Barrymore reiterates innocence after TV documentary on death

Michael Barrymore has said that he is unable to comment on a documentary about the death of a man at his home nearly 20 years ago, because he has not seen it.

The TV star, 67, issued a statement ahead of Channel 4’s programme Barrymore: The Body In The Pool which aired last night, in which he also protested his innocence.

The programme looks into the unexplained death of 31-year-old Stuart Lubbock, whose body was found at Barrymore’s then-home in Roydon, Essex, on March 31 2001.

Barrymore was arrested in 2007, but never charged with any offence.

In a video posted on Twitter, Barrymore said that he has been repeatedly asked to comment on the documentary, adding: “As I made clear to everyone, I’m not able to comment because Channel 4 are refusing to show it to me, or let me know what it contains.

“The truth is I have always done everything anyone has asked of me, and I’ve cooperated with everyone.”

Barrymore said he may comment after he has watched the programme when it has aired.

“In the meantime, my heartfelt sympathies are with the Lubbock family and I truly hope they find peace, and it is for that reason that I have constantly pressed for an independent police force to examine everything to do with the case and reach a proper conclusion, and I shall continue to do so,” he added.

A Channel 4 spokeswoman said: “Mr Barrymore was given a fair opportunity to respond to the matters raised in the film, and his position is fairly included in it.”