Episode #43
Michael Barrymore: What Happened to Stuart Lubbock
☕ SUPPORT THE SHOW If you enjoy What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight and would like to support the work that goes into researching and producing the podcast, you can support the show through Buy Me a Coffee. buymeacoffee.com/Whattheyhidepod MICHAEL BARRYMORE: WHAT HAPPENED TO STUART LUBBOCK? On the night of 30 March 2001, 31-year-old father Stuart Lubbock went out for an ordinary Friday night in Harlow, Essex. Before the night was over, he had met one of the most famous entertainers in Britain. Michael Barrymore. Hours later, Stuart was found unresponsive in the swimming pool at Barrymore’s home in Roydon. He would never regain consciousness. What initially appeared to be a tragic drowning quickly became something far more complicated when the examination of Stuart’s body revealed serious injuries. There had been nine people at the house. What followed was an investigation that would stretch across decades — involving conflicting accounts, lost forensic opportunities, an inquest, arrests, renewed investigations and questions that refused to disappear. At the centre of it all was Stuart’s father, Terry Lubbock. For twenty years, Terry fought relentlessly to discover what had happened to his son, challenging the original investigation and refusing to allow Stuart’s death to become simply another celebrity scandal. Michael Barrymore has consistently denied involvement in Stuart’s injuries or death and has never been charged with causing his death. More than twenty-five years later, no one has ever been convicted of causing Stuart’s death. What happened to Stuart Lubbock? ⚠️ CONTENT WARNING This episode contains discussion of death, serious injuries, alleged sexual assault, alcohol and illegal drug use. Listener discretion is advised. If you enjoy the podcast, please follow or subscribe, leave a rating or review, and share the episode with somebody who enjoys true crime. Every share helps the show reach new listeners. Contact: whattheyhidepod@gmail.com SOURCES • Essex Police • Independent Police Complaints Commission • Court of Appeal — Parker v Chief Constable of Essex Police • Contemporary BBC, ITV and Channel 4 reporting • Contemporary national newspaper coverage and inquest reporting This episode is based on publicly available reporting, official findings and court records. Allegations and disputed accounts are identified as such. No person discussed in this episode should be considered responsible for a criminal offence unless established through the appropriate legal process. What They Hide: Hidden Crimes in Plain Sight Because sometimes the truth isn’t hidden. It’s hiding in plain sight. Music by MUBERT
