The star is to be called as a witness at the inquest into the death.

Stuart Lubbock, 31, died in hospital on Saturday 31 March 2001 after being found unconscious in a swimming pool at Michael Barrymore's home in Roydon, Essex.

The next day, Barrymore was interviewed by Harlow police about the circumstances of Mr Lubbock's death.

Stuart Lubbock: Found unconscious in pool

On that same day Barrymore checked into the Marchwood Priory in Southampton, a clinic commonly used by celebrities battling addictions and depression.

The comedian's agent Ann Chudleigh said: "Michael is deeply saddened by this terrible tragedy. At the moment his concern and thoughts are for the young man's family."

The inquest into the death opened on 5 April, but was immediately adjourned to a later date.

A post-mortem examination carried out on Mr Lubbock revealed he had drowned.

In June 2001, a spokeswoman for London Weekend Television denied newspaper reports that Barrymore had been dropped from his primetime weekend show, LWT's Kids Say The Funniest Things.

Barrymore's home in Roydon, Essex

Barrymore was again questioned by police on 6 June on suspicion of drugs offences, and released on bail without charge.

He later flew out to the US for what was described as "intensive treatment" for personal problems at an Arizonan clinic.

He arrived back in the UK on 14 August to answer police bail. His bail conditions were extended until October.

Police then carried out a detailed forensic search at Barrymore's house, acting on new information about the investigation.

'Human dignity'

A week later ITV put Barrymore's upcoming series Kids Say the Funniest Things on hold, but said it would not abandon the star.

Barrymore won a National TV Award in October 2001

The channel said it would not broadcast a new series until the police investigation was over, as a mark of "human dignity".

But worse was to come for Barrymore. In September his mother Margaret died aged 89 from throat cancer.

He attended the funeral in south London on 1 October.

On 11 October police officially cautioned Barrymore for possessing cannabis and for allowing premises to be used for the smoking of cannabis.

'Major investigation'

In the same week, police confirmed that two other men who had been present at the party and arrested on suspicion of murder, John Kenney, 31, and Justin Merrit, 26, had been released from bail without charge.

But Detective Superintendent Ian McNeill said "a major investigation" was continuing into Mr Lubbock's death.

Later in October Barrymore spoke publicly for the first time about the events.

Interviewed by journalist Martin Bashir, Barrymore said: "I can't imagine how Stuart Lubbock's family are feeling.

Barrymore: Understood to be having therapy for alcohol and drug addiction

"I'm terribly sorry, I'm sorry for Stuart, he didn't deserve to die.

"I didn't know how it happened or what happened, to this day I don't know what happened to him," he added.

There was better news on 23 October, when Barrymore won a National TV Award for his show My Kind Of Music - seen by many as a public vote of confidence in the star.

And the following month he was signed up by LWT for a further series of the show.

In March 2002 detectives said no charges would be brought over the death of Mr Lubbock.

An Essex Police spokesman said that after consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service it had been decided to take no further action against anyone.

Police had prepared a file for the coroner.

Barrymore is understood to have been undergoing further treatment for alcoholism and drug addiction during the period since the party.

And as the inquest starts, his personal life is due to come under the spotlight once again.