Clowning Around On 4 Extra

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Coco The Castaway

20220803

20240914 (BBC7)
20240915 (BBC7)

Tony Lidington traces the role of the clown in British humour.

From the Great Grimaldi and the stars of circus, panto and Pierrots through to modern entertainers and even activists.

Drawing on his own performances, BBC archive and contemporary experts, Tony traces the clown's evolution.

In the first of three programmes, he begins with Shakespeare's plays where rustic clowns and court fools could speak uncomfortable truths to those in power.

* Tony himself recreates the role of ‘The Great Grimaldi'.

* Nicolai Poliakoff – alias Coco the Clown – is Roy Plomley's castaway in DESERT ISLAND DISCS from 1963.

Producer: Mike Greenwood

Made for Radio 4 Extra by Pier Productions and first broadcast in March 2014.

Tony Lidington traces the influence of clowning on the evolution of British comedy.

Tony Lidington traces the role of the clown in British humour – from the Great Grimaldi to the present day.

Tony himself recreates the role of ‘The Great Grimaldi' and Nicolai Poliakoff – alias Coco the Clown – is Roy Plomley's castaway in Desert Island Discs from 1963.

Victorian Clowns And Dan Leno

20220810

20240921 (BBC7)
20240922 (BBC7)

Tony Lidington examines the role of the clown in British humour – from the Great Grimaldi through stars of circus, pantomime and Pierrots, to modern entertainers and even activists.

Drawing on his own performances, BBC archive and contemporary experts, Tony traces the clown's evolution.

In the second of three programmes, Tony looks at Victorian clowning, century travelling circuses, the enormous appeal of pantos.

Also the successful – and often tragically short lives - of entertainers like Dan Leno, once hailed as ‘the funniest man in the world'.

Producer: Mike Greenwood

Made for Radio 4 Extra by Pier Productions and first broadcast in March 2014.

Tony Lidington traces the influence of clowning on the evolution of British comedy.

Tony Lidington traces the role of the clown in British humour

Tony Lidington continues tracing the role of the clown in British humour – from the Great Grimaldi to the present day.

Max Wall And Beyond

20220817

20240928 (BBC7)
20240929 (BBC7)

Tony Lidington concludes tracing the role of the clown in British humour – from the Great Grimaldi through stars of circus, pantomime and Pierrots, to modern entertainers and even activists.

Tony draws on his own performances, BBC archive and contemporary experts.

In the last of three programmes, he examines the impact of Max Wall and how clowning has changed in the 21st century

Producer: Mike Greenwood

Made for Radio 4 Extra by Pier Productions and first broadcast in March 2014.

Tony Lidington concludes tracing the influence of clowning on British comedy's evolution.

Tony Lidington traces the role of the clown in British humour

Tony Lidington concludes tracing the role of the clown in British humour – from the Great Grimaldi to the present day.

OMNI

20140308

20150801 (BBC7)
20170429 (BBC7)
20190202 (BBC7)

Tony Lidington traces the role of the clown in British humour, from the Great Grimaldi through stars of circus, pantomime and pierrots, to modern entertainers and even activists.

Drawing on his own performances, BBC archive and contemporary experts, Tony traces the clown's evolution from Shakespeare's plays, whose rustic clowns and court fools could speak uncomfortable truths to those in power. He recreates the role of 'the Great Grimaldi', whose panto clown became the most popular entertainment of Regency London and defined the clown's image for generations to come. Light is also cast on the popular 19th century travelling circuses, the enormous appeal of pantos and harlequinades and the successful careers - and often tragically short lives - of entertainers like Dan Leno, once hailed as 'the funniest man in the world'.

The days of organized leisure time for working people and the growth of the middle class produced new diversions and the era of mass entertainment. White-clad Pierrot troupes entertained visitors at seaside resorts and troops abroad as Britain descended into two World Wars. The tradition of physical theatre and anarchic comedy clowning continued in the latter half of the 20th century, with The Goon Show and characters like Professor Wallofski, created by Max Wall.

Tony also explores the role of the clown today, still active in circus and panto and even in political demonstrations.

Made for Radio 4 Extra by Pier Productions.

