This Is Your Life – Coco The Clown (1962) + Ian Hendry (1978) : Article
Coco The Clown – This Is Your Life (1962)
In early 1962, Coco The Clown was the subject of This Is Your Life. Ian Hendry, who became a close friend of Coco and his wife during his time as a student at Central School Of Speech and Drama in the early 50’s, was one of the surprise guests on the show.
Hendry had since gone on to have a significant breakthrough in television, firstly with Police Surgeon (1960) and then with the first series of The Avengers (1961), a programme which was originally created for him. His first major leading role in a film, Live Now Pay Later, was just a few months away.
Coco was surprised by Eamonn Andrews (the long-time host of the UK version of This Is Your Life), while he was performing with the Bertram Mills circus during their winter season at Olympia, London.
Born in Latvia, Nicolai was spotted by Mills while performing with Circus Busch in Berlin, and was persuaded to move to England. He created the moniker of Coco, technically an auguste not a clown, and by the 1950s was probably the most famous clown in Britain.
Coco welcomed his guests on a set styled as a circus ring, as can be seen in the picture below.
The show was broadcast at 7.30pm on Monday 15th January 1962 (BBC Television)
Photograph below: The photograph below captures Coco sitting down next to Eamonn Andrews at the close of the show. Ian Hendry is standing at the back, sixth from the right-hand side. Coco’s wife, Valentina is standing directly behind him, wearing the black cardigan.
Eamonn Andrews + Coco The Clown [1962]
A special guest on the show was Carol Antcliff, who recalls being a guest on Coco the Clown’s This Is Your Life in an exclusive interview recorded in February 2011 for The Big Red Book.
In the video below she describes how she first met Coco, her visit to London and her appearance on This Is Your Life and then how she met Coco again, years later, in 1974.
Ian Hendry – This Is Your Life (1978)
Some 16 years later, Ian Hendry became the subject of This Is Your Life. Sadly though, Coco had died in 1974, but in an emotional reunion, his wife Valentina appeared on the show to pay tribute to Ian and recall their great friendship. Ian goes on to explain to Eamonn Andrews the reasons for his love of the circus and the attraction of being a clown.
The recording of the show was broadcast at 7.30pm on Wednesday 15th March 1978 (Thames Television).
To find out more about the friendship between Coco The Clown and Ian Hendry read:
Ian Hendry And The Circus That Came To Town – Parts 1 and 2
Comment and Share Please! We love to read all your comments and appreciate it when you take time to share the articles. It really helps a site like ours in the search engines too! Please share and comment on this article using the form below:
Further Reading
A detailed account of Ian’s friendship with Coco The Clown and his early encounters with The Bertram Mills Circus is included in the new biography of his life.
Read: ‘Send in the Clowns – The Yo Yo Life Of Ian Hendry’ by Gabriel Hershman
Neil Hendry
Editor, The Official Website of Ian Hendry
Comment and Share Please! We love to read all your comments and appreciate it when you take time to share the articles. It really helps a site like ours in the search engines too! Please share and comment on this article using the form below:
More From Ian Hendry
Theatre Of Blood (1973) Rare Original Still – Vincent Price + Ian Hendry + Dennis Price + Robert Morely + Robert Coote
Quality Concerns Over The Avengers, ‘Tunnel Of Fear’ DVD Released By Studio Canal On April 9th 2018 [Review]
Assassin [1973] – Ian Hendry Played A Government Assassin In This British Film Directed by Peter Crane [Production By Pemini Organisation/ Soundtrack By Zack Laurence]
Ian Hendry + Janet Munro Interview [Showtime Magazine – September 1964] Plus Jack Lemmon, Susannah York, Cilla Black, Richard Chamberlain, James Bond’s Girlfriends – Honor Blackman + Jacqueline Jones And More!
Rare Promotional Still – Tommy Cooper + Ian Hendry – Thames Television (1975)
Children Of The Damned [1963] – Original MGM Promotional Still Of Ian Hendry + Alan Badel + Alfred Burke
Repulsion [1965] Original Stills Discovered In Paris
David Warner – BBC Radio Interview in which he discusses his life, work and Ian Hendry – who also appeared as Morgan in ‘A Suitable Case For Treatment’
Murder On Arrival (1959) Westminster Theatre, London – Rare Poster + Programme Found!
Get Carter [1971] ‘Eyes Look Like…Piss-Holes In The Snow’ – Tony Klinger Reveals The Story Behind THAT Famous Line
Ian Hendry + Roy Thinnes + Lynn Loring – Journey To The Far Side Of The Sun AKA Doppleganger (1969) Universal Pictures Rare Promotional Photograph
Ian Hendry – Les Fiches de Monsieur Cinema
Peter O’Toole – In Memory
Ian Hendry + Director Robert Parrish Discussing A Shot For The Film, Journey To The Far Side of The Sun aka Dopplegänger [1969]
Professional Debut – ‘Reluctant Heroes’ At Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch (August 1955) – With Bernard Cribbins + Ronnie Fraser
DVD Release: For Maddie With Love [1980] Starring Ian Hendry + Nyree Dawn Porter
Ian Hendry Portrait ‘Clown Of Quality’ – TV Times 18th March 1972
Ian Hendry – The Adventures of Don Quick [1970] – Rare London Weekend Television Promotional Still
The Avengers (1961) – Lost Episode ‘Tunnel Of Fear’ From The Very First Series Rediscovered After 55 Years!
Get Carter (1971) Classic Posters – Michael Caine + Ian Hendry + Britt Ekland + John Osborne + George Sewell
Ian Hendry’s Last Acting Role – As Davey Jones in Brookside [1984]
Police Surgeon – The Launch Of A New TV Series: TV Times Northern Edition No. 253 September 4th – 10th 1960
The Avengers Promotional Photoshoot In Soho, London – Ian Hendry + Patrick Macnee + Ingrid Hafner (5th December 1960 ABC TV)
Ian Hendry With His Wonderful Wife Sandy – Early ’80s Press Photograph
Ian Hendry In The Secret Place [1957] – Video Of His First Speaking Role In A Film
ITV Play Of The Week – ‘On The Island’ (1967) – TV World Magazine
Ian Hendry In The James Bond Spy Film, Casino Royale ’67? Director Joseph McGrath Discusses Ian’s Scene With Ursula Andress Which Ended On Up On The Cutting Room Floor Plus Other Bond Connections
Ian Hendry – Magazine Portraits From The 1960s
Ian Hendry ‘A Life On Screen’ 30th Anniversary Tribute
Film Still – The Beauty Jungle (1964)