Michael Barrymore forced to quit Dancing On Ice after breaking hand and is replaced with Blue Peter’s Radzi Chinyanganya

MICHAEL Barrymore's TV comeback is over as he has been forced to pull out of Dancing on Ice due to a broken hand.

The funnyman, 67, one of the star signings for the ITV series, formally quit the series this morning and will now be replaced by Blue Peter presenter Radzi Chinyanganya.

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Michael was hoping to resurrect his career, which was devastated when party guest Stuart Lubbock died in his swimming pool in 2001.

But he fell in training this week shattering a bone in his hand.

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A source said: "It's a real shame for Michael as he was hoping this would be his big comeback, but after his injury there is no way he could continue.

"Radzi is now going to have to get up to speed really quickly to get ready for the series which is now only weeks away."

The Sun revealed in September that Barrymore was taking part in the series — which would have been his first major TV appearance since he starred in Celebrity Big Brother in 2006, finishing second.

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He apologised on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories in June for Stuart’s death, over which he was never charged. And speaking shortly afterwards, he stated he was keen to return to the spotlight.

He said: “Since Life Stories went out, I feel like it is the right time and right place but it is not for me to decide. I can’t give myself work.”

Radzi, 32, fronted Blue Peter from 2013 until April this year, and is also a host on Songs of Praise. He also competed in a Strictly Come Dancing Children in Need special in 2017.