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1
00:00:02,800 --> 00:00:06,440
Since the early days of television
it's had us enthralled...
2
00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:09,200
A big heave. Come around this side.
3
00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:11,880
..with jaw dropping moments
4
00:00:11,880 --> 00:00:14,160
that have left us on
the edge of our sofas.
5
00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:19,360
More than any other
form of entertainment...
6
00:00:19,360 --> 00:00:21,640
Makes you thirsty, this.
Ooh, look at that!
7
00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:25,360
..magic has the power to
leave us truly spellbound.
8
00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:32,240
'I'm Stephen Mulhern and ever
since I learned my first trick
9
00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:34,800
at the age of 11
I've been a magic fanatic.
10
00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:38,440
And over the next hour
I'm going on a journey...'
11
00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:40,200
Go!
12
00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:42,560
'..through 60 years of
sensational TV trickery.'
13
00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:44,480
How high were you when you levitated?
14
00:00:44,480 --> 00:00:46,800
1,016 feet.
Wow.
15
00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:48,840
'I'll meet my magic heroes.'
16
00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:50,920
One, two...!
You're all right.
17
00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,880
You'll like this trick.
Not a lot, but you'll like it.
18
00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:56,480
'I'll try my hand at tricks
that made TV history.'
19
00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:58,360
Oh, yes!
20
00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:00,880
I've got to say,
I've always wanted to do this.
21
00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:02,720
'And I'll uncover the stories...'
22
00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:04,800
People thought he had magic powers.
23
00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:07,720
'..behind the moments
that hit the headlines.'
24
00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:11,000
Tributes have continued this
morning for comedian Tommy Cooper.
25
00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:13,920
He died on stage,
which was where he loved.
26
00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,720
'It's the amazing tale of how magic
has continuously reached new heights
27
00:01:17,720 --> 00:01:19,760
on our TV screens.'
28
00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:21,760
Now THAT's magic!
29
00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:35,640
'The London Palladium,
30
00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:37,960
13th November, 2014.'
31
00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:40,640
Here we go.
32
00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:42,480
Today's the day.
33
00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:44,280
Wowee.
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00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:46,640
'In just a few hours
I'll be taking to the stage
35
00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:48,680
in front of the
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
36
00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,560
at the all star studded
Royal Variety Performance.'
37
00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:55,360
Wow.
38
00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:59,360
The Royal box is very close.
39
00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,440
'It's going to be a very
special moment for me.
40
00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,120
Not just because I'm performing
for royalty...'
41
00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:09,000
Look straight up.
42
00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:12,120
'..but also because I'm doing
something I love:
43
00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:14,120
Magic.'
44
00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:19,600
Magic was really my life until
about the age of 19 or 20.
45
00:02:20,920 --> 00:02:23,560
My dad taught me from
a very young age.
46
00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:25,520
I've got two brothers
and a sister.
47
00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:28,240
What he would do, rather
than telling us a story
48
00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:30,600
before we went to bed,
he would do a magic trick.
49
00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:33,160
Making coins disappear
behind our ears and stuff
50
00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:35,840
and I was just fascinated by it.
I just loved it.
51
00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:38,360
All I do is ten, nine,
eight, seven...
52
00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,160
'And it wasn't long before
I was doing tricks of my own,
53
00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:43,240
first as a Butlins Redcoat.
54
00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:45,280
It may not be what
I'm best known for now...'
55
00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:47,080
Very good!
56
00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:49,960
'..but my first taste of TV
stardom was as a magician.'
57
00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:53,200
Please welcome the big, big talent
of magician, Stephen Mulhern.
58
00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:55,240
Watch, you're gonna love this.
59
00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:57,120
She's just gonna use her mind.
60
00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:59,120
She's just...gonna use her head.
61
00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:01,880
The thing about magic is that
62
00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:04,600
it's one of the art forms that
people are just intrigued by
63
00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,120
cos you make the impossible possible.
64
00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:09,120
And her head, there she is!
65
00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:13,960
And that's why...
that's why I love it.
66
00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:16,240
And I love it a lot.
67
00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:18,800
'You can see how I got on
performing in front of royalty
68
00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,160
later in the programme
but first I want to find out
69
00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,400
how magic became so popular.'
70
00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:29,360
'When Darcy Oake took
to the stage in front
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00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:32,640
of the Britain's Got Talent judges,
and 11 million viewers at home...'
72
00:03:32,640 --> 00:03:34,560
How is he doing it?
73
00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:38,520
'..his incredible illusions reminded
us just how exciting and entertaining
74
00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:40,520
magic can be.
75
00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:44,080
So what I want to know is
76
00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:47,960
how did these magicians become some
of our most popular TV stars?
77
00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:50,960
And how much has magic
really changed over the decades?
78
00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:54,920
My journey into magic history
can only start with one man.
79
00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:58,160
A magician who I believe,
more than any other,
80
00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:01,160
has come to define magic
on British television.'
81
00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:06,680
This is a very exciting
moment for me.
82
00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:09,560
I'm just about to meet one
of my childhood heroes.
83
00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:13,320
He brought magic to the masses
on prime-time Saturday night telly
84
00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:16,800
and it was the biggest TV magic
show EVER in this country.
85
00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:19,280
And you know what? I loved it.
86
00:04:20,280 --> 00:04:22,240
Ladies and gentlemen,
87
00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:25,440
rabbit from a hat!
88
00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:27,800
Oh, I'm sorry.
89
00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:29,640
That's not supposed to be off there,
90
00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,000
That's supposed to be
on a hook around the back.
91
00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,120
Then I'm supposed to produce
a rabbit from a hat, like that.
92
00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:37,160
Really.
93
00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:39,240
He had everything, really.
94
00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:41,600
He had the comedy,
he had the laughs.
95
00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:43,600
Uproarious laughs.
96
00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,160
(LAUGHTER)
97
00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:51,960
And he had very cheeky magic tricks.
98
00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:54,040
When you cover the glass
it becomes a bottle.
99
00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:56,120
When you cover the bottle
it becomes a glass.
100
00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:58,200
But to do that you must
use this extra bottle.
101
00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:00,080
Daniels is the man.
