Barrymore seeks refuge with friends - and does a bit of gardening

Michael Barrymore sought sanctuary with showbusiness friends at the weekend following police questioning over the murder of Stuart Lubbock.

The disgraced entertainer, who was released on bail on Friday night, spent Sunday morning at the home of West End impresario Bill Kenwright and his girlfriend, Jenny Seagrove.

He helped the 49-year-old actress with the gardening at the couple's North London mansion.

One neighbour said: "We had heard him in the morning singing in the garden with Jenny Seagrove.

"They seemed to be having a nice time and we could see them doing some gardening.

"But when he came out of the house to drive off, it looked like he had suddenly remembered what was happening. He looked really stressed out, like he was about to cry."

Barrymore, 55, left in a Ford Fiesta thought to belong to Miss Seagrove. He refused to talk to reporters.

It is believed that he became friends with the couple last year when he starred in Mr Kenwright's musical production of Scrooge.

Barrymore was arrested last Thursday over the sexual assault and murder of Mr Lubbock who was found dead at the entertainer's Essex home in 2001.

The former host of the TV show Strike It Lucky has always claimed that the 31-year-old drowned during a drug-fuelled party.

Barrymore's ex-boyfriend and another man have also been questioned by detectives.