Strings 'N' Things – The Autobiography of Les-Le-Roy, Tizzy the Clown

An extraordinary life in show business — filled with laughter, adventure, triumphs and hard lessons.

Born Keith William Smith on 17 October 1944, Les-Le-Roy began his show-business career with a string puppet act before becoming known in the circus world as The Amazing Etna – The Boy Wonder Yogi and Tizzy the Clown.

Strings 'N' Things is his candid autobiography, telling the story of a remarkable career across the many worlds of live entertainment. From circus arenas and fairground sideshows to music halls, variety theatres, cabaret, pantomime and corporate events, his life has taken him through almost every corner of show business.

This is not simply a story of applause and success. Les-Le-Roy also shares the personal struggles behind the performances, including failed marriages, long periods of separation from his children, disappointments and professional setbacks. His honest, down-to-earth account offers an inside look at the realities of a life spent entertaining audiences — and a valuable perspective for anyone considering a career in show business.

Over the years, he has performed as a stand-up comedian and developed acclaimed tribute acts to Max Wall and Old Mother Riley. His experience ranges from children's birthday parties and nightclub cabaret to prestigious venues such as Blackpool Tower Circus, Belle Vue Circus in Manchester and Cirque d'Hiver in Paris.

One particularly remarkable achievement was performing three consecutive seasons at the renowned Belle Vue Circus with his specialty act, featuring a bed of nails, fire-eating, dancing on broken glass and other traditional yogi stunts, while also appearing as Tizzy the Clown in the same show.

Throughout his career, Les-Le-Roy has worked alongside some of the biggest names in circus, variety and comedy. The autobiography also reflects on his family legacy, including his son Alex Smith, better known as Jonathan Royle, who made his stage debut at just three years old as Flap the Clown and went on to pursue his own career in entertainment.

What's included in the download?

• The autobiography: A large-format A4 eBook comprising 104 pages

• Six video files: A combined running time of almost two and a half hours

The videos provide additional material to accompany the written autobiography, offering an even richer insight into Les-Le-Roy's extraordinary performing life.

Whether you're a professional entertainer, circus enthusiast, comedy fan or simply fascinated by the realities of show business, Strings 'N' Things offers an entertaining and revealing account of a life lived on stage.

Format: Mixed-media digital download supplied as a ZIP file, containing the 104-page autobiography and six video files. No physical book or other physical product will be shipped.