102
00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:01,880
His sleight of hand was genius.
103
00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,240
If the ball isn't in my
hand it's under the cup.
104
00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:06,440
If it's under the cup it
isn't in my hand at all.
105
00:05:06,440 --> 00:05:09,320
If it was up there it couldn't
be down there or in the pocket.
106
00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:11,400
It can't be up there
when it's under the cup.
107
00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:13,160
He does it so fast you're going,
108
00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:15,560
"The ball's there...
right where's the ball?
109
00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:18,640
In the cup? No, the ball's..."
And you're like, "I've got no idea."
110
00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:20,440
If the ball and the
cup are together...
111
00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:22,720
You're not following this, are you?
112
00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,160
He's fast, he's sharp.
113
00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:27,000
He's shrewd.
114
00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:29,200
And Debbie, perfect marriage.
115
00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:35,320
There's Debbie McGee
totally and utterly impaled.
116
00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:39,200
Paul's also responsible for
a whole generation of magicians
117
00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:41,760
that bought his magic sets,
you know? I had one.
118
00:05:43,280 --> 00:05:47,000
'And I was another of those kids
who bought a Paul Daniels Magic set.
119
00:05:47,000 --> 00:05:50,760
Now I'm about to meet the man himself
and the lovely Debbie
120
00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:54,400
to find out how Paul became
the biggest magician on the box.'
121
00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:56,160
I'm gonna like this.
122
00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,160
(AS PAUL) A lot!
123
00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:04,960
Here we are.
DEBBIE: Yeah. Hey, Stevie, baby.
124
00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:06,920
(LAUGHTER)
What a welcome!
125
00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:10,560
I normally greet everybody
like this.
126
00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:14,320
Welcome to my world.
127
00:06:16,280 --> 00:06:20,000
Novelty act of the year, 1975.
128
00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:24,440
Showbiz personality of
the year, 1981. Lovely.
129
00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:26,440
They're great for doorstops.
130
00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:29,880
Holding Paul Daniels
and Debbie McGee's rabbit.
131
00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:31,720
Yep.
132
00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:33,720
Now, poop.
133
00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:38,640
'Born Newton Edward Daniels,
134
00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:41,720
Paul discovered magic at the
age of 11 and honed his craft
135
00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:45,200
performing in the pubs and clubs
of his native north-east.'
136
00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:48,600
Now look through there.
What can you see besides wax?
137
00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,880
10 of clubs. The 10 of clubs
is absolutely correct.
138
00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:53,920
Amazing.
139
00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:56,000
(APPLAUSE)
140
00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,040
'It was here that he developed
the quickfire style of magic
141
00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:00,880
that would become his trademark.'
142
00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:03,280
Watch the ball. One, two, three!
143
00:07:03,280 --> 00:07:05,360
Don't worry, you'll be all right.
144
00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,040
'Like his classic
Electric Chair routine.'
145
00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:11,280
One, two...
Don't worry, it'll be all right.
146
00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:16,040
Did the working men's
clubs help you a lot?
147
00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:18,000
Yes. No 'if'.
148
00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:21,840
They were mostly rough places.
149
00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,160
These people could see four,
five, six acts a night.
150
00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:28,280
Seven nights a week.
151
00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:30,080
They'd seen it all.
152
00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,800
You had to get out there,
you had to attack.
153
00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:34,840
I would go on and pow, pow, pow.
154
00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:37,320
I was a one line king, you know?
155
00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:39,040
You wearing that
sweater for a laugh?
156
00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:40,880
Are you?
157
00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:43,200
Or does your mum make you wear it?
158
00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:46,000
Now, you'll like this.
Not a lot, but you'll like it.
159
00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:48,840
And that's magic.
160
00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:51,760
Where did the catchphrases come from?
161
00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:56,600
I was heckled in a club in Bradford
and this guy shouted out,
162
00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,680
"Now then, I don't like thar suit."
163
00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:01,560
And I turned around and said,
164
00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:05,120
"Oh, that's a shame. I like yours.
Not a lot, but I like it."
165
00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:06,960
And it's, "Yes"!
166
00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:08,800
The audience tittered.
167
00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:10,960
So a bit later on
I went to pick up a trick
168
00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:14,240
and I actually said,
as I always did,
169
00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:16,320
"Now, you'll like this trick."
170
00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:18,760
And I thought, "Wow, not a lot,
but you'll like it."
171
00:08:18,760 --> 00:08:21,400
And by the end of that show
I had a catchphrase.
172
00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,120
Oh, yes, you'll like this.
173
00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:25,200
Not a lot, but you'll like it.
174
00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:28,040
'By the late 70s
Paul was a regular guest
175
00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:30,360
on the biggest variety
shows on the box
176
00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:32,240
but bigger things were to come.
177
00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:36,400
Now teamed up with future wife,
Debbie McGee,
178
00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:40,080
the BBC decided the time was right
to give Paul his own series,
179
00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:42,920
bringing magic to prime-time
Saturday night telly.
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00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:44,640
For the first time ever.'
181
00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:46,680
# He's the man who excels
182
00:08:46,680 --> 00:08:48,760
# Paul Daniels #
183
00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:51,840
'Magic was now battling it
out in the TV ratings war
184
00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:53,720
with big gameshows and comedy.'
185
00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:56,880
You see, this kettle will pour out
any drink the audience asks for.
186
00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:59,360
'And more often than not,
coming out on top.'
187
00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:02,440
Now that's what I would
call a measure of gin.
188
00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:06,280
One of our Christmas specials
was the first show
189
00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:09,120
to knock Morecambe and Wise
off the number one slot.
190
00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:11,680
I can remember saying to Paul,
191
00:09:11,680 --> 00:09:14,040
"And look, look!
Can you believe this?!"
192
00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:17,280
'As well as big Christmas shows
there were Halloween specials too,
193
00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:19,280
including, in 1987,
194
00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:22,200
a moment that scared the
living daylights out of me.
195
00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:24,280
And millions of others.'
196
00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:27,080
I have to warn you,
this can go wrong.
197
00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:29,960
I'd come up with the
Iron Maiden illusion,
198
00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:32,080
which is the Iron Maiden
of Nuremberg,
199
00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:34,160
this big, horrible torture.
