Punch and Judy shows have been a fixture of days at the seaside, village fetes, and country shows for hundreds of years. The instantly recognisable Mr Punch, with his big red nose, pointy chin, and wide smile, dates back around 350 years, with the first record of a marionette show featuring the character recorded by diarist Samuel Pepys in 1662.
Punch's Popularity and Riots
The shows quickly became a fixture in Britain, with Punch becoming something of a celebrity, according to the Victoria and Albert Museum. Joined by his long-suffering wife Joan, later renamed Judy, Punch was so popular that when a puppet show staged at London's Haymarket Theatre in 1773 did not feature the character, audiences reportedly rioted and tore up the benches.
The Dark Reason for Punch's Appearance
But there is a dark reason for Punch's appearance. His big hooked nose and pointy chin are not just for comedic effect; they actually suggest the highly strung character is suffering from an unfortunate medical condition. Annabel Port runs The Other British Museum, which documents everyday items which symbolise the country, and explained in a video on Instagram: "It's been said there's a reason for Punch's bad temper and prominent nose and chin. It was a caricature of the hormonal disorder acromegaly. I feel bad laughing now. Actually I'm not sure I ever have."
People in the comments were amazed by the information. One said: "I always thought the reddened features were supposed to mean he was drunk." Another agreed, saying: "I always thought he was a drunk. He wanted some sausages but his wife said no. Hence the violent response. Not quite sure where the crocodile originated in the story but it wanted the sausages too." Someone else said: "Fascinating stuff. I always assumed that Punch's features were that of a drunken man (red nose etc) like most clowns."
What Is Acromegaly?
The NHS describes acromegaly as "a rare condition where the body makes too much of a hormone that can make parts of your body grow bigger". It can cause the feet, fingers, head, tongue, and neck to increase in size, as well as abnormal height growth in children and teenagers, also called gigantism.
Actor and wrestler Andre the Giant, who was 7ft 4ins tall, suffered with the condition, as did Richard Kiel, who played the towering villain Jaws in two James Bond films. Other symptoms can include swollen hands and feet, tiredness or difficulty sleeping, sleep apnoea, sweating, numbness and weakness in the hands, headaches, joint pain, thicker and more oily skin, a deeper voice, irregular periods, and erection problems.
It is usually caused by an adenoma, or a non-cancerous tumour, in the pituitary gland, a pea-sized gland at the back of your brain, causing it to produce too much growth hormone. It is most common between the ages of 30 and 50, but can develop at any age. Treatments can include surgery to remove the tumour, radiotherapy, and injections or tablets.
