Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Early Years | 20091207 | 20131223 (BBC7) 20171225 (BBC7) 20171226 (BBC7) 20241223 (BBC7) 20241224 (BBC7) |  How one of the world's most famous clowns, Joseph Grimaldi, became a superstar of Georgian pantomime. Nine-year-old Joe is forced to become the breadwinner when his father dies of syphilis. Andrew McConnell Stott's story of the life of one of Britain's greatest comedians. Abridged in five parts by Viv Beeby. Read by Kenneth Cranham. Producer: Justine Willett How a world-famous clown became a superstar of Georgian panto. Kenneth Cranham reads Andrew McConnell Stott's account of the world-famous clown How a world-famous clown became a Georgian panto superstar. Andrew McConnell Stott's account read by Kenneth Cranham An account of the world-famous clown who became a superstar of Georgian panto. |
| 02 | Success And Sorrow | 20091208 | 20131224 (BBC7) 20171226 (BBC7) 20171227 (BBC7) 20241224 (BBC7) 20241225 (BBC7) | Just as the young clown finds happiness with a new wife - his manager's daughter Maria - tragedy strikes. He seeks consolation in making others laugh with a new creation - the pantomime clown Joey - complete with white face, blood-red mouth and blackened brows...... Andrew McConnell Stott's story of the life of one of Britain's greatest comedians Abridged in five parts by Viv Beeby Read by Kenneth Cranham Producer: Justine Willett When tragedy strikes, the young clown seeks consolation in making others laugh. Kenneth Cranham reads Andrew McConnell Stott's account of the world-famous clown When tragedy strikes - the young clown seeks consolation in making others laugh with a new character. Read by Kenneth Cranham. |
| 03 | The Price Of Fame | 20091209 | 20131226 (BBC7) 20171227 (BBC7) 20171228 (BBC7) 20241225 (BBC7) 20241226 (BBC7) | Grimaldi's performance in the pantomime Mother Goose makes him a fully fledged superstar of the Georgian stage - complete with merchandise and getting mobbed by fans. Yet, with the dizzying excitement of success comes a resurgence of his old melancholy as he struggles to cope with this unexpected fame. Andrew McConnell Stott's story of the life of one of Britain's greatest comedians Abridged in five parts by Viv Beeby Read by Kenneth Cranham Producer: Justine Willett Mother Goose makes the clown a fully fledged Georgian superstar, but fame has a downside. Kenneth Cranham reads Andrew McConnell Stott's account of the world-famous clown Mother Goose makes the clown a fully fledged Georgian superstar, but fame brings a downside. Read by Kenneth Cranham. |
| 04 | Trials Of Touring | 20091210 | 20131227 (BBC7) 20171228 (BBC7) 20171229 (BBC7) 20241226 (BBC7) 20241227 (BBC7) | Joe clashes with Lord Byron but they become friends. Using satire and lampoonery, Grimaldi takes pantomime into new areas, becoming known as the Hogarth of the Georgian stage. But the years of physical comedy are taking their toll on his body. Andrew McConnell Stott's story of the life of one of Britain's greatest comedians Abridged in five parts by Viv Beeby Read by Kenneth Cranham Producer: Justine Willett The clown's lampoonery takes panto into new areas, but physical comedy takes its toll. Kenneth Cranham reads Andrew McConnell Stott's account of the world-famous clown The clown's lampoonery and satire take panto into new areas, but physical comedy takes its toll. Read by Kenneth Cranham. Joseph Grimaldi clashes with Lord Byron but they become friends. Using satire and lampoonery, the ace clown takes pantomime into new areas, becoming known as the Hogarth of the Georgian stage. Abridged by Viv Beeby The clown takes panto into new areas, but physical comedy takes its toll. |
| 05 | Farewell To Motley | 20091211 | 20131228 (BBC7) 20171229 (BBC7) 20171230 (BBC7) 20241227 (BBC7) 20241228 (BBC7) | His body crippled by the years of on-stage clowning, Joseph Grimaldi is forced finally to pass the baton to his son. Determined to fill the family's pockets, he stages a last farewell on 28 June 1828. Barely able to stand, he staggers on the stage of a packed Drury Lane Theatre... Andrew McConnell Stott's story of the life of one of Britain's greatest comedians Abridged in five parts by Viv Beeby Read by Kenneth Cranham Producer: Justine Willett Crippled by his comedy antics, the superstar clown must bow out. Kenneth Cranham reads Andrew McConnell Stott's account of the world-famous clown Crippled by his comedy antics, the superstar clown must bow out. Kenneth Cranham concludes Andrew McConnell Stott's account. |
| OMNI | 20241229 | 20241230 (BBC7) |  How one of the world's most famous clowns, Joseph Grimaldi, became a superstar of Georgian pantomime. Born in December 1778, Joseph became the family breadwinner at the age of nine, following his father's death from syphilis. By the time he died, aged 59 in 1837, he had become the toast of the Regency Era, with appearances at Sadler's Wells and Covent Garden. Despite his fame, and the joy he brought to thousands, Grimaldi died a depressed alcoholic. History has it that he visited a doctor to cure his melancholy, who advised him to go the theatre so see Grimaldi, prompting the reply, “Alas, that is of no avail to me. I AM Grimaldi.” Andrew McConnell Stott's account is read by Kenneth Cranham. An omnibus of Viv Beeby's five-part adaptation. Producer: Justine Willett First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2009. The story of how a world-famous clown became a superstar of Georgian panto. How a world-famous clown became a Georgian panto superstar. Andrew McConnell Stott's account is read by Kenneth Cranham. |