Michael Barrymore

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Michael Barrymore
Birth name	Michael Ciaran Parker
Born	May 4, 1952 Bermondsey, London, England

Michael Ciaran Parker (born May 4, 1952 in Bermondsey, London), is an English comedian, actor, and entertainer better known by his stage name Michael Barrymore. His rather lanky appearance and madcap, hyperactive personality made him one of the most popular presenters of game shows and light entertainment programmes on British television, until the death of a partygoer at his house tarnished his image. He has since been trying to rebuild his career.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early career 1.2 Coming out 1.3 Divorce 1.4 Death of Stuart Lubbock 1.5 Post-Lubbock career 1.6 Celebrity Big Brother 1.7 Present 2 Catchphrase 3 TV credits 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Biography

His father was a alcoholic and a gambler. His late mother, Margaret (Magg) Reilly, was an Irish emigrant from County Mayo, and worked hard to bring up Michael and his two siblings, John and Ann, almost single-handedly. 'Home', in the more visceral sense, remains the Reilly family farm in Mayo.

[edit] Early career

He 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 and divorcee Cheryl St Claire in 1974.

Cheryl and Michael married in 1976^[1], although not until after Barrymore had paid off his mother who threatened to reveal a previous 18 months long gay love affair^[2]. Cheryl claimed they had a full marriage including sex, which Michael has never denied was the initial case.

With Cheryl as manager and the mastermind behind Barrymore's meteoric rise, he firstly won a 1979 edition of "New Faces," and then became a regular panellist on "Blankety Blank" and the warm-up man for Larry Grayson on the "Generation Game."^[3].

From there Barrymore rose to fame presenting ITV1 entertainment show "Strike It Lucky" from 1986, followed by "Kids Say the Funniest Things" and "My Kind of Music." Barrymore was voted the UK's favourite TV star several times, and became one of the highest-paid stars on TV^[4].

[edit] Coming out

At the height of his popularity, Barrymore suffered increasing alcohol problems. Barrymore claims he wanted to seek help, but that Cheryl continually told him: "No, you’re not (alcoholic). Don’t be stupid."^[5]

In mid 1995, Barrymore went to gay pub The White Swan in London's East End, where he serenaded a startled crowd of muscled young skinheads with the words: "Start spreading the news, I'm gay today." Within 48 hours, every tabloid newspaper had printed its own version of the evening's events, including an untrue claim that the star had thrown away his wedding ring^[6].

In November 1995, Barrymore attended the National Television Awards, where clearly drunk 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 live a lie," following which he split with Cheryl. Cheryl later claimed that Barrymore took the step and didn't tell her because of his talks with Princess Diana^[7].

[edit] Divorce

After several aborted reunions, Cheryl and Michael divorced in 1997 and Cheryl went on to publish the autobiography^[8] "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.

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^[9], and she had created the character that was "Michael Barrymore," which also resultantly drove him to alcohol, drugs and gay affairs^[10].

On April 1, 2005, Cheryl Barrymore died suddenly at the age of 56 at St John and St Elizabeth Hospital in St John's Wood, having been diagnosed with lung cancer just six weeks earlier. Shortly before her death she asked that details of her condition be kept secret from her former husband, and also left instructions that he should not be invited to attend her funeral^[11].

[edit] Death of Stuart Lubbock

On March 31, 2001, meat factory worker Stuart Lubbock died after being found motionless in Michael Barrymore's swimming pool, sustaining severe anal injuries^[12]. Many tabloid newspapers accused Barrymore of holding drug-fuelled gay orgies in his home and asserted that he must have had some responsibility for the death. It was claimed that Barrymore had been seen at the party forcing cocaine onto Lubbock's gums^[13], an allegation Barrymore denied.

Barrymore himself received a police caution for possession and use of cannabis, but 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 and approached by a friend of the Lubbock family, Cheryl Barrymore provided to the Lubbock family lawyer both an sworn affidavit and subsequent court testimony that her ex-husband had lied under oath, and could in actual fact swim. She also alleged the entertainer had rubbed cocaine on to the gums of other people as well as himself^[14].

