Ian Hendry + Janet Munro – Wearing A Pair Of Coco The Clown’s Boots At Bertram Mills’ Circus, Olympia, London [November 1962]
Picture: Janet Munro and Ian Hendry – with a pair of oversized boots belonging to Coco the Clown. Photograph taken during a visit to the Bertram Mills’ Circus [Christmas season – November 1962].
In a couple of earlier articles, I have written about Ian’s love for the circus and how he first came to meet Coco – whilst he was still studying at the Central School of Speech + Drama in London. Ian went on to work for Coco as his stooge and became lifelong friends with him and his wife, Valentina.
The links to these articles are below:
Ian Hendry And ‘The Circus That Came To Town’ – Part 1
Ian Hendry And ‘The Circus That Came To Town’ – Part 2
Coco The Clown + Ian Hendry – This Is Your Life
Coco the Clown was featured on This Is Your Life in January 1962 and Ian Hendry was one of the guests. Some 16 years later, Ian would be the subject of his own This Is Your Life – broadcast in March 1978. Unfortunately, Coco had died in 1974, but his wife Valentina appeared in what was an emotional reunion.
These two episodes are featured on the excellent Big Red Book website:
Coco The Clown – This Is Your Life [1962] – Big Red Book Website
Ian Hendry – This Is Your Life [1978] – Big Red Book Website
Picture: Coco The Clown’s This Is Your Life [1962] – Ian Hendry was featured as one of the special guests [pictured back row, 4th from right]
Picture: Ian Hendry’s This Is Your Life [1978] – Coco’s wife, Valentina, appeared as a special guest.
Coco The Clown – Nicolai Poliakoff
Nicolai Poliakoff OBE (2 October 1900 – 25 September 1974) (Latvian: Nikolajs Polakovs) (Russian: Nikolai Petrovich Polyakov) was the creator of Coco the Clown, arguably the most famous clown in the UK during the middle decades of the 20th century. Technically, Coco is an Auguste, the foolish character who is always on the receiving end of buckets of water and custard pies. The Auguste often works with the more clever white-faced clown, who always gets the better of him.
Picture: Stone carving of Coco the Clown on his gravestone at Woodnewton, Northamptonshire.
Coco is buried at Woodnewton in Northamptonshire. The village is home to ‘Clownfest’, a fundraising operation inspired by Coco the Clown. There is a woodcarved statue of ‘Coco the clown’ in the Woodnewton village park. Coco the clown is buried in the graveyard of St Mary’s parish church, which is situated to the eastern end of the village.
Until next time,
Neil Hendry
Editor, Official Tribute To Ian Hendry
Further Reading
A detailed account of the life and work of Ian Hendry in the new biography:
Read: ‘Send in the Clowns – The Yo Yo Life Of Ian Hendry’ by Gabriel Hershman
More From Ian Hendry
Armchair Theatre – Ian Hendry, Kenneth More + (1965)
Ian Hendry + Janet Munro – Rowing On The Thames Near Their Home Called, ‘Sphinx’, Located On Pharaohs Island, London [c.1963-1965]
Complete Rare Film: Download +/or Watch – Live Now, Pay Later (1962) – Ian Hendry + June Ritchie
Ian Hendry + Britt Ekland – ABC TV Armchair Theatre ‘A Cold Peace’ (1965)
ITV Play Of The Week – ‘On The Island’ (1967) – TV World Magazine
Culford School Sports Day (1947) – Extremely Rare Footage Of A Young Ian Hendry ( Just 16 Years Old ) + His Brother Donald Hendry At The Culford School Sports Day
Ian Hendry + Britt Ekland – Rare Promotional Picture For Britt’s British TV Debut In ABC’s Armchair Theatre Production Of ‘A Cold Peace’ (1965)
Get Carter (1971) – Roy Budd Theme Tune + Opening Revisited! [Video]
Wolfgang Suschitzky – Cinematographer and Photographer, Dies Aged 104. His many credits include Get Carter (1971)
On The Set Of The Avengers (1961)
Comic Strip Presents! The Avengers ‘The Drug Pedlar’ TV CRIMEBUSTERS Annual (1962) – Ian Hendry (As Dr. David Keel) + Patrick Macnee (As John Steed)
Police Surgeon – ‘Dr. Brent’s Casebook’ – New Book Reveals The Compelling Story Behind The Almost Forgotten Series That Led To The Creation Of A Television Legend – The Avengers
Ian Hendry + Liz Fraser – Live Now, Pay Later [1962] – Original Film + Promotional Still
Ian Hendry’s Last Acting Role – As Davey Jones in Brookside [1984]
Official Website of Ian Hendry – Our 2nd Anniversary Celebration!
Repulsion (1965) 50th Anniversary Tribute Part #3 – Catherine Deneuve + Ian Hendry + John Fraser + Yvonne Furneaux (dir. Roman Polanski)
The Hill (1965) – Australian Day Bill Poster
Rare Promotional Still – Tommy Cooper + Ian Hendry – Thames Television (1975)
Simon Furness – On Ian Hendry + Acting: An Appreciation Of A Character Actor
DVD Release: For Maddie With Love [1980] Starring Ian Hendry + Nyree Dawn Porter
Ian Hendry – The Avengers Original Promotion Portrait (1960-1961)
Girl In The Headlines (1963) – Ian Hendry + Ronnie Fraser
Nicol Williamson ‘Black Sheep’ The Authorised Biography By Gabriel Hershman
Ian Hendry + Janet Munro – Teddington Studios + Armchair Theatre’s ‘Afternoon Of A Nymph’ (1962)
The Sweeney ‘Ringer’ (1975) – On Set With Ian Hendry + John Thaw + Dennis Waterman
With Umbrella, Scotch and Cigarettes – The Avengers, Series 1 – by Richard McGinlay and Alan Hayes
Ian Hendry In The Secret Place [1957] – Video Of His First Speaking Role In A Film
Repulsion [1965] Original Stills Discovered In Paris
Ian Hendry + Hildegard Neil – The Adventures of Don Quick. Rare Still Found From London Weekend Television Production [November 1970]
The McKenzie Break (1970) – Universal Artists Promotional Still