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
Gay Life (TV series) and relating to non-gay people". "Gay Life" was broadcast late on a Sunday evening in the London region, and was first shown on 11 February 1980 at 11:30 pm. Notable contributors included comedian Graham Chapman, who spoke of his experience as a gay parent in the February 24 episode. The debut episode was reviewed by John Russell Taylor in the following week's issue of "Gay News". In his essay "Something for Everyone" included in the critical theory book "Queer TV: Theories, Histories, Politics" edited by Glyn Davis and Gary Needham, Gregory Woods wrote that Taylor's review had raised "basic but