Cheryl Barrymore
Encyclopedia
Cheryl Carlisa Barrymore (born as Cheryl Carlisa Cocklin, 22 March 1950 – 1 April 2005) was an English
dancer and talent manager
, most famous as the ex-wife of Michael Barrymore
.
records between shows, where she met young PR man and lifelong friend Max Clifford
.
After her first marriage failed, Cheryl took part in several West End theatre
shows; during one of which she met entertainer Michael Barrymore
in 1974. They married two years later.
love affair
. Cheryl later claimed, without contradiction from her estranged husband, that they had had a "full" marriage, including connubial relations.
With Cheryl as his manager and the mastermind behind Barrymore's meteoric rise, he won a 1979 edition of "New Faces
". He later became a panelist on "Blankety Blank
" and the warm-up man for Larry Grayson
on the "Generation Game."
From there Barrymore rose to fame presenting ITV1
entertainment show "Strike It Lucky
" from 1986, followed by "Kids Say the Funniest Things
" and "My Kind of Music
." Barrymore was voted the UK's favourite TV star several times, and became one of the highest-paid stars on TV.
Cheryl later revealed that Barrymore had problems with alcohol
and depression
, and as a result of an attack on her at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles
, she was placed by British police
on the "at risk" register.
problems. He claimed that he had wanted to seek help, but that his wife told him: "No, you’re not (alcoholic). Don’t be stupid."
In November 1995, Barrymore attended the National Television Awards
, where clearly drunk he made a rambling, incoherent speech. At an after-show party on a live late night radio show, he publicly declared he was gay
and "no longer wanted to live a lie", following which he and Cheryl split up. She later claimed that Barrymore took the step and didn't tell her because of his talks with Princess Diana, and that the day Barrymore announced he was gay, was also the day her menopause
started.
After several aborted reunions, they later divorced in 1997 and Cheryl went on to publish the autobiography
"Catch a Falling Star", which contained details of their acrimonious split. The couple became estranged, and she ceased acting on her husband's behalf as either agent or manager.
and Ex-EastEnder Daniella Westbrook, the latter of whom she urged to get help for her drug addiction, ultimately leading to Daniella becoming clean of drugs in 2001. When her ex-husband was tried for the murder of meat factory worker Stuart Lubbock, Cheryl provided to the Lubbock family lawyer both a sworn affidavit
and subsequent court testimony that her ex-husband had lied under oath, and could actually swim. She also alleged the entertainer had rubbed cocaine
on to the gums of other people as well as himself.
Barrymore later wrote in his 2006 autobiography, Awight Now: Setting the Record Straight, that Cheryl was a control freak who controlled his every movement including his clothes, and she had created the character that was "Michael Barrymore", which also resultantly drove him to alcohol, drugs and gay affairs.
, and in late 2004 she was investigated for Chronic fatigue syndrome
, when she complained of feeling unwell.
On 1 April 2005, Cheryl Barrymore died, aged 55, at St John and St Elizabeth Hospital in St John's Wood
, having been diagnosed with lung cancer
just six weeks earlier.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
dancer and talent manager
Talent manager
A talent manager, also known as an artist manager or band manager, is an individual or company who guides the professional career of artists in the entertainment industry...
, most famous as the ex-wife of Michael Barrymore
Michael Barrymore
Michael Kieron Parker , better known by his stage name Michael Barrymore, is a British comedian who appeared as a presenter of game shows and light entertainment programmes on British television in the 1980s and 1990s. These included Strike It Lucky, My Kind of People, My Kind of Music and Kids Say...
.
Biography
A trained dancer she took work in the publicity department of EMIEMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
records between shows, where she met young PR man and lifelong friend Max Clifford
Max Clifford
Maxwell Frank Clifford is an English publicist, considered the highest-profile and best-known publicist in the United Kingdom...
.
After her first marriage failed, Cheryl took part in several West End theatre
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
shows; during one of which she met entertainer Michael Barrymore
Michael Barrymore
Michael Kieron Parker , better known by his stage name Michael Barrymore, is a British comedian who appeared as a presenter of game shows and light entertainment programmes on British television in the 1980s and 1990s. These included Strike It Lucky, My Kind of People, My Kind of Music and Kids Say...
in 1974. They married two years later.
Wife and manager
Cheryl and Michael married in 1976 although not until after Barrymore had paid off his mother who threatened to reveal a previous 18-month-long gayGay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
love affair
Affair
Affair may refer to professional, personal, or public business matters or to a particular business or private activity of a temporary duration, as in family affair, a private affair, or a romantic affair.-Political affair:...
. Cheryl later claimed, without contradiction from her estranged husband, that they had had a "full" marriage, including connubial relations.
With Cheryl as his manager and the mastermind behind Barrymore's meteoric rise, he won a 1979 edition of "New Faces
New Faces
New Faces was a British television talent show popular in the 1970s and 1980s, presented originally by Derek Hobson. It was produced by ATV Network Limited for the ITV Network. The first run of the show was from 29 September 1973 to 2 April 1978 and was recorded at the ATV Centre, Birmingham...
