Illustrated sheet music cover for The Punch & Judy Man as sung by George Leybourne and written and composed by R. Coote. Published in London by H. D'Alcorn & Co. late 19th c.

In 1662 an Italian showman set up his puppet booth in Covent Garden. His characters were taken from the type of Italian theatre called Commedia dell'arte and included Pulcinella, who developed into Punch, although the character of the British Mr Punch is more violent than his Italian ancestor. In the earliest Commedia plays, Pulcinella was portrayed as a stupid servant, but in later years he was sometimes intelligent and even brave. One consistent characteristic was that he was a terrible chatterbox. There is a phrase in Italian and French which describes an open secret as 'a secret of Pulcinella'. The familiar story of Punch and Judy developed in the late 19th century, when Punch and Judy booths were already a familiar sight at fairs. They were also a popular attraction at the newly fashionable seaside resorts.