The Stage

Cirque de Celebrite show cheapens circus, says Cottle

Published Tuesday 14 November 2006 at 13:45 by Liz Thomas

Gerry Cottle has lambasted Sky One programme Cirque de Celebrite, branding it a “disgrace” and warning that it made his industry look “cheap”.

Fronted by Ruby Wax, the programme features well-known faces attempting the tricks of the big top in front of a panel of judges.

The producer, who made his name as the owner of Britain’s leading circus before running both the Moscow and Chinese State Circus, said: “Cirque de Celebrite looks cheap and it has made the industry look cheap beyond belief. It seems when it comes to the tasks, they see what the celebrities can do and then pick the worst ones to perform for the television programme. They should be working to their strengths rather than making fools out of them and trying to get cheap laughs.”

He added that similar series have been running successfully in America and in Germany but contestants were given much longer - in some cases months - to train before performing.

While he admitted that he had originally screen-tested to be involved with the show, the former ringmaster said that the premise had altered from the original drafts.

The popularity of shows such as BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing and ITV1’s Dancing on Ice, which pull in audiences in excess of six million, has been credited with kick-starting new interest in performance. However Cirque de Celebrite has been panned by some critics and is pulling in average ratings of 817,000.

A spokesperson for Sky One dismissed Cottle’s criticism, saying: “We are very happy with the show and so are the public as the show has been a ratings hit for the channel. A decision was taken to align the series with contemporary, rather then traditional circus.”

He added that five trainers were used and it is emphasised that the celebrities lack the breadth of training that a professional circus performer would undergo.