MICHAEL Barrymore yesterday binned his bid to relaunch his career on stage — just days after his latest meltdown.
The comic — rushed to hospital last week in a suicide scare — scrapped a planned summer season in Blackpool.
Yesterday the man who booked the fallen TV star to appear on the seaside resort’s famous North Pier in July admitted sadly: “It was always a gamble.”
Disappointed Dougie Chapman added after Barrymore, 59, was replaced by the Chuckle Brothers: “He was doing so well.
“I had every faith the public would take him back to their hearts. I know he was all geared up for the shows and was preparing new material. But he has cancelled all work for the summer.”
Barrymore’s TV career hit the rocks ten years ago after party guest Stuart Lubbock was found dead in his Essex swimming pool.
During a recent appearance on Celebrity Coach Trip the former Strike It Lucky host was reported to have drunkenly gone berserk at a waiter.
Barrymore spent a night in hospital last week after a pal who spoke to him on the phone in London called cops saying he sounded “suicidal”.
Last night the comic’s agent claimed the comeback gigs were hit by Barrymore hurting himself falling off a horse.
The spokesman said the injury had “left him unsuited to the weekly travel up and down the country for the pier bookings”.