200
00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:36,600
The spikes themselves,
there's 110 of them,
201
00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:38,600
and they're all metal.
202
00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:40,920
OK?
203
00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:43,800
But I made mine so the
door would slam shut.
204
00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,240
Now, what I've got to try to do
205
00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:48,640
is escape from this
before the weight drops.
206
00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:51,920
'Then as the clock counted down,
207
00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:54,000
and with Paul still trying to escape,
208
00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,000
this happened.'
209
00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:05,440
Ladies and gentlemen,
210
00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:07,840
please leave the room
in an orderly fashion.
211
00:10:09,680 --> 00:10:11,840
What happened, apparently,
212
00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:13,800
is I died.
213
00:10:13,800 --> 00:10:15,840
But that's how it left the viewer.
214
00:10:15,840 --> 00:10:17,840
I was going...
215
00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:20,640
"What's happened?"
216
00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:22,400
'I wasn't the only one.
217
00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:26,400
Thousands of viewers called the BBC
switchboard to check if Paul was OK.
218
00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:28,480
It was a great stunt
219
00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,040
but his bosses at the Beeb
didn't see the funny side.'
220
00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:33,080
The proverbial poop hit the fan
221
00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:35,040
and then, of course,
222
00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:37,920
"You've got us all into trouble"
and this, that and the other.
223
00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:39,960
The BBC Board of Governors
special meeting
224
00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:41,840
over all these phone calls.
225
00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:44,920
For a couple of years afterwards
people talked about it
226
00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:47,560
but they all said,
"Oh, you really got us that time."
227
00:10:47,560 --> 00:10:49,840
You know, people like
things like that.
228
00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:54,240
'But all good things come
to an end and in 1994,
229
00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:57,040
after 15 years and
more than 1,000 tricks,
230
00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:00,080
the Paul Daniels Magic Show
ran its course.
231
00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:03,080
He may not be on our screens
quite so much these days
232
00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:06,560
but Paul's legacy to TV
magic remains unparalleled.'
233
00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:10,520
In your 15 years is there one trick
that you've done together
234
00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:12,840
that you go, "That was our best."
235
00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:14,960
Yeah, we can't talk
about that on here!
236
00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:17,240
Listen, how dare you (!)
237
00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:19,280
Is he ever off?
No.
238
00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:23,760
Magic has given both of
us the most amazing life.
239
00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:27,480
We like people and our life is full
of all different kinds of people,
240
00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:29,480
mostly because of magic.
241
00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:34,160
'Of course I couldn't leave
without seeing a trick.'
242
00:11:35,360 --> 00:11:37,920
You just...
Any card, just take a card.
243
00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:40,960
Yeah. Tell me when you've got one.
Have you got one? Yes, I have.
244
00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:43,240
10 of hearts. Saves time.
Yeah, lovely.
245
00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:45,440
Amazing. Yeah.
246
00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:47,440
He can even do it behind his back.
247
00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:50,840
Now THAT'S magic.
248
00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:52,600
Yes!
249
00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:55,880
'Paul Daniels was the magician who
had the biggest influence on me,
250
00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:57,920
but there were others.
251
00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:00,240
Next I'll go back to TVs early days
252
00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:02,680
and find out how stars like
David Nixon...'
253
00:12:02,680 --> 00:12:05,800
Abracadabra, one, two, three.
'..and Tommy Cooper...'
254
00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:08,160
Hi-do-wah!
255
00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:09,960
Hey! How's that, then?
256
00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:13,120
'..played their own vital roles
in The Magic Show Story.'
257
00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:15,560
Oh!
258
00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:21,840
'I'm Stephen Mulhern
and I'm going on a journey
259
00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:23,920
through the history of TV magic
260
00:12:23,920 --> 00:12:27,600
to find out how it became such a
much loved part of the TV schedules.'
261
00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:33,920
Britain's love affair with magic
started in music halls and theatres,
262
00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:37,440
just like this place here,
back in the late 19th century
263
00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:39,880
an era known as
The Golden Age of Magic.
264
00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:41,960
Then in the 20th century
265
00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:45,840
a new kind of technological wizardry
took magic from the theatres
266
00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:47,840
right into our living rooms.
267
00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:53,800
'Magic was first televised
in Britain in the 1930s
268
00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:56,360
but it was the 50s before
this exciting new medium
269
00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:59,120
really brought conjuring
to the mass TV audience.
270
00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:03,200
Among the early stars of TV magic
271
00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:04,960
were Robert Harbin.'
272
00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:07,040
A big heave over there.
273
00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:09,440
'Seen here on Sunday
night at the Palladium.
274
00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:12,440
And there was the pioneer
of mental magic,
275
00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:14,400
Chan Canasta.'
276
00:13:14,400 --> 00:13:16,240
King of diamonds. Yes.
277
00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:18,080
10 of spades. Yes.
278
00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:20,080
And the two of clubs. Yes!
279
00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:24,320
'But to most the man who
really cemented magic's place
280
00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:27,080
in our TV schedules was David Nixon.
281
00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:30,800
Having risen to stardom as a
panellists on What's My Line?
282
00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:34,120
Nixon was given his own
series on the BBC in 1955,
283
00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:36,800
called simply It's Magic.'
284
00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,040
Abracadabra, one, two, three.
285
00:13:41,480 --> 00:13:43,520
'This fortnightly half-hour show
286
00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:46,240
featured both Nixon and
special guest conjurors.'
287
00:13:46,240 --> 00:13:49,120
Lovely. I could go on like
that all night. Where's the jug?
288
00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:51,960
Well, we'll just hold it over
the jug and say, "Hey presto."
289
00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:53,920
and the water...
(APPLAUSE)
290
00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:59,080
There were lots of magicians
in this country at the time
291
00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:01,120
who were better at sleight of hand.
292
00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:03,840
Or had better ideas or clever tricks
293
00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:05,880
and could fool you more quickly
294
00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:07,880
than David Nixon. Didn't matter.
295
00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:10,960
What mattered with David Nixon
was his personality.
296
00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:13,760
Right, now, can we have a
role on the drums, please?
