THE future of Weymouth’s historic Punch and Judy show could be under threat as the man behind it reveals falling income and abuse from the audience have made his business almost impossible.

Professor Mark Poulton said he is trying to find a way to make the show viable - and is keen to work with the borough council to make it happen.

Weymouth beach has had a Punch and Judy show since the 1880s, and it is one of just three surviving shows which take place on beaches in the country. The others are in Swanage and Llandudno.

Writing on the show’s Facebook page at the weekend, Mr Poulton said he would be ‘hanging up the puppets at the end of this season’, citing the ‘stress of dealing with members of the public’ and ‘falling income and rising costs’.

But, talking to the Dorset Echo, he said he had been persuaded by the overwhelming response of friends and wellwishers to give it another go next year.

He will talk to the borough council to ask if he can run the show for just six weeks in the summer holidays in 2017, to see if this makes it viable.

Tourism briefholder Cllr Jason Osborne said he hoped the council will do ‘everything it can’ to help Mr Poulton turn the business around.

He added: “It would be devastating to see the show go. Punch and Judy is a key part of Weymouth beach.”

Mr Poulton, who has been running shows in Weymouth for 12 years, said business has been going downhill since the Olympics.

“I have had kids throwing rocks at the show, and the parents just sit there and let them do it. We’ve always had people refuse to pay, but now they will argue with us and say ‘you can’t make us, this is a public beach’.

“We even get large groups of people sunbathing in front of the show, so people who want to watch can’t sit there. It just destroys your faith in humanity.”

Mr Poulton said takings have been so low at times he has had to draw money out from his own account to pay staff.

Beachgoers yesterday were saddened to hear the news.

Jan Asker, 68, from Poole, said: “They have one in Swanage but it’s further away from the road. 
Here, people can just watch from the Esplanade and then leave quickly without paying.”

A woman from Dorchester, who didn’t want to be named, said the show is ‘an institution’.

“I watched it as a child and I’ve brought my children and grandchildren down the years. It would be such a shame to see it go.”