Businessman celebrates publication of Charlie Cairoli official biography

Former electrician Nigel Male, who now runs Nidge’s Artisan Pizza Kitchen, has spent the past 26 years researching for the ‘passion project’ which has seen him piece together the life of his childhood hero.

The 52-year-old said: “When I was three years old, my mum and my auntie took me to Salisbury, to the circus. I screamed the place down and refused to go in!

“A couple of years later they took me again and it happened to be Gerry Cottle’s circus. Something in that grabbed me, and that dragged me into the world of circus.”

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Circus star Charlie Cairoli quickly became Nigel’s “childhood hero”.

“I idolised him,” he said.

“My mum and dad didn’t have a lot of money, but they saved, and in 1979 they took me to Blackpool Circus to see Charlie Cairoli,” he said.

However, it wasn’t to be, as an announcement on the night said that Cairoli had taken ill and wouldn’t be performing. In February 1980, he sadly passed away aged 70.

“I remember seeing it on the news,” said Nigel.

“I never met Charlie, and I never saw him work. But the fascination was there.”

Skipping forward to 1994, Nigel was working with the circus in Blackpool.

“I met a guy who also claimed he was Charlie Cairoli’s biggest fan!” he said.

“So we founded an appreciation society. We started to produce a quarterly newsletter, and we had about 300 members all over the world.

“During that time, I met Charlie Cairoli Jr. and we became friends.”

Between 1994 and 2019, Nigel researched his favourite circus entertainer. When Charlie Cairoli Jr. became ill with cancer, he decided it was time to finally put pen to paper, and drafted in experience circus book writer Steven Richley to co-write on the project.

He was granted “full access” to many of Cairoli’s belongings and paperwork at his family home in Blackpool.

“It’s been a labour of love for 26 years,” he said.

“With the support of the Cairoli family I decided to put it into book form.”

In October 2019, the book was finally published, and launched in the ring of the Blackpool Tower Circus, where Cairoli had performed for more than 30 years.

“It was incredible, a lifelong dream,” said Nigel.

Charlie Cairoli. Credit: Charlie Cairoli Appreciation Society (CCAS).

However, shortly after, Covid hit, meaning distribution of the book became difficult. For example, the Blackpool Museum, which was due to stock copies, was unfortunately delayed in opening its doors as a result of the pandemic.

“I knew it was going to cost me a lot of money, which it did, and I knew it had a limited audience,” said Nigel. “But it was worth it.”

He continued: “One of the most exciting things was that I met lots of celebrities. It was difficult because a lot of the people who he worked with have already died, but some of the interviews are hilarious.”

He particularly cited speaking on the phone with actress Su Pollard, who did the entire interview in character as one of her TV personas, Peggy Ollerenshaw.

“I was crying with laughter for a whole hour,” recalled Nigel.

Nigel says he has been approached by a film producer about buying the rights to the book. He wants to be clear about what elements of fact and fiction will be included, but says he’s excited at the prospect of a film.

He added: “Speaking to all those old-school celebrities, it’s been an incredible journey and I’m very proud of it.

“I’ve been surprised to find out that some people on my doorstep, here in Andover, are Charlie Cairoli fans.”

For more information, or to buy the book, visit: charliecairoliccas.co.uk/39-years-under-the-tower.

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