On Barrymore's high-profile return to the UK in January 2006 to take part in Celebrity Big Brother, Lubbock's father Terry teamed up with Essex lawyer and local activist Anthony Bennett to pursue a private prosecution comprising six charges relating to the incident. The hearing for their summons was adjourned until after February 10 2006 to give time for Barrymore's response.

On January 28, 2006, Barrymore met Terry Lubbock in person for the first time at a London hotel where they spent two hours together. It was widely reported in the UK media that both men ended the meeting on good terms with Lubbock stating: "I don't hold you responsible for Stuart's death, I never have. I don't believe you had anything to do with what happened to him." It had also been reported in the days before the meeting that key medical evidence had not been presented in the original enquiry into Stuart Lubbock's death and that new statements from medical experts backed up claims Barrymore had made about events at the time.

At their private meeting, Michael Barrymore and Terry Lubbock were reported to have agreed to jointly demand the death of Stuart Lubbock be reinvestigated. Despite these reports, Lubbock's solicitor Anthony Bennett stated that he would still be pursuing legal action against Michael Barrymore unless Terry Lubbock instructed him otherwise. He didn't, and on February 10, a district judge at Southend Magistrates' Court blocked the action on the grounds of insufficient evidence being available for the case to continue.

On March 30, 2006, Terry Lubbock spoke to the James Whale Radio Show on TalkSPORT where he revealed to the presenter that since their meeting he now has "an axe to grind" with Barrymore over his claims that the injuries sustained by Stuart Lubbock may not have occurred at Barrymore's house, but in the hospital he was taken to after being found in the pool. Terry Lubbock reiterated his belief that his son was assaulted in the house, though he did not cite Barrymore as the perpetrator. On October 2 2006, Terry Lubbock accused Barrymore of being a liar during an appearance at Waterstones in Oxford Street, according to The Sun^[15].

In an interview with Piers Morgan in the December 2006 edition of GQ magazine, Barrymore claimed there were other witnesses to the events who were hiding information.

On 2 December 2006 police announced they were re-opening the investigation into Stuart Lubbock's death^[16]. On 22 December 2006 Terry Lubbock wrote a letter to The Sun (newspaper):

Dear Sun In January you published an article claiming I'd 'forgiven' Michael Barrymore for any involvement in my son Stuart's death, in fact, I've never accused him of the attack which four pathologists, the coroner and the police all say happened. Your article didn't reveal the continuing dispute between us - discussed at our meeting - as to where the assault happened. You reported that Stuart could have been assaulted after his body was removed from Mr Barrymore's home, although an investigation by Essex Police in 2003 proved Stuart's injuries happened at Mr Barrymore's house. Essex Police have now agreed to re-open the investigation. Analysis of the case casts doubt over whether Stuart's body was ever in the swimming pool, suggests evidence of a cover-up of how Stuart died and shows Essex Police bungled the £8million investigation into his death. I've now asked the Independent Police Complaints Commission to recommend an outside police force carry out the re-investigation. I still want Mr Barrymore to tell police the whole truth about the night Stuart died. Terry Lubbock, Harlow Essex.

On March 1, 2007, the Independent Police Complaints Commission announced an investigation into aspects of the police inquiry into Mr 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 Mr Lubbock's death^[17]

[edit] Post-Lubbock career

The Lubbock incident severely damaged Barrymore's image as a 'wholesome' family entertainer. Following the revelations of Lubbock's death, ITV swiftly terminated his contract and his UK TV career subsequently collapsed. A new series of Kids Say the Funniest Things recorded prior to the scandal was pulled from the ITV schedule and never broadcast. It has also been reported that the BBC cancelled publication of Barrymore's life story^[18].

In September 2003, Barrymore staged a one-man show at London's Wyndham's Theatre, which closed after a few days due to scathing critical notices. He subsequently emigrated to New Zealand to live with his partner, Shaun Davis. In May 2004, he filed for bankruptcy as a result of unpaid tax debts. He has since tried to rebuild his career with live stage shows in New Zealand and Australia with moderate success. In 2005, he appeared in the stage musical, Chicago, in Napier, New Zealand.

