Chapter: Films and Television Appearances

Although Charlie Cairoli was best known for his legendary career at the Blackpool Tower Circus, his talents carried him far beyond the ring and into film, television, and international variety entertainment. His screen appearances—sometimes rare, sometimes fleeting—form a fascinating side chapter in the story of one of Britain’s most beloved clowns.

Early Film Appearance – Happidrome (1943)

Charlie’s earliest known screen appearance came during the Second World War in the 1943 feature film Happidrome, in which the Cairoli Brothers appeared. The film was based on the immensely popular BBC wartime radio series of the same name, featuring the fictional trio “Ramsbottom, Enoch and Me,” portrayed by Harry Korris, Eli Woods, and Jimmy James.

For many who grew up listening to those wireless broadcasts, seeing the characters come to life on screen was a novelty—and tucked within the cast were the Cairoli Brothers, already well-established circus performers making one of their first steps into recorded media.

1952 – The Secret People

One of the more enigmatic entries in Charlie’s filmography is the 1952 production The Secret People, in which Charlie and his son Paul appeared together in what seems to have been a filmed cabaret or stage sequence. The exact circumstances of the filming remain unclear.

Some sources have suggested a connection with the Bouglione circus organisation, though this seems unlikely. A handful of short clips exist online, all in black and white, but none offer substantial detail about the circumstances or extent of the act as it originally appeared.

Transatlantic Exposure – Toast of the Town (1962)

By the early 1960s, Charlie’s reputation had crossed the Atlantic. In 1962 he appeared in two episodes of the long-running American variety series Toast of the Town, more famously remembered today as The Ed Sullivan Show.

For British performers of that era, an appearance on Sullivan’s stage was a mark of international recognition, and Charlie joined the ranks of European circus artists introduced to millions of American viewers.

1966 – The Hollywood Palace

Charlie returned to American television in 1966 with two appearances on the celebrated variety programme The Hollywood Palace. Here he was credited specifically as a pantomimist, acknowledging the precise artistry and physical comedy on which his clowning was built.

1966 – Comedy Bandbox

Back in Britain, Charlie featured in Comedy Bandbox, a popular television variety series of the mid-1960s. The programme regularly showcased magicians, comedians, and speciality acts, including the well-known magician David Nixon, who at times worked as part of Charlie’s stage material.

These appearances helped introduce Charlie’s comedy to audiences far beyond those who visited the Tower Circus.

A Historic Honour – This Is Your Life (1970)

In 1970 Charlie Cairoli received one of British television’s most distinctive honours: he became the subject of This Is Your Life. Remarkably, he remains the only clown ever to be featured on the programme.

The famous “red book” presented that night—though, in Charlie’s case, it was actually blue, not red—is on display today in the Cairoli exhibition at the Blackpool Tower. This half-hour broadcast offered the viewing public a rare glimpse behind the make-up, presenting Charlie the man as warmly and endearingly as Charlie the clown.

1970s – Seaside Special

During the 1970s, Charlie made a brief but memorable appearance on the BBC programme Seaside Special. The surviving clip shows him seated on a TV dolly in the ring at the Tower Circus with ringmaster Norman Barrett.

In typical Cairoli fashion, the gag is beautifully simple: the entire picture is shown upside down, turning an ordinary introduction into a visual joke that delighted viewers.

A Dubious Entry – Babes in Toyland (1954?)

One further appearance is frequently mentioned but remains highly doubtful. A poor-quality fragment circulating online claims to be from the 1954 film Babes in Toyland, crediting Paul Freeman and implying Charlie Cairoli’s involvement. However, even through the deteriorated footage, it becomes clear that the performer shown is Charlie’s father, Marie Cairoli, not Charlie himself.

Until a verifiable source is found, this entry should be regarded as an enthusiast’s myth rather than a confirmed part of Charlie’s screen legacy.

A Legacy in Motion

Charlie Cairoli’s film and television appearances may be relatively few compared to modern entertainers, but each one reveals something significant: the universal appeal of his art. Whether in a feature film, a transatlantic variety show, or a brief television introduction, Charlie carried with him the same warmth, precision, and humanity that made his live act unforgettable.

His legacy lives not only in the memories of those who saw him in the ring, but also in these treasured fragments of film and television—testament to a clown whose influence reached far beyond Blackpool.