Died: January 13, 2021. GERRY Cottle, who has died aged 75 after contracting Covid-19, was an irrepressible showman, whose decision as a teenager to run away and join the circus became a marker for his entire life. From his beginnings as a suburban kid in a humdrum town, he went on to own the biggest travelling circus in the UK. At his 1970s peak, Cottle provided the Big Top venue for BBC TV’s Saturday night variety show, Seaside Special, which he also hosted. As with his entire career, he did this without pretensions, retaining the enthusiasm that first inspired his life-long move into circus.
Cottle, whose first show had been in Sturminster Newton, has been remembered as “a loving family man”. He found fame during the 1970s with the touring Gerry Cottle Circus, while he also presented the Moscow State Circus and Chinese State Circus in Britain. Cottle, who was born in 1945, died in hospital in Bath. His agent Mark Borkowski said in a statement: “Gerry was a loving family man who is survived by his wife Betty and three daughters and a son, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.” He added on Twitter: “RIP Gerry Cottle the last of the great circus showmen. “In a fraction of a second the b virus ripped your life away. I shall never forget all the mad adventures we shared.”
Much-loved circus star Gerry Cottle dies after battle with Covid-19
The Wookey Hole owner was well-known in Somerset
Updated
Circus star Gerry Cottle has died aged 75 (Image: Bath Chronicle)
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Circus star Gerry Cottle has died aged 75 after contracting coronavirus, his agent has said.
He found fame during the 1970s with the touring Gerry Cottle Circus, while he also presented the Moscow State Circus and Chinese State Circus in Britain.