Michael Barrymore: Gardening Leave

TV star Michael Barrymore is working up to three days a week at a garden centre.The 60-year-old helps out by stacking shelves and shifting sacks of compost.
The entertainer’s new part-time role is a far cry from the fame he enjoyed at the height of his career in the 80s.
He told surprised shoppers at Tomlins garden centre in Brentwood, Essex, he was working as a favour for a friend.
“I don’t get paid for it. I help out because I enjoy gardening.
“People come over and wish me well. Sometimes I walk around with them to show them the plants.
“I stack the shelves and often I’m wheeling around heavy sacks of compost.”
The recovering alcoholic, whose hit shows included Strike It Lucky, was dropped by ITV in 2001 when Stuart Lubbock, 31, was found dead in his pool.
The tragedy destroyed his career.

Daily Mirror.

To be honest, it was actually the homophobic smear campaign from the likes of the Mirror that destroyed Michael Barrymore's career.
The poor sod.

PS The rather staged looking photos make Fagburn wonder if this is a PR stunt for his friend's garden centre.