Michael Barrymore

Michael Barrymore was born in Bermondsey London in 1952, the breeding ground for many famous stars, including Charlie Chaplin, Max Bygraves and Tommy Steele. Having won the TV show New Faces, Michael's big break came when he joined Russ Abbot's Television Madhouse. His own series with Thames Television, The Michael Barrymore Show, soon followed accompanied by his infamous appearances at all the major variety shows. In 1987 he made the first of his Strike It Lucky shows for Thames Television. It proved so successful that the entertainer went on to make a further nine series. In 1989, Michael's versatility put him at the forefront of British Entertainment; he trod the boards playing Wishee Washee with Frank Bruno as the Genie of the Lamp in the pantomime Aladdin at London's prestigious Dominion Theatre, where bookings went through the roof. The following Christmas, with Michael's popularity so high, he starred in Cinderella as Buttons at the Bristol Hippodrome and again ticket sales b