297
00:14:13,760 --> 00:14:15,600
Thank you!
298
00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:17,600
One, two, three...
299
00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:19,960
There go the eggs.
300
00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:23,160
David was the king of television.
301
00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:25,920
And here is your six of clubs
302
00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:28,720
actually rising out
of the card case.
303
00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:31,960
It's a great relief to me because
I would have felt a right Charlie
304
00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:34,080
if it had gone wrong.
Well, I have another...
305
00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:37,720
He was a charming, gentle man.
306
00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:40,680
Magic wise David Nixon was...
307
00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:43,600
..avuncular, you know.
308
00:14:43,600 --> 00:14:45,600
It was like watching
your uncle do it.
309
00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:48,360
One hand.
310
00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:50,840
He was like the man next door.
311
00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:53,400
Everybody liked him. He was popular.
312
00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:55,240
He was relaxed.
313
00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:57,120
He was just very likeable.
314
00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,560
Ace on the left and three over here.
Which is the ace?
315
00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:03,280
No, no, no. If you remember
I said the ace on the left!
316
00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:07,680
Dad was exactly like
you saw on the telly.
317
00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:10,240
That's how he was.
There was no pretence.
318
00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:12,840
The only time he performed
magic at home
319
00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:14,600
was if I had a birthday party
320
00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:16,880
then he would be the
children's conjurer.
321
00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:20,320
He used to magic little
fairy cakes up and things
322
00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:24,000
and he was just...He was actually
a great children's entertainer!
323
00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:27,480
'As well as performing
close-up table magic
324
00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:30,800
Nixon also made use of camera
trickery to create illusions
325
00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:32,880
that, at the time,
were cutting edge.'
326
00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:40,120
Dad had a great love
of gadgets and technology
327
00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:44,280
and in the 50s,
when he was doing It's Magic,
328
00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:47,920
there was a new technique
he became aware of called Overlay.
329
00:15:52,760 --> 00:15:57,200
Some magicians got hot
under the collar about it
330
00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:00,000
but the funny thing is that
the public were never fooled.
331
00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:02,360
You know, it was never
meant to fool anyone.
332
00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:05,960
Ladies and gentlemen,
The David Nixon Show.
333
00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:07,960
(APPLAUSE)
334
00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:12,960
'In 1969 Nixon moved to ITV.
335
00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:16,160
Broadcast on Monday night at 6:45
336
00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:19,080
The David Nixon Show was one
of the first magic series
337
00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:21,080
to be transmitted in colour.
338
00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:25,000
This was the era of big
shiny floor gameshows
339
00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:26,800
like The Generation Game.
340
00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:28,800
Sets were getting bigger
and brighter
341
00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:30,800
and magic followed suit.'
342
00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:33,560
Wahey!
343
00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:37,880
'It was also the age
of the glamorous assistant.
344
00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:40,760
In David's case, former
Carry On star Anita Harris.'
345
00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:44,080
He presented like he was your friend.
Yes.
346
00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:46,400
What was he like when
the camera was off?
347
00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:48,320
Teasing.
348
00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:50,720
Erm...er...challenging.
349
00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:52,720
"Come on, Nitty, you can do this!"
350
00:16:54,000 --> 00:17:01,000
And loved the creation of the work.
That's the thing.
351
00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,480
This...ooh!
(GRUNTS)
352
00:17:05,120 --> 00:17:07,160
What did you have for lunch?
353
00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:09,320
'In her seven years
working with David
354
00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:11,920
Anita was subjected to
all manner of torture.
355
00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:15,000
And all in the name of magic.'
356
00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:18,280
Let's give this just a little more.
Anita, just relax, darling.
357
00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:20,080
Yes, I'm quite, quite relaxed,
David.
358
00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:22,160
I really am very, very relaxed.
359
00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:24,720
When you look at some of the
props and the allusions
360
00:17:24,720 --> 00:17:27,920
that you were using then, do you
think you'd get away with that now
361
00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:29,880
in terms of health and safety?
362
00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:32,440
Because it's - You're not
meant to ask those questions!
363
00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:34,160
But it's gone mad, hasn't it?
364
00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:36,120
You see some of the props and you go,
365
00:17:36,120 --> 00:17:38,880
"Wow, that actually does
look really dangerous."
366
00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:43,400
Well, I remember lying on the...
with the spikes.
367
00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:45,160
Yes.
368
00:17:45,160 --> 00:17:47,920
Now we're going to lower
the spiker in.
369
00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:51,360
And the spikes are coming.
"Please stop at the right moment!"
370
00:17:51,360 --> 00:17:54,840
That was the thing because it was
even slightly wobbly. Yes, exactly!
371
00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:57,800
(BALLOONS POPPING)
372
00:17:59,880 --> 00:18:02,120
The noise of the balloons
banging as well!
373
00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:05,560
(APPLAUSE)
374
00:18:06,560 --> 00:18:10,400
It's trust in your
fellow performer.
375
00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:13,960
'Well, let's see if
Anita has trust in me.
376
00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:15,720
I better not muck this up.'
377
00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:18,600
I'm now gonna attempt
the world-famous
378
00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:20,680
Sawing the Lady in Half.
379
00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:23,480
'It's one of the oldest
illusions in the business.'
380
00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:26,720
I've got to say,
I've always wanted to do this.
381
00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:30,680
'It may be something of a cliche
these days but it's probably amazed
382
00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:33,640
more viewers than any other
trick in magic history.
383
00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:36,040
There are literally dozens
of ways of doing it.'
384
00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:38,640
How many times were you
sawn in half, by the way?
385
00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:40,920
Oh, innumerable.
386
00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:42,880
Say again?
387
00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:44,960
(LAUGHTER)
388
00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:47,040
All my laughter was
nervous laughter!
389
00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:49,520
OK, let's do this.
390
00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:51,640
'Well, there's a first
time for everything.
391
00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:54,280
Needless to say,
please don't try this at home.'
392
00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:56,320
Oh!
393
00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:58,400
(LAUGHTER)
394
00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:00,400
Done it. Are you ready?
Yes.
395
00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:02,240
Here's the big moment.
396
00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:04,280
Here we go.
397
00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:06,320
And there you have it.
