Lord of the Ring

The hardest working man in show-business is not James Brown, but Norman Barrett MBE, Circus Ringmaster extraordinaire.

He's spent over 60 years working in the circus, starting, aged 12, in his family's show as a dog trainer, juggler and clown. He was a skilled horse-rider performing daredevil and dressage acts and has also trained and shown geese, dogs and ponies. He is now the Ringmasters' Ringmaster; not just a compere, but in full technical charge of each production. He still performs in every show too, with his troupe of budgerigars who ride bicycles, walk the tightrope and fire tiny canons.

I love the way that the popcorn sellers, candy-floss makers and programme floggers at the circus turn into the performers. Everyone has multiple roles and everyone works their socks off, two shows a day, sometimes three.

I love Norman. I love the circus. As Norman says at the end of every show; 'You're never too old, you're never too young, and you're never too 'cool' for the circus.'