[edit] Celebrity Big Brother

In December 2005, it was announced that Barrymore was being paid £150,000 by Channel 4 to take part in the British version of Celebrity Big Brother commencing January 5, 2006. On his entry into the house, Barrymore received a generally positive reception from the crowd which brought him to tears.

Barrymore initially showed signs of strain in the Big Brother house, particularly during the first few days. His time in the house will particularly be remembered for his bullying of Jodie Marsh^[19], and his difficult relationship with housemate George Galloway, which culminated in a 20 minute slanging match between the two men that became one of the defining moments of the series. The public clearly took to Barrymore, and on January 27, 2006, he finished runner-up to 'fake' celebrity Chantelle Houghton. Barrymore was visibly moved by the public support he had received when interviewed by Davina McCall after the show.

[edit] Present

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 February 3, 2006. Emerging from backstage to greet the audience, he was clearly moved by an undeniably enthusiastic and positive response, even having trouble with his pre-scripted lines until well into the show's first half as a consequence^[20].

On 11 October 2006, Barrymore appeared on ITV1's The Sharon Osbourne Show, where Sharon's dog bit Michael on the hand.

It was announced that for Christmas 2006, Barrymore would play the title role in Bill Kenwright's new production of "Scrooge - The Musical"^[21] The combination of the controversy attached to Barrymore's name and the family nature of the show attracted much criticism of the producers and of Barrymore himself. Barrymore performed the lead role at the Empire Theatre, Sunderland, but the productions scheduled transfer to the West End was cancelled.

[edit] Catchphrase

His catchphrase is "Aw-wight!" (a London pronunciation of "All right?"), which he usually follows up with "Aw-wight at the back?". Sayings from Strike It Lucky which have caught on include "Top, Middle or Bottom?" and "What is a hotspot not?" (the answer to which is "Not a good spot!")

[edit] TV credits

• Now Who Do You Do? (1976)
• Seaside Special (1977)
• Cabaret Showtime (1978)
• Starburst (1981)
• Russ Abbot's Saturday Madhouse (1981)
• The Michael Barrymore Show (1983)
• Get Set Go (1984)
• Strike It Lucky (1986) (Name changed to Strike It Rich from the 1996 series onwards)
• Saturday Night Out (1988)
• Mick And Mac (1990)
• Barrymore (1992)
• My Kind Of People (1995)
• Richard Reeves' Mung Bean Salad Show (1997)
• My Kind Of Music (1998)
• Kids Say The Funniest Things (1998)
• Animals Do The Funniest Things (1999)
• Barrymore On Broadway (2000)
• My Favourite Hymns At Christmas (2000)
• Bob Martin (2001)
• GMTV (2002)
• The Salon (2003)
• The Late Late Show (2003)
• Celebrity Big Brother (2006)
• The Friday Night Project (2006)
• The Bigger Picture with Graham Norton (2006)
• This Morning (2006)
• The Wright Stuff (2006)
• The Sharon Osbourne Show (2006)
• Offside (2006)
• Strike It Lucky - Interactive DVD (2006) - produced by FremantleMedia with over 2,000 questions available^[22].

[edit] References

• The New Zealand Herald Barrymore not to blame for son's death, says father [1]
• Simpson, Mark. "Tears Of A Clown (interview, uncut version)", Independent On Sunday, March 2, 2003.
• "Barrymore quits comeback show", BBC News, September 19, 2003.
• Tendler, Stewart. "Barrymore death pathologist to stop working for police", The Times, January 16, 2006.
• "Solicitors bid to delay Barrymore prosecution", ITN, January 23, 2006.
• Haywood, Lynsey. "'Liar' rage at comic Michael", The Sun, October 3, 2006.

[edit] External links

• Official Website
• Michael Barrymore at the Internet Movie Database