Could Barrymore return!

I apologise for that colourful word, but I am saying it within the context of the sort of shows he used to present ie family based entertainment shows like Strike It Lucky, now can you imagine him fronting this sort of show now, can you imagine what a 65 year old contestant would think of him if you know what I mean.

Remember he made these shows when people thought he was straight.

Amended, I totally forgot for a second I am on a UK based forum where language has to be toned down.

I see what you are driving at, yes; and I appreciate you making an edit.

Being a gay performer is *hardly* unusual, beleive me. Being overtly or openly gay is less common, but it doesn't necessarily stand in a person's way.

Those of a certain generation (or personal disposition) might not want someone gay "living next door", but they are quite prepared to enjoy watching them on the telly.

Its not as polarising an issue as you might think.

There's no doubt Barrymore's most successful formats have involved a lot of audience/familiy participation. I can't beleive they would try to shoehorn him into another type of programme.

In this day and age though, ITV would think nothing of pulling his show after 4 or 5 weeks. If they paid him next to nothing for a first series then where's the risk?

We would see whether the public want him back quick enough.

Well I think he should be on the telly, ok he's gay, but the skills are still there, it would be however interesting to know exactly the statistics if people of a certain generation who don't like gays would watch him though.

I think the public do want him back though.

Wasn't Barrymore still on a television for a good couple of years after he came out? IIRC It wasn't that that did for him, it was the Lubbock incident.

Graham Norton, Julian Clary, Paul O'Grady - All have done family shows.

Where is the problem and why would people not like to see Barrymore becasue he is gay?

Kenny Everett, John Barrowman, Larry Grayson, Dale Winton, Russell Harty....

Yes but I think people already knew they were gay, whilst Barrymore was straight and then turned gay, some people(a minority) resented this and stopped watching him

The problem for Barrymore is that a generation who knew him as a straight performer would not watch him now because he is gay, sadly this is true I'm afraid and the ratings would suggust that if he ever appeared on ITV doing Strike It Rich.

Anyway I hope Barrymore actually has a career of some sort, even though his sense of humour may not be everyone's cup of tea!

I think Barrymore came out in 1995 - from memory this is before Strike it Lucky becaue Rich, and before 'My kind of Music' - must have been during his 'Barrymore' show.

As my own 2 cents - I can just see, that maybe, Barrymore becomes the presenter of the 'Generation Game' - I think it would work!
Make the show in the early 1990's kind of format with Barrymore singing 'life is the name of the game....'
Fantastic.

Actually that is a good idea you've got there, I see it working somehow too

I think you're wrong actually... making a much bigger deal out of it than the public ever would / have done.

Well he is on The Friday Night Project, it's a programme not exactly renowned for its comedy!