Top,Middle, Rock Bottom

In a shock announcement last night, former Strike It Lucky star Michael Barrymore confessed to making a " massive mistake" during the filming of the Strike It Lucky Christmas Special in 1986. In the process Barrymore, 58, finally settled one of the longest arguments in broadcasting history. For years fans and industry insiders have been asking why Barrymore pressed "Middle", when the viewing and studio audience could audibly hear the word " Giggle"

Sadly for the unwitting contestants, Derek and Brenda Johnson from Spennymoor, County Durham, the incident passed without reproach and it is only in recent years that it has reared it's ugly head again. 2 years ago  celebrated TV and singing star Gary Wilmott referred to the incident in his autobiography describing it as " Michael's mistake". Wilmott even goes onto say that " Bruno Brookes knows the truth, but Bruno being Bruno is keeping schtum"

Barrymore, clearly shaken after the incident 

Despite Brookes' wall of silence, it now looks like this secret can no longer be kept in the closet. And last night Barrymore took the unusual step of inviting selected members of the press to a specially reconstructed mock up of the Strike It Lucky stage, one journalist described it as being " eerily reminiscent of the original". Another journalist agreed saying " eerie yes and I was at the  Paris tunnel for the Diana inquest"

Reading from a pre-prepared statement Barrymore explained how he'd misheard one of the contestants Brenda use the word "Giggle" which he'd interpreted as " Middle". By the time Barrymore made sense of what he'd heard he'd already de-pressed the button on the screen prompting a question. The question asked what rank was Jean Darblay in the tv series Juliet Bravo? Without conferring Derek dived in, shouting, " Sergeant". £2,000 poorer , the Johnsons trudged back to Spennymoor.

Barrymore continued by saying that it was the " lowest point in both his personal and professional life" and that " the scars of that  night will probably never heal". Reacting to the statement the Johnsons, through the family solicitor, said they'd " no animosity towards Barrymore, everyone makes mistakes. We had a lovely time in London that year and whenever Strike It Lucky is on Challenge we have a good chuckle, or should I say giggle and just last year Brenda, my wife of 30 years bought me Juliet Bravo on DVD".

Michael Barrymore is currently starring as Captain Hook in Peter Pan at the Preston Guild Hall