He had dramatically pledged that he was drawing a line under years of controversy by leaving Britain and beginning a new life in Spain.
But Michael Barrymore’s dreams of reinventing himself in Barcelona very quickly turned sour once he actually got there.
Now the Daily Mail can reveal that the fallen entertainer has completely reconsidered his emigration plans – and has instead bought this ‘forever home’ in… Devon.
The former primetime TV star, 73, moved into the bungalow in a town in the fashionable south of the county two weeks ago.
Since arriving, Barrymore has documented his new life on the south west on TikTok including videos of his new home, posing for selfies with locals, taking his beloved dog Lara, a whippet, to nearby beaches and on regular shopping trips.
The timber clad beach house-style bungalow features exposed wooden beams sloping down above a white kitchen worktop.
Outside is a small decking area accessed via the master bedroom and living room which the estate agent describes as ‘a great space to entertain or simply relax’.
Barrymore was previously one of the UK’s top stars but his decades long career ended after the death of Stuart Lubbock in 2001 following a party at his Essex home.
Michael Barrymore moved into the bungalow in a town in the fashionable south of the county two weeks ago
Barrymore has been documenting his relocation to the South West on TikTok, sharing glimpses of his new home and posing for selfies with locals
Valued at £385,000, this modest two-bedroom bungalow (pictured) is situated in a charming market town, just a short distance from some of Britain’s best beaches
In a video posted from his new house, Barrymore described the move as ‘traumatic’
The former king of Saturday night TV was one of the biggest names in the country and reportedly earned £2million-a-year from ITV.
He was questioned by detectives but has always denied playing any part in Mr Lubbock’s suspected murder, and has since reinvented himself as a TikToker, earning hoards of young fans.
Last year he had made the life-changing decision to quit the UK and told his 3.5 million followers he was about to move into ‘a house with a garden’ near Barcelona he was anxious for Lara to see.
But in March he made the shock U-turn after he was dragged into anti-tourism protests by Spanish activists.
In an anguished selfie video from his car before his three-day drive back to the UK he said: ‘I’m a f***ing mess, so homesick, I’ve never experienced it before.
‘I feel insecure, I’m just looking at negatives all of the time because of the way I feel. I can’t stand self pity and what do I do! Self pity. I’ve been doing it for f***ing ages. I’m tired, I feel so unprepared and thinking we can’t do this.
‘And I felt so down about giving up on moving to Barcelona, I felt like I let so many people down.’
Barrymore based himself in West London before moving into his new home at the start of this month.
It is a modest two-bed one-bath bungalow costing £385,000 in a market town close to some of Britain’s best beaches.
In a video posted from his new house, Barrymore described the move as ‘traumatic’.
He added: ‘I’ve got loads of mixtures of emotions. Lara’s been brilliant, she loves it here, I’m very near the beaches, we’ve got lots of land around here.
By his side is a male companion, who looked stylish in wide-leg jeans and a white hoodie as they took Michael’s pet pooch Lara for a walk around the town of El Papiol close to Barcelona
A group protesting ‘overtourism’ in Spain posted Barrymore’s video overlaid with the caption
‘This place needs a lot of doing up, I’m waiting for furniture to arrive.
‘I feel lost at times walking around trying to find everything. I’d forgotten just how traumatic it can be.
‘I’m sure it won’t take long to get around exactly where I am but if you see me come and say hello.
‘When I arrived the neighbours were around within an hour or so with a bottle of something – I didn’t have the heart to tell them I don’t drink.
‘I’m scared, I’m frightened, I’m excited, I’m nervous. Being famous doesn’t get you away from emotions or feelings.’
The property description says: ‘The property is completely enclosed by pretty stone walling making it very private. It has a gated entrance with driveway parking for one vehicle and access around the side to the garden which is timber decked and a great space to entertain or simply relax. There is also a good size shed, ideal for extra storage.’
Neighbours revealed Barrymore had already been around to introduce himself – one said: ‘We met him when he first moved in. He seems a lovely chap. It’s a bit surprising to have somebody you used to watch on telly living around the corner but he seems to be making friends and he’s very welcome.’
Barrymore even had to knock more than £100,000 off the asking price of his London flat to push the move through after struggling to sell it
Earlier this year he reduced the asking price for the flat in Acton, west London, from £600,000 to £475,000.
The property description reads: ‘Set within an imposing gated development and offered for sale with no onward chain is this fabulous two bedroom ground floor apartment offering a stylish living and entertaining space opening onto the kitchen area both bedrooms come with personal ensuite, externally there is a private courtyard and deck and underground parking.
‘Acton Park and the shops, cafes and restaurants of Acton and Shepherds Bush are all on the doorstep.’
It comes with an underground parking space.
Lubbock’s body was found face-down in Barrymore’s swimming pool on March 31, 2001, with the 31-year-old pronounced dead at the Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, later that morning
Barrymore’s decades long career ended after the death of Stuart Lubbock in 2001 following a party at his Essex home (pictured on his show Strike It Lucky in 1986)
The six-floor building was built in the 1920s for the then-Ministry of Work and Pensions before going on to be used by the Department of Social Security.
It was later converted into 600 flats with Mr Barrymore’s at the top end of those on offer.
Other flats in the building on higher floors with little outside space are on offer for between £300,000 to £490,000.