398
00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:08,320
Sawing Anita Harris in half.
399
00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:13,800
'Now I just need to put
Anita back together again.'
400
00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:17,240
Amazing. Thank you very much.
What a treat, huh? He is lovely.
401
00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:19,240
And I am in...
hang on, one piece!
402
00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:21,720
'Phew. That's a relief.
403
00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:27,760
Anita's much loved partnership with
David Nixon came to an end in 1977,
404
00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:29,840
a year before his death.
405
00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:33,000
He'll always be remembered
as the father of TV magic.'
406
00:19:34,360 --> 00:19:36,320
(APPLAUSE)
407
00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:39,480
'It would be left to Nixon's fellow
magicians to take on the mantle.
408
00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:41,080
Among them a comic
who was so brilliant
409
00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:43,120
at getting it so wrong.'
410
00:19:43,120 --> 00:19:44,880
This trick starts very slowly.
411
00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:46,600
(LAUGHTER)
412
00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:48,600
Then it gradually peters out.
413
00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:52,360
'If David Nixon was the
gentleman of magic
414
00:19:52,360 --> 00:19:54,520
Tommy Cooper was the clown.'
415
00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:56,520
I will now produce a live pigeon.
416
00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:02,520
(LAUGHTER)
417
00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:06,040
He was the first magician
that I remember seeing on TV
418
00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:09,280
that really, you know,
straddled that line
419
00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:12,640
between comedy and magic.
Just so, so funny.
420
00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:14,960
Watch it very closely.
Look at that, look.
421
00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:17,040
(LAUGHTER)
422
00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:19,960
There was no doubt about it,
he was one of the funniest men
423
00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:21,800
you would ever wish to see.
424
00:20:21,800 --> 00:20:23,640
Ooh, how's that?
425
00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:25,440
There you are!
426
00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:29,280
Tommy Cooper could pick up a
beachball and make it hysterical.
427
00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:31,960
He could pick up a saucer,
it would be funny.
428
00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:36,040
Hoo-di-di-doo do-do-ba-ba-bah!
Hi-do-wah!
429
00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:38,040
Hey, how's that, then?
430
00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:41,960
'Legend has it Cooper
started his showbiz career
431
00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:44,280
after the war as a serious magician.
432
00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:47,520
But after one particularly
disastrous show he realised
433
00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:49,960
he could get plenty of
laughs if he did his act
434
00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:52,800
as a conjuror whose tricks
never went to plan.'
435
00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:54,800
Little time. 20 minutes to three.
436
00:20:57,600 --> 00:21:00,680
'His TV breakthrough came on
the BBC series, It's Magic,
437
00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:02,520
in the early 50s.
438
00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:04,960
But it was on ITV where
Cooper made the show's
439
00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:07,040
that took him to the nation's hearts,
440
00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:09,160
like Life With Cooper in 1966...'
441
00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:11,680
(LAUGHTER)
442
00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:14,360
'..and It's Tommy Cooper in the 70s.'
443
00:21:14,360 --> 00:21:16,400
Hey, look at that!
444
00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:18,400
(LAUGHTER)
445
00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:22,000
'So just how good a magician
was Tommy Cooper?'
446
00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:24,680
Here's glass, here's a bottle.
Bottle and glass.
447
00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:30,600
'To find out I met
up with his friend
448
00:21:30,600 --> 00:21:34,240
and former gag writer, Barry Cryer,
at the Museum of Comedy,
449
00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:37,240
where several of Tommy's old
magic props are now kept.'
450
00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:42,520
I remember watching this at home.
This is the legs, isn't it?
451
00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:44,360
You remember this?
Yeah, I do.
452
00:21:44,360 --> 00:21:47,800
He went to move the table and the
front two legs fell down. Yes.
453
00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:50,120
But then the two female
legs dropped down.
454
00:21:50,120 --> 00:21:52,120
Yes.
455
00:21:54,000 --> 00:21:56,000
Here we go.
456
00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,000
Oh!
457
00:21:58,560 --> 00:22:00,520
Bouquet of flowers. Oh, dear.
458
00:22:02,120 --> 00:22:04,160
Ah, you have to work
it with your foot.
459
00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:06,000
Down there, that.
Go on, you do it.
460
00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:08,280
Here we go.
Yes!
461
00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:11,280
Tom was obsessed with props,
obviously.
462
00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:15,120
He haunted shops and wanted
to know about everything.
463
00:22:15,120 --> 00:22:16,960
He used to go to magic conferences
464
00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:19,320
even if he wasn't appearing
or doing anything.
465
00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:21,760
He just loved what he did and
couldn't have enough of it.
466
00:22:21,760 --> 00:22:23,920
He was quite obsessed about it.
467
00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:26,960
Three, two, one.
468
00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:29,360
Oh, yes!
469
00:22:29,360 --> 00:22:31,120
Yes!
470
00:22:31,120 --> 00:22:33,480
Makes you thirsty, this.
Ooh, look at that!
471
00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:36,160
Oh, brilliant.
472
00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:38,240
Thank you.
473
00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:41,360
I keep hearing, you know,
people at magic circles
474
00:22:41,360 --> 00:22:45,120
say that, as a magician,
he was actually very good. Yes.
475
00:22:45,120 --> 00:22:48,120
Why, if you're so good at magic,
to then go...?
476
00:22:48,120 --> 00:22:50,200
Well, I'll tell you
what he said to me,
477
00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:52,360
and I think he said
it to a lot of people.
478
00:22:52,360 --> 00:22:55,240
"There's 100 brilliant
magicians in this country,
479
00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:57,080
I'm the idiot."
480
00:22:57,080 --> 00:23:00,040
You've got to know how to do
the tricks to do them badly
481
00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:02,120
and get them wrong.
It's like Les Dawson.
482
00:23:02,120 --> 00:23:04,440
Playing the piano,
it's a very similar thing.
483
00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:06,200
Tom very shrewdly thought,
484
00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:08,640
"Well, there's so many
brilliant people around.
485
00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:10,720
I'll be the other one.
486
00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:13,000
I'll be the idiot
who can't get it right."
487
00:23:16,120 --> 00:23:17,960
Cor, it was dark in there.
