The disgraced gay comedian is said to have signed a £150,000 contract with Channel 4 to appear on the show in the hope of reviving his career.

Once one of TV's highest-paid stars, Barrymore fell from grace in 2001 when 31-year-old Mr Lubbock suffered "horrific" sexual injuries and died during a drug-fuelled party at the entertainer's mansion.

A coroner recorded an open verdict on the father-of-two's death. But the inquest left many questions unanswered about the injuries Mr Lubbock sustained - caused by a gay sex assault - and why Barrymore fled the house after he was found dead.

At the hearing, Barrymore refused to respond to queries about drug-taking at his £2million home in Roydon, Essex. He also denied allegations that he rubbed cocaine on to Mr Lubbock's gums.

But the 53-year-old's confession that he fled the house in a panic left some suggesting that he had something to hide and cast a shadow over his character. He was eventually given a police caution in connection with the use of cannabis.

Mr Lubbock's father added: "Channel 4 have tempted him with a big carrot to come back but before anyone can consider him a public entertainer again, he must tell the whole truth about what happened that night.

"He wasn't gay. He was a good-looking strong boy. A bit of a ladies' man. Someone knows what happened and I'm determined to find out who. Barrymore's the key. I hope the other celebrities grill him.

The entertainer came out as gay in the mid-Nineties to the shock of his wife Cheryl. The couple divorced in 1996. Last night Barrymore's agent could not be contacted and Channel 4 refused to confirm that the comedian would be on the show.

This is cache, read story here