Child of the revolution gets on his bike to take on the Globe of Death

Fearless schoolboy Peter Mack-Pavlov, who is just 12 and is less than 5ft tall, tears around the tiny metal cage at high speeds – a feat so death-defying that Britain’s Got Talent bosses didn’t put him through because it was deemed too dangerous.

The stunt is one of the highlights of the Planet Circus show – a travelling attraction which Peter was born into. He also rides his bike along a high wire near the roof of the Big Top.

He was only three when he first got on a tiny motorbike. His older sister Emilia, 15, sometimes joins him for the stunt – standing in the middle of the cage while he roars past her.

Peter, who is also training to be a trapeze artist, said: “The first time I tried the Globe of Death it was scary but it’s not when you know what to do.

“My sister never gets scared when she stands in the middle. She trusts me. I love performing and always have loads of fun.

Peter rides a small Suzuki machine which is worth around £800. His mother Tanya and father Peter have now retired as performers and concentrate on organising the circus which is currently on a tour of the UK.