488
00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:19,760
Shall we do this?
I would be honoured.
489
00:23:19,760 --> 00:23:22,720
Cos if we didn't it would be madness.
I'm getting a warm glow.
490
00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:27,440
Are you ready for this?
491
00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:30,160
(AS TOMMY COOPER)
Just like that.
492
00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:32,160
No, go on. Start.
493
00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:41,200
'By 1984 Tommy Cooper
had been on our screens
494
00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:43,280
for more than 30 years
495
00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:46,760
and he was about to leave viewers
laughing up till the very end.'
496
00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:50,160
It was on this very spot
in Her Majesty's Theatre,
497
00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:54,040
in front of a packed audience and
12 million people watching on live TV
498
00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:57,240
that Tommy Cooper
performed his final trick.
499
00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:00,360
(BELL RINGING)
500
00:24:00,360 --> 00:24:02,360
(LAUGHTER)
501
00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:06,960
(LAUGHTER)
502
00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:10,880
(BELL RINGING)
503
00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:14,960
'Tommy's act was all going to plan.
504
00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:18,680
There was no hint of the tragedy
that was about to unfold.'
505
00:24:18,680 --> 00:24:21,480
I did put his cloak round him
506
00:24:23,960 --> 00:24:26,280
and do up the front.
507
00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:33,480
Within seconds he fell
to the ground
508
00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:36,920
and the audience thought
it was part of his act.
509
00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:39,920
Erm...
510
00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:44,880
As I went and continued
to walk to the wings
511
00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:48,400
our choreographer said, "You
need to cut to commercial break,
512
00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:50,400
there's something wrong."
513
00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:54,320
Tommy Cooper, one of Britain's
best loved funnymen,
514
00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:57,560
last night collapsed on stage at
London's Her Majesty's Theatre.
515
00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:00,640
Tributes have continued this morning
for comedian Tommy Cooper
516
00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:02,960
who died last night after
collapsing on stage
517
00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:04,960
during a live television show.
518
00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:09,360
He died on stage,
which was where he loved,
519
00:25:09,360 --> 00:25:12,520
in front of an audience that
were in raptures of laughter.
520
00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:17,400
'In the decades that have followed
521
00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:19,400
that laughter has never faded.
522
00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:22,200
Tommy Cooper remains, quite simply,
523
00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:24,920
one of the funniest men
ever to grace our screens.'
524
00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:26,960
(LAUGHTER)
525
00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:29,000
And like that!
526
00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:30,840
(APPLAUSE)
527
00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:32,720
He was a total one-off.
528
00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:35,080
When it comes to mixing
comedy with magic
529
00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:37,000
nobody has ever come
close to the genius
530
00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:39,000
of Tommy Cooper.'
531
00:25:40,120 --> 00:25:42,040
(APPLAUSE)
Oh, thank you!
532
00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:44,600
Thank you very much.
533
00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:48,920
'Next, from Penn and Teller...'
534
00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:50,800
Argh!
535
00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:53,280
This is unlike anything
that I'd ever seen before.
536
00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:55,040
'..to David Blaine...'
537
00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:56,960
People thought he had magic powers.
538
00:25:56,960 --> 00:26:00,160
'..I'll find out how the biggest
magician from across the Atlantic
539
00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:03,000
ushered in an exciting
new era in TV magic.'
540
00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:04,840
Is that your card?
541
00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:06,840
The three of clubs?
542
00:26:10,620 --> 00:26:13,660
By the late 70s stars like
Paul Daniels and Tommy Cooper
543
00:26:13,660 --> 00:26:15,980
were helping make
magic become a vital part
544
00:26:15,980 --> 00:26:17,420
of our Saturday night viewing.
545
00:26:17,420 --> 00:26:20,660
But we've also been introduced
to some of the biggest stars
546
00:26:20,660 --> 00:26:22,540
from across the Atlantic.
547
00:26:22,540 --> 00:26:24,940
A brand of magic that was
bigger and more theatrical
548
00:26:24,940 --> 00:26:26,940
than anything we'd seen before.
549
00:26:28,300 --> 00:26:31,420
'We might have sent homegrown
popstars like The Beatles
550
00:26:31,420 --> 00:26:35,940
and film stars like Michael Caine
to wow audiences across the pond
551
00:26:35,940 --> 00:26:39,660
but our magicians failed to cast
anywhere near as big a spell.
552
00:26:41,420 --> 00:26:43,940
But the American superstars of magic
553
00:26:43,940 --> 00:26:45,940
had no such problems over here.
554
00:26:46,860 --> 00:26:49,260
And in the late 70s and early 80s
555
00:26:49,260 --> 00:26:51,980
they bought a touch of Las Vegas
glitz and glamour
556
00:26:51,980 --> 00:26:53,980
to our Saturday night TV.
557
00:26:54,700 --> 00:26:56,660
Like the brilliant Lance Burton,
558
00:26:58,180 --> 00:27:00,140
The Pendragons
559
00:27:01,460 --> 00:27:04,500
and the superstar of magic himself,
David Copperfield.
560
00:27:05,820 --> 00:27:10,060
Copperfield transformed TV magic with
a series of spectacular illusions.
561
00:27:10,060 --> 00:27:13,620
None more theatrical than
his classic flying routine.'
562
00:27:15,300 --> 00:27:16,860
David Copperfield flying?
563
00:27:16,860 --> 00:27:18,780
I mean, that would be on,
I would say,
564
00:27:18,780 --> 00:27:22,020
the majority of people's number
one Copperfield moments.
565
00:27:22,020 --> 00:27:24,020
(APPLAUSE)
566
00:27:25,300 --> 00:27:28,100
There was the illusion,
which was unexplainable.
567
00:27:28,100 --> 00:27:30,660
There was the story
with wanting to fly
568
00:27:30,660 --> 00:27:33,460
and there was the fact he gets
this woman up from the audience
569
00:27:33,460 --> 00:27:35,500
and flies around with her.
570
00:27:35,500 --> 00:27:37,500
It added a romantic layer to it.
571
00:27:39,260 --> 00:27:41,220
(APPLAUSE)
572
00:27:43,860 --> 00:27:46,660
The flying routine is
so brilliantly executed.
