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
The McKenzie Break (1970) – Universal Artists Promotional Still
The Avengers Promotional Photoshoot In Soho, London – Ian Hendry + Patrick Macnee + Ingrid Hafner (5th December 1960 ABC TV)
Ian Hendry And ‘The Circus That Came To Town’ – Part 1
Rare Promotional Still – Ian Hendry + June Ritchie In This Is My Street (1964)
Repulsion (1965) 50th Anniversary Tribute Part #3 – Catherine Deneuve + Ian Hendry + John Fraser + Yvonne Furneaux (dir. Roman Polanski)
The Avengers (1961) Original Theme Tunes Vinyl LP Album – Ian Hendry + Patrick Macnee
Film Still – The Beauty Jungle (1964)
Repulsion [1965] – Original Italian Film Poster ‘Fotobusta’ Featuring Ian Hendry, Catherine Deneuve + Yvonne Furneaux
Get Carter (1971) – MGM Promotional Still – Ian Hendry As Eric Paice
What Woody Allen Thinks About The Hill (1965) And His Other Film Favourites
BBC Radio Suffolk – Gabriel Hershman Discusses His New Biography On Ian Hendry
Rare Promotional Still – Tommy Cooper + Ian Hendry – Thames Television (1975)
Laurence Payne Obituary – Actor and Crime-Writer of Girl In The Headlines (1963)
Simon Furness – On Ian Hendry + Acting: An Appreciation Of A Character Actor
Early Promotional Photograph (1963) – Ian Hendry With Gauloises Cigarette
Ian Hendry – Rare Candid Portrait from Police Surgeon (1960) From The Book ‘Both Sides Of The Camera’ By ABC Television
ABC’s Television Line-up Autumn 1965: Dickie Davies + Philip Harben + Dusty Springfield + Patrick Macnee + Diana Rigg + Bruce Forsyth + Britt Eckland + Ian Hendry + David Buck
Murder On Arrival (1959) Westminster Theatre, London – Rare Poster + Programme Found!
Ian Hendry + June Ritchie – Original Lobby Cards – Live Now Pay Later (1962)
WATCH – Live Now Pay Later (1962) Complete Film – Ian Hendry + June Ritchie Experience The Joys Of Parenthood! Plus Jack Trevor Story And The Trouble With Harry
Live Now Pay Later (1962) Rare Still – Ian Hendry + Nyree Dawn Porter
Nicol Williamson ‘Black Sheep’ The Authorised Biography By Gabriel Hershman
On The Set Of The Avengers (1961)
Drama ’63 – 54 Minute Affair – Ian Hendry and Jeanette Sterke
Get Carter (1971) – Roy Budd Theme Tune + Opening Revisited! [Video]
The Avengers – ‘The Deadly Air’ [Series 1 Ep.24 – 1961] – Ian Hendry [as David Keel] and Patrick Macnee [as John Steed]
Ian Hendry + Gabrielle Drake – ‘The Tycoon’ by Kenneth Jupp – ITV Playhouse [1968]
Welcome to the Official Website of Ian Hendry
Ian Hendry – Rare Promotional Still – This Is My Street (1963)
The Adventures of Don Quick (1970) – Space, Comedy, Satire And The Benefits Of Earth!