'Di was Michael's downfall'.

Byline: STEVE ATKINSON 

MICHAEL Barrymore's ex-wife Cheryl has claimed his friendship with Princess Diana led to his self-destruction.

Diana first met the couple in the mid-90s soon after Barrymore admitted he was gay.

TV interviewer Martin Bashir arranged for the princess to visit them at their home in London.

Cheryl said: "When she left we joked 'The Barrymores courted by royalty. Who'd have thought it?'

"She'd say only three people counted to the media: Herself, Michael and Paul Gascoigne."

But as the visits became more regular, Diana wanted to see Barrymore alone and Cheryl had to "tip-toe around" like an outcast.

She said: "Diana seemed to feel she would help him unload his troubles."

Cheryl finally snapped and shouted at Diana: "There's a car outside. Shouldn't you be in it?"

Barrymore then started to visit Diana at her own home, claiming he was entertaining her two sons.

Cheryl added: "Michael became attracted to the madness he'd once have laughed at. She arrived in our lives at a moment when Michael needed hope and she gave him that.

"But she took away much of the reality in our lives and in the end took control of his life."

CAPTION(S):

SPLIT: Barrymores; VISITS: Diana