Michael Barrymore's Big Brother struggle and odd Jimmy Savile exchange
Michael Barrymore was the bookies favourite to win Celebrity Big Brother in January 2006.
Having spent three years out of the limelight after party guest Stuart Lubbock was found dead in his pool in 2001, Barrymore was making a high-profile TV comeback.
But his big return to screens was marred by heated rows, 'bullying' claims and a bizarre incident with Jimmy Savile.
Michael, who is currently winning praise for his new career venture, eventually finished as runner-up on the Channel 4 series.
His early popularity with the public was lost due to a series of explosive rows with model Jodie Marsh, who in 2020 branded Barrymore a "narcissistic bully" and admitted she was "terrified of him" in the house.
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Jodie Marsh and Michael Barrymore butted heads in the house (Unknown)One of their biggest arguments came over the shopping list, with vegetarian Jodie claiming she was being "attacked" for wanting a packet of meat substitute Quorn to be included in their supplies When Barrymore argued they should have more meat, Jodie replied: "Go on then, attack me.... We can't eat meat. We're vegetarian."
Seething Michael then told her: "Stop moaning about everything. You've got a face like a slapped a**e. "You're getting exactly what you want - all the attention." Furious Jodie told Barrymore he "needed a psychologist" as the row reached boiling point.
Jodie was later caught on camera making a savage dig at the former prime time star, referencing the swimming pool death mystery in a chat with Chantelle Houghton. "He's got a major issue with vegetarians. He keeps going on and on about it," said Jodie. "I've got an issue with people dying in swimming pools but I don't keep on about it."
Jodie argues with Michael Barrymore over her insecurities (Unknown)Marsh and Barrymore never saw eye-to-eye during their time in the house together, and after she was evicted on day 9 branded him "Bullymore". In a series of tweets in February 2020, Jodie claimed she had nightmares for months after the show.
She wrote: "Had I known that I would be doing CBB with Barrymore I wouldn’t have done it but my agent at the time was useless & I found out after I got inside the house that I was there with someone I viewed as scum. If I’d have walked out my charity wouldn’t have been paid. It was vile."
In another bizarre turn of events just days later, Jimmy Savile entered the house as part of a two-day guest appearance to "fix" things for the celebs. The disgraced TV presenter, who was exposed as a sexual predator after his death in 2011, was greeted by cheers and slowly and awkwardly approached every housemate to greet them individually.
Barrymore got down on his knees in front of Savile, who he had known outside of the house, while clasping his hand. Later on during a group chat, Savile asked if everyone had seen Barrymore on TV and started heaping praise on the former Strike It Lucky host.
Barrymore got down on one knee to welcome Savile (Unknown)"Let me tell you - unbelievable. He broke the mould. He would go on and people instinctively like him," said Savile about Barrymore. "If you go on stage and you want to make somebody laugh you'll do something- joke, make something go wrong. He didn't do anything like that."
In a strange compliment, Savile claimed Barrymore was "the laziest performer in the world" because he didn't do anything. "He'd jump up and down. Then all of a sudden he'd get the hump with someone in the audience. Say 'you're not laughing - get out'. And it was for real, he'd sling them out. It was unreal. But he did it in such a way it was totally captivating. But there you go."
In the Diary Room, emotional Barrymore started to choke up while looking back on Savile's compliments. "When he came in I was blown away because it's him and he never lets you down," admitted Barrymore.
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"I didn't think seeing Jim and hearing Jim talking and being so personal and so kind to me. From the person that's held that establishment and what he's done. I started to well up in there and thought 'oh god here we go'. It just gets better in here. I want to thank you for giving me the chance to perfect my Jimmy Savile even though I only use it privately."
Michael Barrymore performs an impression of Hitler to the other celebsAs well as rowing with Marsh, Barrymore also had a strained relationship with former MP George Galloway. He ended up clashing with fiery Galloway during a 20-minute slanging match, with the ex-politician taunting Barrymore for being a recovering alcoholic.
Galloway cried: "Poor me, poor me, pour me a drink!" The comment infuriated the other housemates, who stepped in to defend Barrymore, as the public started to feel sympathy for him.
Barrymore also caused controversy with his impression of Adolf Hitler during a CBB talent show. The entertainer did an impersonation of the notorious Nazi dictator in front of his bewildered fellow celebs. Barrymore was seen donning a fake moustache and was shown performing a Nazi salute.
He spent over three weeks in the Celebrity Big Brother house and made it all the way to the final. Barrymore finished runner-up after beating actress Traci Bingham, the late Dead or Alive singer Pete Burns, Ordinary Boys singer Preston and rapper Maggot.
But he lost out to non-celebrity Chantelle Houghton, who had spent the first few days pretending to be a singer as part of a task. There was speculation that Barrymore's second place joy would lead to a major TV revival.
However, despite rumours of lucrative TV deals, Barrymore failed to land any more presenting gigs aside from a one-show stint hosting Friday Night Project a week after CBB ended.
These days, Barrymore has already quietly - and seemingly successfully - begun his showbiz comeback. The fallen TV presenter, 71, has been making appearances on stage - receiving standing ovations along the way - for weeks now.
Barrymore, who has given his first interview in years, is currently winning praise 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 with the Daily Star, Barrymore 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".
The former TV presenter received a standing ovation earlier this month for directing West End show Laurel and Chaplin - with Michael sharing a clip of the moment on his popular TikTok page. The former Celebrity Big Brother contestant 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.
In a clip shared to Barrymore's TikTok page, the former Strike It Lucky host can be heard telling a clapping crowd in a West End theatre: "I've never been so busy. I've never been so happy. I want to thank all the people on TikTok - whether you're on there or not - because over the last two years... it was time I claimed my life back. I'm happy, I'm sober and well... I don't know what to say."
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