Cheryl Barrymore He was voted the UK's favourite TV star several times, and became one of the highest-paid stars on TV. Cheryl later revealed that Michael had problems with alcohol, drugs, gambling and depression. As a result of her husband's physical assault on her at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, California, she was placed by British police on the "at risk" register. At the height of his popularity, Michael Barrymore suffered increasing alcohol problems. He claimed that he had wanted to seek help, but that his wife told him: "No, you’re not (alcoholic). Don’t be stupid." In November 1995, Michael attended
Gay Life (TV series) Gay Life (TV series) Gay Life was a television programme broadcast by London Weekend Television (LWT) in 1980 and 1981. It was produced by Michael Atwell at LWT's Minorities Unit and was the United Kingdom's LGBT television series. Gay himself, Atwell said that the programme could claim to be "the first time in the world that a major national TV company has given a whole series to gays". Three members of "Gay Life"'s production team were gay and Atwell said the staff felt that they were "in a sense trying to ride two horses – putting forward the gay viewpoint