Disability : a new history. Freaks and entrepreneurs. 3/10.

Radio documentary presented by Peter White entitled 'Freaks and entrepreneurs'. During the 17th-19th centuries, many people with disabilities, who worked as entertainers, produced handbills to advertise themselves. Historians are now reassessing freaks and freak shows in a way that casts a new light on the history of disabled people. Naomi Baker, of Manchester University, has written about the lost sense of humour about physical differences in the 17th century although it is unclear how much disabled people themselves shared this humour. The handbills suggest that the 18th century freak scene was fairly large and competitive. Professor Judith Hawley talks about public and private performances of freak shows. Tim Hitchcock, from the University of Hertfordshire, suggests that beggars with disabilites did better if they had an 'act' to grab attention. He cites, Charles Wood who was blind, but made a good living in the 1820s with a dancing dog. Some people with disabilities were very successful. One such was Matthew Buchinger (29 inches high and born without hands, feet or thighs) who, in the 1720s, was a successful artist, musician and stuntman. David Turner, of Swansea University, has studied him, and historian, Julie Anderson, included Buchinger in a touring exhibition of disabled artists and their self-portraits.