Barrymore showbiz comeback in city is hit by illness

IT WAS billed as a chance to see at first-hand how fallen celebrity Michael Barrymore was getting his career back on track.

The former Strike It Lucky host, who won the hearts of the nation again as a Celebrity Big Brother finalist earlier this year, had been set for a two-week stint in Edinburgh, as part of his showbiz comeback in the hit musical Scrooge.

But now bosses at the Festival Theatre have mysteriously cancelled the whole second week of the show's run, claiming Barrymore is suffering from a "throat problem".

Despite his illness, the first week of shows, beginning on January 29, will still go ahead with the former TV presenter in the lead role as Charles Dickens' famous dour character.

It is not known why he is able to return from illness for a week of shows in Edinburgh before signing off sick again.

Organisers have guaranteed that everyone who had tickets for a cancelled show will be able to transfer it for a seat in the first week, but insist that ticket sales were "going fine".

The cancellation comes as police again step up the investigation into the death of Stuart Lubbock at Barrymore's home in 2001.

Barrymore was questioned by detectives last week and has been informed that everyone who was present at his house when Lubbock, 31, drowned in the swimming pool, will face questioning again. The Festival Theatre needed to move quickly to advise customers of the cancellation, and letters were expected to be received today by everyone who has booked tickets for the second week of the show.

A spokeswoman for the Festival Theatre said: "Mr Barrymore will be appearing during the first week of shows but the second week has now been cancelled due to an ongoing throat problem and after he (Barrymore) took advice from doctors.

"We have sent out letters to everyone who had booked tickets for that week informing them of the situation. They will now get the opportunity to see the show during the week that it is here."

She denied there had been poor ticket sales for the show, insisting that sales were going "fine" - despite being able to guarantee that there are enough tickets available for everyone who was scheduled to attend in the second week to transfer to a seat in the first week instead.

The spokeswoman said: "Ticket sales are going fine and another brochure will be coming out in early January which we expect to provide an extra push.

"As a policy, we don't release ticket figures because of the third party involvement. But we are pleased to clarify that we are able to accommodate all those who booked for the second week.

"We are pleased with business and sorry that we can't maximise the demand with the second week of the run."

Scrooge is Barrymore's first major stage role since being cautioned for drug offences following the first police investigation into Lubbock's death during a party at the star's home.

Essex Police are believed to be working on new lines of inquiry - including the possibility there was a party guest they knew nothing about.

Barrymore's agent, based in New Zealand, was unavailable for comment today.