Tony Lidington traces the role of the clown in British humour.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Coco The Castaway	20220803	20240914 (BBC7) 20240915 (BBC7)	Tony Lidington traces the role of the clown in British humour. From the Great Grimaldi and the stars of circus, panto and Pierrots through to modern entertainers and even activists. Drawing on his own performances, BBC archive and contemporary experts, Tony traces the clown's evolution. In the first of three programmes, he begins with Shakespeare's plays where rustic clowns and court fools could speak uncomfortable truths to those in power. * Tony himself recreates the role of ‘The Great Grimaldi'. * Nicolai Poliakoff – alias Coco the Clown – is Roy Plomley's castaway in DESERT ISLAND DISCS from 1963. Producer: Mike Greenwood Made for Radio 4 Extra by Pier Productions and first broadcast in March 2014. Tony Lidington traces the influence of clowning on the evolution of British comedy. Tony Lidington traces the role of the clown in British humour – from the Great Grimaldi to the present day. Tony himself recreates the role of ‘The Great Grimaldi' and Nicolai Poliakoff – alias Coco the Clown – is Roy Plomley's castaway in Desert Island Discs from 1963.
02	Victorian Clowns And Dan Leno	20220810	20240921 (BBC7) 20240922 (BBC7)	Tony Lidington examines the role of the clown in British humour – from the Great Grimaldi through stars of circus, pantomime and Pierrots, to modern entertainers and even activists. Drawing on his own performances, BBC archive and contemporary experts, Tony traces the clown's evolution. In the second of three programmes, Tony looks at Victorian clowning, century travelling circuses, the enormous appeal of pantos. Also the successful – and often tragically short lives - of entertainers like Dan Leno, once hailed as ‘the funniest man in the world'. Producer: Mike Greenwood Made for Radio 4 Extra by Pier Productions and first broadcast in March 2014. Tony Lidington traces the influence of clowning on the evolution of British comedy. Tony Lidington traces the role of the clown in British humour Tony Lidington continues tracing the role of the clown in British humour – from the Great Grimaldi to the present day.
03	Max Wall And Beyond	20220817	20240928 (BBC7) 20240929 (BBC7)	Tony Lidington concludes tracing the role of the clown in British humour – from the Great Grimaldi through stars of circus, pantomime and Pierrots, to modern entertainers and even activists. Tony draws on his own performances, BBC archive and contemporary experts. In the last of three programmes, he examines the impact of Max Wall and how clowning has changed in the 21st century Producer: Mike Greenwood Made for Radio 4 Extra by Pier Productions and first broadcast in March 2014. Tony Lidington concludes tracing the influence of clowning on British comedy's evolution. Tony Lidington traces the role of the clown in British humour Tony Lidington concludes tracing the role of the clown in British humour – from the Great Grimaldi to the present day.
OMNI		20140308	20150801 (BBC7) 20170429 (BBC7) 20190202 (BBC7)	Tony Lidington traces the role of the clown in British humour, from the Great Grimaldi through stars of circus, pantomime and pierrots, to modern entertainers and even activists. Drawing on his own performances, BBC archive and contemporary experts, Tony traces the clown's evolution from Shakespeare's plays, whose rustic clowns and court fools could speak uncomfortable truths to those in power. He recreates the role of 'the Great Grimaldi', whose panto clown became the most popular entertainment of Regency London and defined the clown's image for generations to come. Light is also cast on the popular 19th century travelling circuses, the enormous appeal of pantos and harlequinades and the successful careers - and often tragically short lives - of entertainers like Dan Leno, once hailed as 'the funniest man in the world'. The days of organized leisure time for working people and the growth of the middle class produced new diversions and the era of mass entertainment. White-clad Pierrot troupes entertained visitors at seaside resorts and troops abroad as Britain descended into two World Wars. The tradition of physical theatre and anarchic comedy clowning continued in the latter half of the 20th century, with The Goon Show and characters like Professor Wallofski, created by Max Wall. Tony also explores the role of the clown today, still active in circus and panto and even in political demonstrations. Made for Radio 4 Extra by Pier Productions. Tony Lidington traces the role of the clown in British humour.