573
00:27:46,660 --> 00:27:49,420
Not only in the movement
and choreography
574
00:27:49,420 --> 00:27:52,220
but as an illusion,
as opposed to a dance,
575
00:27:52,220 --> 00:27:55,180
you have to show that
you're not on wires.
576
00:27:55,180 --> 00:27:57,260
You're not on posts or anything.
577
00:27:57,260 --> 00:28:01,860
So you have to pass hoops
around the flying figure.
578
00:28:01,860 --> 00:28:04,660
I still think it's one of
the great stage illusions.
579
00:28:05,740 --> 00:28:08,900
Copperfield's ambitious
performances bring contrast
580
00:28:08,900 --> 00:28:11,380
to our homegrown British musicians
581
00:28:11,380 --> 00:28:14,180
who honed their skills
on the pub and club circuit.'
582
00:28:15,780 --> 00:28:17,780
That's...magic.
583
00:28:17,780 --> 00:28:19,860
(APPLAUSE)
584
00:28:19,860 --> 00:28:22,500
'With Paul Daniels leading
the way this was the era
585
00:28:22,500 --> 00:28:25,020
when magic was very much
aimed at a family audience.'
586
00:28:25,020 --> 00:28:28,580
We watch you all the time, don't we?
I'm honoured. Who is it?
587
00:28:28,580 --> 00:28:30,340
'I was one of the millions of kids
588
00:28:30,340 --> 00:28:32,260
who tuned in to watch
The Sooty Show...'
589
00:28:32,260 --> 00:28:34,100
Just touch you on
the finger like that.
590
00:28:34,100 --> 00:28:37,180
He just touched me on the
finger just like...no!
591
00:28:37,180 --> 00:28:39,580
'..The Great Soprendo
on Crackerjack...'
592
00:28:39,580 --> 00:28:41,620
You see there is the newspaper!
593
00:28:41,620 --> 00:28:44,420
There is the page of the newspaper!
594
00:28:44,420 --> 00:28:46,300
'..and the brilliant Wayne Dobson.'
595
00:28:46,300 --> 00:28:48,820
This is an invisible magic wand.
596
00:28:48,820 --> 00:28:50,860
(HIGH PITCHED) Thank you.
Good.
597
00:28:50,860 --> 00:28:52,860
It's very special, do you know why?
No.
598
00:28:52,860 --> 00:28:55,420
Well, it makes things bigger.
(DEEP VOICE) Can I try it?
599
00:28:55,420 --> 00:28:57,260
No, it's for him.
600
00:28:57,260 --> 00:28:59,700
It was very family friendly
and had an element of fun.
601
00:28:59,700 --> 00:29:01,740
It was very inoffensive
602
00:29:01,740 --> 00:29:03,940
and very, very mainstream.
603
00:29:03,940 --> 00:29:07,180
I mean, it was the epitome of
light entertainment, really.
604
00:29:07,180 --> 00:29:09,020
'But as the 80s wore on
605
00:29:09,020 --> 00:29:11,100
magic's popularity began to wane.
606
00:29:11,100 --> 00:29:13,860
There was still some fantastic
magicians around
607
00:29:13,860 --> 00:29:16,660
but it was all starting
to look very old-fashioned.
608
00:29:21,300 --> 00:29:25,220
Comedy had gone alternative and our
TV game shows have gone high-tech
609
00:29:25,220 --> 00:29:27,980
but magic still seemed
to be stuck in the 70s.'
610
00:29:29,460 --> 00:29:31,460
It was shiny tuxedos.
611
00:29:31,460 --> 00:29:33,540
It was boxes, cheesy music.
612
00:29:33,540 --> 00:29:36,980
Our coolest character was
Paul Daniels at that point.
613
00:29:37,980 --> 00:29:40,020
They all liked to dance
614
00:29:40,020 --> 00:29:42,380
and all the illusionists,
they danced about.
615
00:29:42,380 --> 00:29:44,180
Basically they're
gonna get in a box.
616
00:29:44,180 --> 00:29:46,900
Before they get in the box they
think it's a really good idea
617
00:29:46,900 --> 00:29:48,900
just to dance around the box.
618
00:29:49,940 --> 00:29:52,980
I thought that the spangly suits
619
00:29:52,980 --> 00:29:55,820
and all the silly gestures
620
00:29:55,820 --> 00:29:57,980
and all that was all a bit stupid.
621
00:29:57,980 --> 00:30:01,140
And I remember thinking,
"This has got to change.
622
00:30:01,140 --> 00:30:03,540
It can't go on like
this any longer."
623
00:30:03,540 --> 00:30:06,260
'But TV magic as we knew it
was about to change.
624
00:30:07,620 --> 00:30:11,860
In 1994, the same year that Paul
Daniels' Magic show came to an end,
625
00:30:11,860 --> 00:30:15,380
a new series came along that
completely broke the mould.'
626
00:30:15,380 --> 00:30:19,020
Welcome to The Unpleasant
World of Penn and Teller.
627
00:30:19,020 --> 00:30:22,540
I remember being 16 or 17
628
00:30:22,540 --> 00:30:26,540
and discovering The Unpleasant World
of Penn and Teller on Channel 4.
629
00:30:27,740 --> 00:30:29,940
'Magic was moving out
of the mainstream
630
00:30:29,940 --> 00:30:32,860
and finding a new home
on late night Channel 4.'
631
00:30:32,860 --> 00:30:34,700
Hold the rice there
right in your hands.
632
00:30:34,700 --> 00:30:36,540
A little paper hat over it
633
00:30:36,540 --> 00:30:38,380
and presto!
634
00:30:38,380 --> 00:30:40,140
Maggots!
635
00:30:40,140 --> 00:30:42,540
This was unlike anything
that I'd ever seen before.
636
00:30:43,420 --> 00:30:45,380
Argh!
637
00:30:46,620 --> 00:30:50,340
Penn and Teller, they were the
alternative, the rock 'n' roll.
638
00:30:50,340 --> 00:30:52,380
Is that your card?
639
00:30:52,380 --> 00:30:54,380
The three of clubs?
