A regional daily journalist swapped his notepad and pen for some fun under the Big Top after joining the circus this week.

Cambridge News education reporter Gareth McPherson threw his hat in the ring for a have-a-go session at Billy Smart’s Circus, which is currently performing in the town’s Midsummer Common.

Gareth, whose only previous experience of acrobatics has involved the occasional dance off on a Saturday night, tried his hand at a number of deft-defying stunts to give readers a taster of what they could expect from the upcoming shows.

Under the watchful eye of several circus artists, Gareth struggled with curtain climbing and hand balancing, but then excelled when chucking a couple of plates about with Angelo the clown.

Reporter Gareth McPherson visits Billy Smart's Circus in Cambridge.

In a story published on the Cambridge News website, Gareth admitted he lacked the required elegance, grace and balance to be a full time circus performer, but he enjoyed the experience nonetheless.

“I was wrenching myself up (the curtain) with all the elegance of a binge drinker clambering up the stairs of a moving night bus,” he wrote.

“I’d like to think an outstretched arm at my summit alluded to a spirt of showmanship, but there was no ripple of applause from my fellow performers.

“Desiree Chavez, the daughter of a circus family, has been striking impossible-looking poses on this (hand balance) contraption for most of her life – building up the required muscles and control ever since early childhood.

“I’ve rarely found I’ve needed to balance on my hands so I was about as good at this as expected.

“Luckily for you, and disappointingly for me, I was not asked to join the circus as part of a double act with Desiree, so if you do go along you will only be seeing expert performers.”