Michael Barrymore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Michael Barrymore |
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Barrymore in 2020
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| Birth name | Michael Ciaran Parker |
| Born | 4 May 1952 Bermondsey, London, England |
| Medium | Stand-up, film, television |
| Genres | Observational comedy One-liners Improvisational comedy Character comedy Physical comedy |
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| Spouse |
Cheryl Cocklin
(m. 1976; div. 1997) |
Michael Ciaran Parker (born 4 May 1952), known as Michael Barrymore, is a famous English comedian and TV presenter. He was very popular in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. He hosted many popular game shows and entertainment programs on British television.
Some of his most well-known shows included Strike It Lucky, My Kind of People, My Kind of Music, and Kids Say the Funniest Things. He also had his own variety show called Barrymore. In 1993, he was the main star of the Royal Variety Performance, which is a very important show in the UK.
At his most popular, Michael Barrymore was voted the UK's favourite TV star many times. He became one of the highest-paid stars on television. After his main career, he appeared on shows like Celebrity Big Brother. He also acted in the comedy-drama Bob Martin from 2000 to 2001.
His television career changed after an event at his house in 2001.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Michael Ciaran Parker was born in Bermondsey, London. He grew up on a council estate with his two older siblings. His father left when Michael was 11 years old, and they never saw each other again. Michael and his siblings were raised by their Irish mother, Margaret, in the Roman Catholic faith.
Starting His Career
Michael Barrymore began his career working as a Redcoat at Butlins holiday camps. He then moved on to perform in West End theatre shows in London. There, he met a dancer named Cheryl St Claire in 1974. They got married in 1976.
Cheryl became his manager and helped him become famous. He first won a TV talent show called New Faces in 1975. He then became a regular guest on Blankety Blank. He also worked as a warm-up act for other famous comedians like Larry Grayson and Little and Large. In his early days, Barrymore was known for his impressions of people like John Cleese.
Television Stardom (1976–2002)
Barrymore became very well-known through his appearances on shows like Blankety Blank. In 1983, he got his own sketch show called The Michael Barrymore Show. He also appeared in Russ Abbott's Madhouse from 1981 to 1982.
He later became the host of the ITV game show Strike It Lucky in 1986. This show became incredibly popular, with up to 18 million viewers watching it at its peak. This was his first big success as a presenter.
In 1991, Barrymore was given his own light entertainment show, Barrymore. On this show, he interviewed guests, performed comedy, and joined in with other performers. The show was very successful throughout the 1990s and was often nominated for awards. Famous guests like Cliff Richard and Spike Milligan appeared on Barrymore.
After his performance at the 1993 Royal Variety Performance, he became even more popular. He was known for his catchphrases like "Awight!" when he entered a room. On Strike It Lucky, he would ask "Top, middle or bottom?" and "What is a hot spot not?", to which the audience would reply "Not a good spot".
He continued to make new series of Barrymore and Strike It Lucky (which was later renamed Strike It Rich). He also launched new shows like My Kind of People and My Kind of Music. He was voted the UK's favourite TV star many times and became one of the highest-paid stars on television.
Barrymore won the National Television Award for Most Popular Entertainment Presenter five times. He was the last winner of this award before Ant and Dec started winning it every year from 2001 onwards. In 2000, Barrymore also started acting in the comedy series Bob Martin, playing the main character.
Career Changes
After a difficult period, Michael Barrymore's television career changed. He moved to New Zealand for a while to live with his partner. He also performed live stage shows in New Zealand and Australia. In 2005, he appeared in the musical Chicago in Napier, New Zealand.
Celebrity Big Brother
In December 2005, it was announced that Barrymore would take part in Celebrity Big Brother. This show started on 5 January 2006. He finished as the runner-up in the competition.
After Celebrity Big Brother
After Celebrity Big Brother, Barrymore returned to the UK. He was a guest host on Channel 4's The Friday Night Project in February 2006. This was his last time presenting a primetime television show.
He continued to perform on stage. For Christmas 2006, he played the main role in Scrooge – The Musical in Sunderland. In 2008, he played comedian Spike Milligan in the play Surviving Spike. In 2010, he appeared on The Saturday Night Show in Ireland.
In 2013, Barrymore appeared on the RTÉ programme The Saturday Night Show. He talked about his life and the idea of a new show. In March 2019, Barrymore appeared on Piers Morgan's Life Stories. In September 2019, it was announced he would join Dancing on Ice in January 2020. However, he had to leave the show due to a broken hand.
Personal Life
Michael Barrymore met Cheryl Cocklin in 1974 when she was a dancer. They got married in 1976. Cheryl became his manager and helped him become a big star. They divorced in 1997.
Cheryl Cocklin passed away in 2005 from lung cancer.
Images for kids
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A robot for kids
See also
In Spanish: Michael Barrymore para niños
