Bippo

I was born Gareth James Ellis in April 1989 . I went to Zippos Circus in Southport when I was just 3 yrs old and that’s when I decided I wanted to be a clown . I became Bippo in 1995 when I was just 6yrs old and joined Clowns International . I won Young Entertainer of the year at Pontins when I was 6 yrs old doing a juggling and magic act dressed as Bippo . I was Clowns International Young Clown of the year when I was 9 yrs old . I attended Clown Festivals in England and Holland and I visited Russia . I was part of a show to relaunch Butlins Holiday Camps and toured England and went to a travel conference in Spain . I had a special Jeff Banks Red Coat Suit made to measure . In 2000 when I was 10 yrs old my dad was made redundant and I went with my family to work on the Moscow State Circus touring England . I couldn’t be in the show I wasn’t Russian but every night I trained with the artistes and children .I learnt lots of new circus skills . In 2002 I moved with my family to Zippos Circus where my mum was Zippo’s P. A and my dad was Foyer Operations Manager . In 2004 I made my debut in the ring doing the “ Cant play that music here “ . Whilst at Zippos I made numerous TV appearances including Cbeebies , This Morning , Dik and Dom . I also began to do more in the ring as each season passed , I was lucky enough to work with Charlie Cairolli and Norman Barrett , who gave me lots of encouragement and ideas . In 2006 I had the privelidge of performing at St James Palace for Prince Charles and The Not Forgotten Heroes . The show was produced by Dougie Squires . In 2007 I attended a garden Party at Buckingham Palace . At Christmas 2007 I appeared at Great Yarmouth Hippodrome as Bippo , this was my first venture into the ring on my own . The short season went very well . In 2008 I appeared on Russells International Circus Touring England . In 2009 I am performing as Bippo on Circus Mondao touring England .