Disgraced TV star Michael Barrymore planning comeback and is 'happier than ever'
Michael Barrymore says he's happier than ever amid planning his latest comeback. The fallen TV presenter, 71, has gone sober and credits his health kick with making him feel 30 years young.
"I went through a period where I wasn’t sure if people would point at me. I dealt with it by realising there is always somebody worse off," Michael says. “I had a mate who had a seven-year-old son with cancer. I said, ‘Would you take everything I’m dealing with for him to be well?’. And it was a no-brainer."
He adds he's the "busiest" he's ever been following the decision to quit drinking alcohol 14 years ago and learn how to look after himself.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am now. I’m the busiest I’ve ever been and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. I am probably the fittest I’ve been, too. I walk a lot, I eat well and I do what I love. I’m 71 and I feel fitter than I was when I was 40 when I was drinking and all that. " he continues when speaking with the Daily Star.
Michael Barrymore posing on the set of Strike It Lucky in 1986 (ITV / Rex Features)
The former TV presenter pictured in 2017 (PA)Michael was one of the biggest names in light entertainment during the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, thanks to fronting and presenting some of Britain's most popular TV and game shows. The 71-year-old hosted shows including Strike It Lucky, My Kind of People, My Kind of Music, Kids Say the Funniest Things, and his own variety show, Barrymore.
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The former comedian even headlined the Royal Variety Performance in 1993 and was frequently voted the UK's favourite television star throughout the peak of his popularity. Michael's career effectively ended after the death of Stuart Lubbock in 2001 following a party at the TV star's Essex home.
Michael has divided public opinion since the death at his home, but speaking to the Daily Star, he insists he only receives positive reactions online and in public - claiming fans want to see him return to prime time TV once again. "I get 30,000 comments a week. I try to reply to as many as I can, but I can’t get through them all," he adds when discussing his popularity.
In 2006, Michael was paid £150,000 by Channel 4 to appear on Celebrity Big Brother in January that year. He finished in second place on 27 January, coming runner-up to non-celebrity entry Chantelle Houghton. One month on from leaving the Big Brother house, Michael was guest host on Channel 4's The Friday Night Project.
More recently, Michael appeared on Piers Morgan's Life Stories in 2019 and had been due to take part in the twelfth series of ITV's Dancing on Ice starting in January 2020, but withdrew from the competition in December 2019 because of a broken hand.
Since ditching the booze, Michael says he is really "looking after myself" and learning how to live indepently. The former Strike It Lucky host says: "Getting rid of booze has helped me get myself well again. I’m an alcohol addict and I’ve been in recovery for a long time. But I’ve now been sober for 14 years. I’m looking after myself.
"I’ve also learned to live on my own. When I worked in TV there were always people around, so I didn’t think I could do that. You think you can’t be independent. But I’ve realised I can. I’m getting better and better."
These days, Michael is working as a theatre director - recently receiving a standing ovation for directing new West End show Laurel and Chaplin. The production tells the "true story of teenage best friends" Stan Laurel and Charlie Chaplin whose relationship broke down when silent movie star Chaplin found fame in Hollywood.
Discussing his new career venture, Michael says "despite all the sh**ty bits that have happened in my life, I still have never lost the desire and passion for what I do" - adding how he has discovered he is "a good director".
Michael has won a legion of young fans over recent years thanks to his decision to join social media platform TikTok - where he boasts over 1.7million followers. The former TV star has been sharing behind-the-scenes footage of his theatre venture, with fans rushing to leave comments.
"I don't think he realises how much the British public actually loves him," a recent comment from a TikTok user reads, with Michael replying: "I do know how much I am loved. It’s just at times, it can be so overwhelming but ohh so wonderful. I can never thank you enough; all of you X."
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