Michael Barrymore’s career highs and lows from pool death to TikTok fame
Barrymore has gained millions of TikTok followers years after his TV career was derailed by a tragic incident.
Michael Barrymore was one of the most familiar faces on British television in the 1980s and 1990s, a presenter whose cheerful persona and quick wit made him a staple of weekend entertainment.
Now in his seventies, he has found a new audience online, boasting millions of followers on TikTok more than two decades after a tragic incident, which occurred 25 years ago today (March 31) at his home effectively halted his television career.
Born Michael Ciaran Parker in Bermondsey, south London, Barrymore’s rise in entertainment began in the 1970s when he won the ITV talent show New Faces, securing a foothold in showbusiness and a contract in West End theatre. He went on to become one of the most visible faces on UK screens during the eighties and nineties, fronting hit game shows and light entertainment formats that drew large audiences.
Michael Barrymore, a former TV star, has gained millions of followers on TikTok after years away from the spotlight.(Image: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
Barrymore’s name became synonymous with Saturday night television thanks to long‑running shows such as Strike It Lucky, later retitled Michael Barrymore’s Strike It Rich, which aired on ITV from 1986 until 1999 and regularly attracted millions of viewers. He also hosted My Kind Of Music from 1998 to 2002, and presented other formats including My Kind of People and Kids Say the Funniest Things.
His own variety show, Barrymore, showcased his improv skills and quirky humour. At the height of his fame, Barrymore was one of Britain’s best‑paid television personalities, earning lucrative contracts at a time when light entertainment dominated primetime schedules. He was frequently voted the UK’s favourite television star throughout the peak of his popularity.
Barrymore began his career in the 1970s and became a leading TV presenter in the 1980s and 1990s.(Image: TV Times via Getty Images)
His confident delivery and engagement with contestants and guest performers made him a household name. Away from work, Barrymore’s personal life was the subject of public attention.
He came out as gay in 1995, shortly before separating from his wife, Cheryl, who had been instrumental in managing his career. Barrymore’s acting and presenting career began to falter in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Viewing numbers for some of his shows declined, and he faced personal challenges, including struggles with alcohol and drug addiction, for which he sought treatment in rehab, and he later wrote a book about his experiences.
Barrymore and Cheryl divorced in 1997(Image: TV Times via Getty Images)
The turning point came on March 31, 2001, when 31‑year‑old Stuart Lubbock was found unconscious in the swimming pool at Barrymore’s home in Roydon, Essex, after a party.
Lubbock died later in hospital.
A post‑mortem examination recorded internal injuries and the presence of alcohol and recreational drugs in his system.
Barrymore and two other men were arrested in 2007 on suspicion of murder and sexual assault, but he was released without charge and has always denied any involvement in Lubbock’s death.
No charges were brought against him, and subsequent legal action saw a High Court judge acknowledge that his arrest was unlawful, although he ultimately received only nominal damages.
The incident, however, effectively ended Barrymore’s mainstream television career, with broadcasters distancing themselves and his public profile was diminished for many years.
Attempts to relaunch his career included appearances on reality shows such as Celebrity Big Brother but he never regained his former status in the traditional broadcasting world.
In recent years Barrymore has cultivated a new following online, particularly on TikTok, where he posts comedy clips, engages with trends, and shares aspects of his daily life. It has introduced him to a new, younger audience.
He revealed to the Daily Star that he was the ‘happiest’ and ‘busiest’ he ever was in 2023 after the surprise career resurgence at the age of 71.
He uploads multiple videos per day, including sketches, clips from old shows like Kids Say The Funniest Things and Strike It Rich, and content about his life in Spain, London, and recently Devon. His content has attracted more than four million followers on the app.
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