...but gets 'jeered off'

He has been on the receiving end of countless jokes on the stand-up circuit… but Michael Barrymore decided to launch his comeback on Friday with an unannounced gig at the Comedy Store.

But the shamed entertainer reportedly put in a shambolic and rambling set, and was eventually booed off stage of the London club.

One girl, Lyd, wrote on Twitter: ‘Michael Barrymore was off his face when I saw him tonight in London. One of the saddest things I've witnessed in a long time. Total meltdown.’

And audience member Wes Shipley told the Sunday Express: ‘The guy’s obviously no idea what he’s doing in a modern comedy club. A lot of his jokes were old and out of place. And he sounded completely out of it.’

It is almost ten years to the day since Barrymore’s career came to an abrupt end when the body of Stuart Lubblock was found in his swimming pool after a party in his Essex home. Barrymore was charged with nothing more than possession and use of cannabis at the time, but in 2007 was arrested on suspicion of murder and serious sexual assault – but again no charges were forthcoming.

The 58-year-old is planning a comeback with a summer season at Blackpool’s North Pier this summer, which the Comedy Store gig was a warm-up for.

Duggie Chapman, who is producing the Blackpool show, said: ‘I think the nation is ready to accept Michael back into its heart. It’s not as though charges were ever brought against him. The silliest thing he did was run away and hide.

And he insisted Barrymore has turned his life around, adding: ‘He hasn’t been drinking for three years and is going to the gym every day.’

This is not the first time he has tried to revive his career; in September 2003, Barrymore staged a one-man show at London's Wyndham's Theatre, which closed after a few days, and he has also performed live stage shows in New Zealand and Australia. He appeared in Celebrity Big Brother in 2006 and Celebrity Come Dine With Me last year.

Published: 27 Mar 2011