Blondin of Niagara Falls and Ealing

Hardeep Singh Kohli walks in the footsteps of the famous tightrope walker Blondin to mark his first crossing of Niagara Falls 150 years ago. Hardeep discovers the continuing appeal of defying gravity from the experiences of circus acrobat Chico, the celebrated 'man on wire' Philippe Petit and the slack-liner Jon Ritson. Tightrope walking hit the big time 150 years ago when Blondin made 16 crossings over the Niagara River. His career lasted until he was 73, when he retired to Niagara House in Ealing, west London. A Ladbroke Radio production for BBC Radio 4.