". He later became a panelist on "Blankety Blank
Blankety Blank
Blankety Blank is a British comedy game show based on the 1977–1978 Australian game show Blankety Blanks ....
" and the warm-up man for Larry Grayson
Larry Grayson
Larry Grayson , born William Sulley White, was an English stand-up comedian and television presenter of the 1970s and early 80s...
on the "Generation Game."
From there Barrymore rose to fame presenting ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
entertainment show "Strike It Lucky
Strike It Lucky
Strike It Lucky was a popular British television game show from 1986 to 1999, originally produced by Thames Television for ITV, and presented by the British comedian Michael Barrymore...
" from 1986, followed by "Kids Say the Funniest Things
Kids Say the Funniest Things
Kids Say the Funniest Things was a Comedy show in the United Kingdom based on the United States show Kids Say the Darndest Things, produced by LWT for ITV from 27 December 1998 to 1 October 2000. A third series was recorded in 2001, but never aired because of the revelations surrounding Stuart...
" and "My Kind of Music
My Kind of Music
My Kind of Music is a game show in the United Kingdom, produced by LWT for ITV from 8 February 1998 to 29 March 2002.The show's main theme, "My Kind of People", where presenter Michael Barrymore sang some of the lyrics when appearing at the very start, was based on the same song by Robert Palmer...
." Barrymore was voted the UK's favourite TV star several times, and became one of the highest-paid stars on TV.
Cheryl later revealed that Barrymore had problems with alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
and depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
, and as a result of an attack on her at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, she was placed by British police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
on the "at risk" register.
Split with Barrymore
At the height of his popularity, Michael Barrymore suffered increasing alcoholAlcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
problems. He claimed that he had wanted to seek help, but that his wife told him: "No, you’re not (alcoholic). Don’t be stupid."
In November 1995, Barrymore attended the National Television Awards
National Television Awards
The National Television Awards is a British television awards ceremony, broadcast by the ITV network and initiated in 1995. The National Television Awards are the most prominent ceremony for which the results are voted on by the general public. Because of the way the awards are decided, winners are...
, where clearly drunk he made a rambling, incoherent speech. At an after-show party on a live late night radio show, he publicly declared he was gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
and "no longer wanted to live a lie", following which he and Cheryl split up. She later claimed that Barrymore took the step and didn't tell her because of his talks with Princess Diana, and that the day Barrymore announced he was gay, was also the day her menopause
Menopause
Menopause is a term used to describe the permanent cessation of the primary functions of the human ovaries: the ripening and release of ova and the release of hormones that cause both the creation of the uterine lining and the subsequent shedding of the uterine lining...
started.
After several aborted reunions, they later divorced in 1997 and Cheryl went on to publish the autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
"Catch a Falling Star", which contained details of their acrimonious split. The couple became estranged, and she ceased acting on her husband's behalf as either agent or manager.
After Barrymore
Cheryl devoted her energies to managing other artists including Rebecca LoosRebecca Loos
Rebecca Loos is a Spanish-born Anglo-Dutch model and media personality, who was brought to media attention following claims that she conducted an affair with the married football player David Beckham—while employed as his personal assistant...
and Ex-EastEnder Daniella Westbrook, the latter of whom she urged to get help for her drug addiction, ultimately leading to Daniella becoming clean of drugs in 2001. When her ex-husband was tried for the murder of meat factory worker Stuart Lubbock, Cheryl provided to the Lubbock family lawyer both a sworn affidavit
Affidavit
An affidavit is a written sworn statement of fact voluntarily made by an affiant or deponent under an oath or affirmation administered by a person authorized to do so by law. Such statement is witnessed as to the authenticity of the affiant's signature by a taker of oaths, such as a notary public...
and subsequent court testimony that her ex-husband had lied under oath, and could actually swim. She also alleged the entertainer had rubbed cocaine
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
on to the gums of other people as well as himself.
Barrymore later wrote in his 2006 autobiography, Awight Now: Setting the Record Straight, that Cheryl was a control freak who controlled his every movement including his clothes, and she had created the character that was "Michael Barrymore", which also resultantly drove him to alcohol, drugs and gay affairs.
Death
After her split with Barrymore, Cheryl's health suffered. In 2003 she suffered a burst ulcerPeptic ulcer
A peptic ulcer, also known as PUD or peptic ulcer disease, is the most common ulcer of an area of the gastrointestinal tract that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful. It is defined as mucosal erosions equal to or greater than 0.5 cm...
, and in late 2004 she was investigated for Chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is the most common name used to designate a significantly debilitating medical disorder or group of disorders generally defined by persistent fatigue accompanied by other specific symptoms for a minimum of six months, not due to ongoing exertion, not substantially...
, when she complained of feeling unwell.
On 1 April 2005, Cheryl Barrymore died, aged 55, at St John and St Elizabeth Hospital in St John's Wood
St John's Wood
St John's Wood is a district of north-west London, England, in the City of Westminster, and at the north-west end of Regent's Park. It is approximately 2.5 miles north-west of Charing Cross. Once part of the Great Middlesex Forest, it was later owned by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem...
, having been diagnosed with lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
just six weeks earlier.