Viewers 'heartbroken' over documentary about Michael Barrymore pool death

Julia Hunt
·Contributor
Updated ·3 min read
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 09: Michael Barrymore during the Dancing On Ice 2019 photocall at ITV Studios on December 09, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
Michael Barrymore during the Dancing On Ice 2019 photocall at ITV Studios on December 09, 2019 in London, England. (Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

Channel 4’s “harrowing” documentary about the man found dead in Michael Barrymore’s pool almost 20 years ago has left viewers “heartbroken”.

Barrymore: The Body In The Pool explored the unexplained death of 31-year-old Stuart Lubbock, whose body was found at the TV star's then-home in Roydon, Essex after a party on March 31 2001.

Mr Lubbock had sustained injuries which experts believe were the result of a serious sexual assault.

Read more: Barrymore pool death 999 call heard in documentary

People tuning in on Thursday night were moved by the grief of Mr Lubbock’s dad, Terry, who has never given up his fight to find out what happened to his son.

Essex police handout passport photo of Stuart Lubbock. Lubbock, 31, a wholesale butcher's supervisor, from Harlow, Essex, was named as the man who drowned in a swimming pool at the home of television entertainer Michael Barrymore. * Mr Lubbock died in hospital after being found at Barrymore's home in Roydon, near Harlow. Police said post-mortem tests had shown that Mr Lubbock died from drowning . Further toxicology tests are being carried out. 10/12/03: Stuart Lubbock, who was found dead in TV entertainer Michael Barrymore's swimming pool, suffered severe internal injuries before he died, police said. The 31-year-old factory worker was found in Barrymore's pool at his luxury home in Roydon, near Harlow, in March 2001.
Essex police handout passport photo of Stuart Lubbock.

“Poor Terry Lubbock, the man is in a living hell, the whole family look broken, absolutely heartbreaking,” one person posted on Twitter.

“I feel so much for Stuart Lubbock’s father. I can’t imagine,” said another.

Another viewer tweeted: “Heartbreaking for Stuart's dad. It's clearly consumed him for the past 20 odd years. Hope he one day gets the answers and the closure he deserves and needs.”

“Very harrowing,” another person posted.

Many viewers said they hoped the family would get answers.

One tweeted: “Sincerely hope the new investigation reveals the truth of who killed @LubbockStuart & bring those to justice & brings peace to the #Lubbock family.”

Barrymore, 67, was arrested in 2007, but never charged with any offence.

He protested his innocence once again in a statement before the documentary aired.

Read more: Michael Barrymore ‘devastated’ to pull out of Dancing On Ice

Last year Barrymore told Piers Morgan's Life Stories programme that he was "100% innocent".

He later sued Essex Police claiming wrongful arrest, which he said had cost him about £2.5 million in lost earnings.

However, Court of Appeal judges concluded Barrymore would be entitled to only "nominal" damages.