'Big Top Benn' by David McKee

Mr Benn decides to find out what it is like to make people laugh, so he visits the costume shop to try on a clown outfit. But when he steps through the changing room door, instead of a circus ring, he finds himself standing in a field by a car. Mr Benn drives off down the road and soon meets a travelling circus, whose troupe asks him to join them. The troupe are unable to continue their journey due to a rockslide blocking their way, so Mr Benn sets off to find help; he comes across his old friend Smasher Lagru, who has just been released from prison for good behaviour. After Smasher helps to clear the landslide, they all set off together - only to come to a halt when they reach a raging river. Seeing that the bridge has fallen down, each of the acts tries a different way of crossing, but all attempts fail. Mr Benn makes a suggestion: if they work together, they should be able to succeed…

Illustrated by David McKee

Published:
1980

Publisher:
Dobson

Notes:
*Featuring Mr Benn, the Shopkeeper and Smasher Lagru

*This story is based upon the television episode 'Clown', only this time it features Smasher, the convict last seen in the book '123456789Benn'