Menu
Mark Borkowski.
Mark My Words
  • Blog
  • About
  • Talks
  • Press
  • Books
  • Social
  • Archive
  • Contact
Close Menu
January 14, 2021

Circus showman Gerry Cottle dies with coronavirus aged 75

The Stage

Circus impresario Gerry Cottle has died aged 75 after contracting Covid-19.

A press statement released by Borkowski PR confirmed that Cottle died with coronavirus in Bath Hospital on January 13.

Cottle found fame in the 1970s with the Gerry Cottle Circus, and also presented the Moscow State Circus and Chinese State Circus and produced several high-profile circus productions across the world. He also pioneered animal-free circuses later on in his career.

The statement said: “Gerry Cottle was the man behind decades of big top circus acts and the UK first no-animal circus. […] Gerry saw Jack Hilton’s Circus at Earl’s Court in 1953 at the age of eight when his parents took him along to the show, and from that day on he was biding his time until, at 15, he ditched his O levels and ran away from his middle-class Surrey stockbroker upbringing to join the circus.”

It added: “Steeped in circus lore and history, Gerry faced the creative challenge that has preoccupied the latter part of his career – of reinventing circus for contemporary audiences, without animals. He started with a Rainbow Circus that saw his three daughters – the Cottle Sisters – in the ring for the first time, followed by a Rock’n’Roll Circus and a Shark Show.

“Employing top stunt acts, acrobats, magicians and clowns, Gerry set out on a Far East tour that proved immensely lucrative. Flush with cash, he returned home and became the impresario who presented both the Moscow Circus and the Chinese State Circus in Britain and the groundbreaking Circus of Horrors, further boosting his fortune.”

Cottle retired from the big-top circus scene in 2003 and bought cave and attractions complex Wookey Hole in Somerset.

“Gerry was a loving family man who is survived by his wife Betty and three daughters and a son, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren,” the statement added.

On Twitter, Cottle’s former publicist and friend Mark Borkowski paid tribute to Cottle as “the last of the great circus showmen” and said he would “never forget all the mad adventures [they] shared”.

https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/circus-showman-gerry-cottle-dies-of-coronavirus-aged-75

Related Posts

Mark Comments

The winners and losers of Megxit: One year on from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s bombshell announcement, how the Duke’s old school pals and the Queen have lost out while Oprah and even Joe Biden have benefitted

Mark Comments

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry hired ex-Palace aids despite ‘vipers’ claim

Mark Comments

‘I am my mother’s son’: Harry uses a photo of Diana and vows to ‘unleash the power of compassion’ with Meghan on new website for foundation that reveals partnerships with Stanford ‘centre for altruism research’ and ‘humane technology’ charity

Recent Posts

  • Circus showman Gerry Cottle dies with coronavirus aged 75
  • The winners and losers of Megxit: One year on from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s bombshell announcement, how the Duke’s old school pals and the Queen have lost out while Oprah and even Joe Biden have benefitted
  • Meghan Markle and Prince Harry hired ex-Palace aids despite ‘vipers’ claim
  • ‘I am my mother’s son’: Harry uses a photo of Diana and vows to ‘unleash the power of compassion’ with Meghan on new website for foundation that reveals partnerships with Stanford ‘centre for altruism research’ and ‘humane technology’ charity
  • Archie’s first podcast: Meghan and Harry feature 19-month-old son in star-studded first Spotify episode and coax him into wishing listeners a Happy New Year in his American accent

Previous posts

January 2021
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Dec    

Archives

Back To Top
Mark Borkowski.
  • Blog
  • About
  • Talks
  • Press
  • Books
  • Social
  • Archive
  • Contact
© Mark Borkowski. 2021
Mark My Words
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram