Peter Jolly's Circus on film

PR man Anthony Beckwith of
Peter Jolly's Circus in the Chester Chronicle

The story of Britain's circuses fighting each other for space in our small island continues. Last week it was Zippos, Continental Circus Berlin and Circus Vegas all pitching up in the Aberdeen area. Click here for more.

In an overcrowded market, having a unique selling point such as, say, wild animals, should give a circus an edge over any rivals in the vicinity.

But this week finds Britain's only two circuses with exotic animals - Peter Jolly's Circus and Circus Mondao - competing for custom around Chester. Don't these companies, which are both part of the Classical Circus Association, ever talk to each other about their route?

Still, the Chester Chronicle went along to Jolly's and made a nice film of the animals relaxing in the sunshine, and a good interview with big cat trainer Thomas Chipperfield. Click here to watch it.

For more film of Chipperfield in the ring, in rehearsal and in conversation, click here to read my interview with him in the Daily Telegraph and watch a short film by my colleague Jane Hilton.

Click here to read my review of Peter Jolly's Circus.

And for the story of Circus Mondao, which is run by Britain's oldest circus family, read Circus Mania - the Ultimate Book For Anyone Who Dreamed of Running Away with the Circus!