This Is Your Life: Coco (Nicolai Poliakoff)

COCO (Nicolai POLIAKOFF) (1900-1974)

Coco (Nicolai Poliakoff) This Is Your Life

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Nicolai Poliakoff, circus clown, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while performing at the Bertram Mills Circus at London's Olympia.

Nicolai, who was born in Latvia, was awarded the St George's Cross for gallantry serving with the Russian Army during the First World War. He developed his circus skills during the 1920s, creating the moniker of Coco, technically an Auguste, not a clown, and establishing his own circus troupe.

After Cyril Bertram Mills spotted him while working with Circus Busch in Berlin and invited him to join Bertram Mills Circus, he arrived in Britain in December 1929. He worked his way to the top of his profession over the next few decades and became the most famous clown in the UK.

programme details...

Edition No: 179
Subject No: 180
Broadcast live: Mon 15 Jan 1962
Broadcast time: 7.30-8.00pm
Venue: BBC Television Theatre
Series: 7
Edition: 16

on the guest list...

Bernardo Brasso
Helen Roland - daughter
Cyril Mills
Robert McGeachie
Madame Koringa
Stanley Franklin
Phineas May
Valentina - wife
Ian Hendry
John Povey
Carol Lycett
Olga Kerr - daughter
Tamara Hassini - daughter
Sasha - son
Nadia Sinclair - daughter
Alexine - granddaughter
Michael - grandson
Francine - granddaughter
Sumiska - granddaughter
Christine - granddaughter
Zania - granddaughter
Sasha Jnr - grandson
Penelope - granddaughter
Nickolai - grandson
Valentina - granddaughter
David - grandson
Tania - granddaughter
Graham - grandson
Michael - son

production team...

Researcher: Nickola Sterne
Writer: Nickola Sterne
Director: Yvonne Littlewood
Producer: T Leslie Jackson

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

The Big Top

the circus is in town

Venues and Sets

the studio look and locations

Timeline

the show's fifty year history

Ian Hendry

Cyril Bertram Mills

Interviews

Carol Antcliff, a guest of Coco (Nicolai Poliakoff), recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in an exclusive interview recorded in February 2011

Photographs of Coco (Nicolai Poliakoff) This Is Your Life

Sheffield Star 26 April 1974

"Our mum's got a smashing friend"

COCO THE CLOWN MEETS THE GIRL HE CHEERED UP IN HOSPITAL

THE WORLD'S most famous clown meets Sheffield's most grateful housewife.

Coco came to town with the Robert Brothers Circus with a special mission in mind. He wanted to trace the little girl who held a special place in his world of children.

The Star published the story on Monday telling of Coco's visit to a 15-year-old girl in a city hospital, suffering from terrible burns. A few kind words from Coco and she pulled through.

GUEST OF HONOUR

Years after that, the girl re-appeared in Coco's life when he was guest of honour on the TV show, This Is Your Life. But the two lost touch and he had almost given her up for lost.

She read Monday's story, and immediate plans were made by The Star for yesterday's reunion at the circus in Hillsborough Park.

Now Carol Antcliff, of Jermyn Crescent, Hackenthorpe, has three children of her own, Paul, aged eight, Cheryl, six and David, four.

They were there to enjoy a private spot of clowning before being treated to ringside seats at the show.

"He's a wonderful man," she said. "He really did help me get well. We used to write to one another, but I lost his address when we moved from our last house."

Series 7 subjects