Anthony (19 August 2021). "Man, 50, held over Stuart Lubbock's murder released without charge". Evening Standard. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- Day, Julia (18 March 2003). "BBC Backtracks on Barrymore Book". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- Staff (21 September 2003). "How bad and how sad". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
- Greer, Germaine (13 January 2006). "Lay Off Poor Jodie, You Big Bullies". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- "Barrymore Behaves Bizarrely on Irish TV". Sky News. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
- "Michael Barrymore says he's no longer gay". PinkNews.co.uk. 21 May 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
- "Michael Barrymore Admits Cocaine Possession". BBC News. 7 December 2011.
- Video on YouTube
- Michael Barrymore revealed his new show on his Twitter page in March 2013
- "Michael Barrymore talks openly to Stephen". The Nolan Show. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- Davies, Hannah J. (5 March 2020). "Michael Barrymore hits back at 'vile and vicious' Channel 4 documentary". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- "Caprice completes Dancing on Ice line-up". BBC News. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- Akingbade, Tobi (18 December 2019). "Michael Barrymore quits Dancing On Ice after breaking wrist during rehearsals". The Standard. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- My kind of autobiography, The Scotsman. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
- Barrymore's troubled life, BBC News. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
- "I feared Barrymore would kill me", The Scotsman. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
- Alcoholics Anonymous Reviews: Cheryl stopped drink help Archived 24 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
- "Diana friendship may have helped Barrymore's downfall, says wife Cheryl" Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, TCM.ie, 19 October 2002.
- Staff (14 January 2007). "If I See Insanity in the Street I Will Walk towards It". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- Barrymore's GMTV interview, BBC. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
- "Barrymore Ex-Wife Dies of Cancer". BBC News. 1 April 2005. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
Further reading
- The New Zealand Herald Barrymore not to blame for son's death, said father Barrymore not to blame for son's death, says father – Life & Style – NZ Herald News
- Simpson, Mark (2 March 2003). "Tears of a Clown (interview, uncut version)". Independent on Sunday.
- "Barrymore Quits Comeback Show". BBC News. 19 September 2003.
- Tendler, Stewart (16 January 2006). "Barrymore death pathologist to stop working for police". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 18 January 2006.
- "Solicitors bid to delay Barrymore prosecution". ITN. 23 January 2006.
External links
National Television Award for Special Recognition | |
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