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Tony Lidington examines the role of the clown in British humour – from the Great Grimaldi through stars of circus, pantomime and Pierrots, to modern entertainers and even activists.

Drawing on his own performances, Â鶹ԼÅÄ archive and contemporary experts, Tony traces the clown's evolution.

In the second of three programmes, Tony looks at Victorian clowning, century travelling circuses, the enormous appeal of pantos.

Also the successful – and often tragically short lives - of entertainers like Dan Leno, once hailed as ‘the funniest man in the world’.

Producer: Mike Greenwood

Made for Radio 4 Extra by Pier Productions and first broadcast in March 2014.