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Beyond Today

Why are we talking about Michael Barrymore?

Beyond Today

BBC

News

4.61.1K Ratings

🗓️ 7 February 2020

⏱️ 23 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

It was the celebrity scandal that gripped the nation in an era where tabloids ruled the roost and affairs and addiction dominated front pages. Right in the middle of the drama was one of the biggest entertainment TV presenters of the age - Michael Barrymore. In 2001, when a 31 year old man called Stuart Lubbock was found unconscious in Michael Barrymore’s pool in Essex he was initially believed to have drowned during a party. When a second post-mortem flagged up severe injuries consistent with serious sexual assault, it shocked the country. People close to the TV presenter sold their stories to the press - including Michael Barrymore’s boyfriend. An inquest into Stuart’s death saw the coroner record an open verdict, but Essex police now suspect foul play and are calling on the eight party guests to cooperate. In 2007 Michael Barrymore was arrested, but later released without charge. 19 years later the case is still unsolved and a new Channel 4 documentary ‘Barrymore: The Body In The Pool’ has shone a light on the story that never went away We discuss some of the ethical issues raised in the documentary with TV critic Scott Bryan and speak to William Mata who covered the story for the Harlow Star. William spent time with Stuart’s father Terry during his campaign for justice. Producers: Lucy Hancock and Duncan Barber Mixed by Emma Crowe

Transcript

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0:00.0

BBC Sounds, music, radio podcasts.

0:06.1

Hello.

0:06.6

I'm Tina Deheili.

0:08.2

Welcome to Beyond Today, where we ask one big question about one big story. Today why are we talking about Michael Barrymore?

0:31.1

Number four, Michael, five months, five, five, five, five, five, five, five months, five months,

0:35.0

five twice,

0:35.1

Royden, et cetera.

0:38.9

It was the celebrity scandal that ruled the Nauties.

0:43.0

Are they still in water?

0:47.0

It happened before social media,

0:52.0

at a time where the tabloids had all the power.

0:55.7

Affairs and addiction dominated their front pages and the readers lapped it all up.

1:01.3

The coroner's inquest into Stuart Lubbock's death appears to have done little to slow my time.

1:05.0

Once you're summoned to give evidence at a coroner's

1:07.7

inquest you must appear to give you.

1:10.1

The virtual arm of the BBC has postponed indefinitely plans to publish his autobiography.

1:15.0

Right in the middle of it was one of the biggest entertainment TV presenters of that era, Michael Barrymore. Hey, very much today. Thank you, what do you make?

1:26.0

There you are, thank you Kirstie, ladies gentlemen, the bluebells.

1:29.0

There you go.

1:30.0

When a 31 year old man called Stuart Lubbock was found unconscious in Michael Barrymore's pool in Essex,

1:36.4

he was initially believed to have drowned during a party.

1:40.1

But when a second post-mortem flagged up severe injuries consistent with serious

...

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