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Blue plaque for legendary clown Charlie Cairoli

News imageBBC Black-and-white image of Charlie Cairoli in front of a crowd of children in a theatre. He is wearing a bowler hat, suit and has a big clown nose, large eyebrows, a moustache and dark lips.BBC
Charlie Cairoli was also a popular figure on children's television shows

A blue plaque has been unveiled for "king of clowns" Charlie Cairoli in his adopted hometown of Blackpool.

Originally from Italy, he moved to the Lancashire seaside resort upon the outbreak of World War Two in 1939 and lived there until his death in 1980.

Cairoli performed at Blackpool Tower Circus and regularly appeared on children's television shows, with his slapstick performances entertaining generations of fans.

His son, also called Charlie, unveiled the plaque at Blackpool Tower Circus.

News imageBlackpool's mayoress, wearing a bowler hat and heavy gold-coloured chain, joins Charlie Cairoli Junior, who sits in a chair - as they look at the round blue plaque for his father on a table. On the right is a bust of Charlie Cairoli wearing a bowler hat and suit.
The plaque was unveiled at Blackpool Tower Circus, where Charlie Cairoli entertained tens of thousands of people for nearly 40 years

Cairoli's ringmaster Norman Barrett, who was also at the unveiling of the plaque, said: "Sometimes I would get the laugh and I went to Charlie one day and said to him: 'I do apologise!'

"'For what?'" he said. "Apologise for what? It doesn't matter who gets the laugh as long as we get the laugh!'"

Blackpool's Showtown museum recently acquired an archive collection celebrating Cairoli's legacy, including a selection of programmes and letters.

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