Great Lives

Original version

BBC Radio 4 LW

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Life Stories

Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.

BBC Radio 4 Extra

BBC Radio 4 FM

Matthew Parris

Frank Turner

Mattie Faint

Toby Field

Great Lives: Frank Turner on Joseph Grimaldi

great-lives_joseph-grimaldi_e_310516_getty.jpg

Frank Turner on Joseph Grimaldi

BBC Radio 4 - Great Lives, Frank Turner on Joseph Grimaldi

Frank Turner chooses Joseph Grimaldi who changed the face of Clowning forever.

Pantomime pioneer, Joseph Grimaldi, is nominated by Frank Turner. With Mattie Faint. Presented by Matthew Parris. From 2016.

Frank Turner chooses Joseph Grimaldi, the first celebrity of Pantomime who changed the face of Clowning forever. Matthew Parris presents, and Mattie Faint is the expert.
 
Grimaldi was born into a theatrical family, making his stage debut aged two dressed as a monkey and being flung around the stage on the end of a chain by his tyrannical father. The chain snapped but Grimaldi survived, making the papers and turning Grimaldi into a little celebrity. His performances as 'Clown', combining acrobatics, satire and music, made him a big draw for the crowds, and his role in 'Mother Goose' turned him into a huge star. 
 
He developed the make-up we now associate with clowns but behind this iconic look was a man suffering from depression, extreme physical disintegration and a series of personal tragedies.
 
Frank Turner, former punk and now folk singer-songwriter, sees himself primarily as an entertainer and has developed an interest in Pantomime and Music Hall. For him, Grimaldi gave everything to his audiences and physically destroyed himself in the process - something he sees as honourable. He describes Grimaldi's farewell speech as one of the most beautiful eulogies to the business of being a performer.

Producer: Toby Field

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2016.

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Great Lives

Frank Turner on Joseph Grimaldi

Contributors

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4