Cheryl Barrymore as himself. Michael later wrote in his 2006 autobiography, "Awight Now: Setting the Record Straight", that Cheryl was a control freak who controlled his every movement including his clothes, and she had created the character that was "Michael Barrymore", which drove him to alcohol, drugs and gay affairs. After her split with Michael, Cheryl's health suffered. In 2003 she suffered a burst ulcer, and in late 2004 she was investigated for chronic fatigue syndrome, when she complained of feeling unwell. On 1 April 2005, she died, aged 55, at St John and St Elizabeth Hospital in St John's Wood, having
Cheryl: My Story warned that his infidelities would be discussed in the book. Cheryl personally gave him a copy of the book prior to its publication, as it was "only fair." A source told the "Sunday Mirror", "Ashley knew what the book was going to say as he had seen it beforehand. He sees this as a bit like his comeuppance. He knows what he did was wrong and he has apologised to Cheryl. They always spoke after the split and throughout the divorce. They want one another to be happy now." American recording artist Nicole Scherzinger, who replaced Cheryl as a judge