Norman Barrett MBE Becomes the Voice of Blackpool Tower Circus

Blackpool ringmaster Norman Barrett, MBE, in a club with budgie act, 1984.

Few performers became as closely associated with Blackpool Tower Circus as Norman Barrett MBE. During a remarkable 25-year association with the Tower, Barrett became one of Britain’s best-loved ringmasters, delighting millions of visitors with his commanding presence in the ring, his partnership with legendary clown Charlie Cairoli, and his extraordinary act featuring performing budgerigars. His long service helped define an era that many regard as the golden age of the Tower Circus.

Born in York on 20 December 1935, Norman was raised in a circus family. His parents, George and Winifred Barrett, owned Barrett’s Circus, where he learned the skills of animal training and horsemanship from an early age. He made his professional debut while still a teenager, presenting horses and dogs before going on to work with several leading British circuses, including Bertram Mills Circus, where he developed into one of the country’s most accomplished young ringmasters.

Following a season with Circus Scott in Sweden, Barrett arrived at Blackpool Tower Circus in 1966, succeeding Henry Lytton Jr. as resident ringmaster. Working alongside Harold Holt, the Tower’s long-serving equestrian director, he quickly became a favourite with audiences. His warm personality, immaculate presentation in traditional red tailcoat and top hat, and ability to engage spectators of all ages made him one of the defining figures of the circus.

Barrett’s partnership with Charlie Cairoli became one of the highlights of every performance. Acting as the clown’s straight man, he was frequently drawn into Cairoli’s comic routines, often ending up covered in custard pies or drenched in water to the delight of audiences. Their chemistry helped establish the Tower Circus as one of Britain’s premier circus attractions throughout the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Norman Barrett, MBE, shown at Zippos Cirus. He is a veteran British circus ringmaster (90). 18 September 2017

Alongside his role as ringmaster, Norman developed the act that would make him internationally famous. His highly trained performing budgerigars amazed audiences by riding miniature bicycles, climbing ladders and carrying out complex routines. At a time when large animal acts dominated many circuses, Barrett proved that intelligence, patience and humour could create an equally memorable performance using one of the world’s smallest birds. The act took him around the world, appearing in cabaret, pantomime, television and international circus festivals, while Blackpool audiences eagerly anticipated its return each summer.

His popularity extended well beyond the circus ring. Barrett appeared regularly on television, most notably alongside Charlie Cairoli in the children’s series Right Charlie, introducing a new generation to the magic of circus entertainment. In 1990, after completing his twenty-fifth and final season at Blackpool Tower Circus, he was surprised in the ring by Michael Aspel as the subject of This Is Your Life, a fitting tribute to a performer who had become synonymous with Blackpool. A video documentary by Big Red Book can be viewed below discussing his career.

Although his time at the Tower came to an end in 1990, Norman Barrett’s circus career continued. He performed with the Superdome Circus at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, toured internationally and later became a familiar face with Zippos Circus. In 2010, he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to entertainment, recognising a lifetime dedicated to the circus. He has also been recognised as the world’s longest-serving ringmaster, a testament to a career spanning more than six decades.

Investiture at Buckingham Palace. Photographed by Johnny Green on 9 June 2010.

Blackpool circus ringmaster Norman Barrett receives his MBE from The Queen at Buckingham Palace. Photographed by Johnny Green on 9 June 2010.

Today, Norman Barrett, MBE, remains one of the greatest figures in the history of Blackpool Tower Circus. His twenty-five seasons at the Tower helped create unforgettable memories for generations of visitors, while his remarkable skill, showmanship and love of circus entertainment ensured his place among the most celebrated performers ever to appear in Blackpool’s famous circus ring.