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
broke all records.
Highlights of Michael's career have included two Royal Variety
Performances and Royal shows in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen.
In 1992 he starred in The Children's Royal Variety Performance attended
by Princess Margaret, to universal acclaim.
In 1993 Michael was signed by London Weekend Television who recognised
the performer's huge talent that would, in the next few years, earn him
an awesome array of awards and accolades. His top rated series
Barrymore won him the title of Top ITV Entertainment Presenter for
three years running at the British Comedy Awards from 1993 to 1995.
Having now established himself firmly in the public's affection with
his mixture of warmth and spontaneity, Michael went on to collect
trophies for the Best Entertainment Show and Best Entertainment
Performance at the 1994 Royal Television Society Awards.
Michael went on to win a veritable arsenal of awards in 1995 and scored
another triumph with his series My Kind Of People. Travelling the
length and breadth of Britain, Michael recruited an even bigger army of
fans as he invited them to sing their souls out or dance their legs off completely unrehearsed in London Weekend Television's first major
foray into weekday prime-time television.
Also in that year, at the first ever National Television Awards voted
for by viewers, Michael both won the title of Top Entertainment
Presenter and also saw Barrymore scoop Best Entertainment Show. At the
same ceremony he also notched up Top Game Show for Strike It Lucky (1986).
In the same ground breaking fashion the following year, underscoring
Michael's reputation as Britain's top male entertainer, he was awarded
the prestigious Gold Medal - the top accolade in the variety category -
at the New York Festival for an episode of Barrymore. Again Michael was
voted by the public as Best Entertainment Presenter at the National
Television Awards.
During 1997 Michael recorded a new series of Strike It Rich, followed
by the filming of his cameo role in the Spice Girls movie Spiceworld.
He also recorded a new series of My Kind Of Music and performed his
live Christmas show Barrymore Live for 11 Days at Fairfield Halls which
sold out every night and received overwhelming standing ovations. Once
again Michael received the National Television Award for Best
Entertainment Presenter.
In 1998 he had enormous ratings with his hit series My Kind Of Music
and he also recorded a new series of Strike It Rich. Michael won two
awards at the Challenge TV Game Show Awards and Best Game Show Host and
Most Popular Tv Presenter at the National Television Awards.
Michael toured England, Wales and Scotland during 1998 with his An
Evening with Barrymore live show, again his huge popularity was
reflected in the instant sell outs and standing ovations. Michael also
recorded a new series of My Kind Of Music for 1999.
In 1999 and 2000 Michael made a brand new series called Kids Say The
Funniest Things which was an instant ratings success and his first ever
drama comedy series Bob Martin, both bringing him more awards for Best
Entertainment Show and Best Comedy Performance at the National
Television Awards.
Michael went on to sell out his live Laid Back tour across New Zealand
and then again returning to a further sell out tour in both Australia
and New Zealand receiving standing ovations and sell outs each night
for both tours.
In 2004 Michael went on the road again in New Zealand with his sell out
Heartland Tour receiving overwhelming standing ovations and positive
press reviews.
Michael became a resident of New Zealand in March 2004 but splits his
time between London and Auckland.
He continued the year working on various potential television
productions and, as he did in the UK on numerous occasions, took the
role of Master of Ceremonies for a variety of corporate events,
including the Thrive EMA conference, and delivered various after dinner
speeches bringing his own unique, versatile and spontaneous humour to
each and every event.
Michael was also given the opportunity to try on a journalistic hat in
2004 when he was asked to write his own column for the new Herald on
Sunday. This was new territory for Michael and his work was well
received.
Michael played the role of lawyer Billy Flynn in the hit stage musical
Chicago. A first ever musical performance by the entertainer, Michael
won the crowds with co star Tina Cross in a two month tour around the
North Island of New Zealand. The show sold to sell out audiences and
rave reviews. Michael has done a number of live shows and is constantly
in demand for corporate entertainment in New Zealand.
In 2006 Michael joined Channel 4's Celebrity Big Brother. The unanimous
applause for him as he entered and left the house, showed the huge
public support for Michael in England, and he was voted by the public
most popular known celebrity in the show.
Since then Michael has appeared as a guest in various televisions
shows.
