Nicolai was offered a contract to tour the UK with the Bertram Mills Circus in 1930, which allowed him to bring his wife and their two elder children, Michael and his sister Helen, to England.

Nicolai and his family succeeded in finding employment with the Blackpool Tower Circus after it was decided that it would remain open during the war.

Michael and his sister Tamara appeared in each summer season until 1946, and toured during the winter months with stage circuses organised by impresario Tom Arnold.

[2] During one performance in 1947, Michael saved the life of animal trainer Nicolai Trifonidis by rushing into the enclosure and dragging him free of the lions that were mauling him.

He returned to the US in the late 1950s, performing under his father's name of Coco the Clown with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.