640
00:30:55,340 --> 00:30:58,180
'It's time to meet the bad
boys of magic themselves.
641
00:30:58,180 --> 00:31:00,500
They are here in the UK
recording for a show
642
00:31:00,500 --> 00:31:02,500
at ITV's London studios.'
643
00:31:07,140 --> 00:31:09,220
Penn and Teller changed everything.
644
00:31:09,220 --> 00:31:12,540
They were shocking, they were clever
and they were very, very funny.
645
00:31:12,540 --> 00:31:15,820
But not everyone was happy with
their unique brand of magic.
646
00:31:16,620 --> 00:31:18,660
Now, the first rule of magic is
647
00:31:18,660 --> 00:31:21,540
you never tell an audience
how a trick is being done.
648
00:31:21,540 --> 00:31:25,740
So we're gonna tell you exactly
how the trick is being done.
649
00:31:25,740 --> 00:31:27,780
'Penn and Teller ripped
up the rulebook
650
00:31:27,780 --> 00:31:30,380
by letting the audience
in on their secrets.
651
00:31:30,380 --> 00:31:33,660
Their cup and ball routine
was done with see-through cups.'
652
00:31:33,660 --> 00:31:36,620
We take the first ball,
pretend to place it in our hand
653
00:31:36,620 --> 00:31:39,060
having already snuck it
underneath the first cup.
654
00:31:39,060 --> 00:31:42,300
Take the second ball, simultaneously
secreted beneath the cup,
655
00:31:42,300 --> 00:31:45,740
placed in our hand and show it.
Take the third and final ball...
656
00:31:45,740 --> 00:31:47,780
'It was a controversial move
657
00:31:47,780 --> 00:31:51,100
but it opened up magic to an audience
who were ready for something new.'
658
00:31:51,100 --> 00:31:54,380
Now this should be interesting cos
Teller, the shorter one of the two,
659
00:31:54,380 --> 00:31:57,100
never talks, when he's on stage
or when he's on the telly.
660
00:31:57,100 --> 00:31:59,980
So...er...let's hope
Penn is up for a chat
661
00:31:59,980 --> 00:32:02,740
otherwise this is gonna
be a very short interview.
662
00:32:05,940 --> 00:32:07,940
And here they are.
Oh, how you doing, man?
663
00:32:07,940 --> 00:32:10,020
How are you? Good to see you.
664
00:32:10,020 --> 00:32:12,620
Let's take a seat.
This is an absolute pleasure.
665
00:32:13,420 --> 00:32:15,620
An honour.
A pleasure for us too.
666
00:32:15,620 --> 00:32:18,340
How do you feel about
being labelled, if you like,
667
00:32:18,340 --> 00:32:20,180
as the bad boys of magic?
668
00:32:20,180 --> 00:32:22,100
Well, we kind of did
that label because,
669
00:32:22,100 --> 00:32:25,900
at the time we were doing that,
way back in the 80s,
670
00:32:25,900 --> 00:32:30,780
people had this image of magic
as just a greasy guy in a tux.
671
00:32:30,780 --> 00:32:33,540
A lot of birds,
torturing women in front of mylar
672
00:32:33,540 --> 00:32:36,020
to bad rip-off Motown music.
We know them.
673
00:32:36,020 --> 00:32:38,060
And that's a fine form of magic,
you know?
674
00:32:38,060 --> 00:32:40,140
But it wasn't what we wanted to do.
675
00:32:40,140 --> 00:32:43,180
We wanted to do something
that was a little bit more...
676
00:32:43,180 --> 00:32:45,300
A little bit more, I guess,
intellectual.
677
00:32:45,300 --> 00:32:47,340
Teller, show 'em your rising card.
678
00:32:47,340 --> 00:32:49,340
(LAUGHTER)
679
00:32:50,540 --> 00:32:52,580
(APPLAUSE)
680
00:32:52,580 --> 00:32:55,460
We also wanted very much to
get away from the separation
681
00:32:55,460 --> 00:32:57,460
there is from magician
and audience.
682
00:32:58,300 --> 00:33:00,260
(LAUGHTER)
683
00:33:01,220 --> 00:33:03,180
(APPLAUSE)
684
00:33:09,460 --> 00:33:12,660
What was the reaction when you
did start giving away secrets?
685
00:33:12,660 --> 00:33:16,260
There were some, mostly amateur
magicians, who didn't get it
686
00:33:16,260 --> 00:33:19,340
and thought we were just
horribly destroying things.
687
00:33:19,340 --> 00:33:22,900
But all of the real pros, I mean,
if you want to talk Paul Daniels
688
00:33:22,900 --> 00:33:25,020
or you want to talk
David Copperfield,
689
00:33:25,020 --> 00:33:26,860
they all understood it completely.
690
00:33:26,860 --> 00:33:29,740
That we were only giving away tricks
691
00:33:29,740 --> 00:33:32,620
that we had,
in some sense, invented.
692
00:33:32,620 --> 00:33:34,620
And also only giving away tricks
693
00:33:34,620 --> 00:33:36,660
that the trip was interesting.
694
00:33:36,660 --> 00:33:39,300
'But for every trick
Penn and Teller revealed
695
00:33:39,300 --> 00:33:42,460
there were also those that
left us scratching our heads.'
696
00:33:47,260 --> 00:33:49,300
(GASPING AND APPLAUSE)
697
00:33:49,300 --> 00:33:52,580
'But it wasn't just Penn and Teller
who were breaking new ground.
698
00:33:52,580 --> 00:33:56,060
By the mid-90s the entire television
landscape was changing.
699
00:33:56,060 --> 00:33:58,460
It was the age of reality
TV and docusoap
700
00:33:58,460 --> 00:34:01,620
and the use of new lightweight
cameras was making it easier
701
00:34:01,620 --> 00:34:04,980
to take shows out of the
studio and onto the street.
702
00:34:05,780 --> 00:34:09,420
It was a trend magic would follow,
and once more it was a magician
703
00:34:09,420 --> 00:34:11,780
from across the Atlantic
who led the way
704
00:34:11,780 --> 00:34:14,220
with a laid-back
deadpan style of his own.'
705
00:34:15,140 --> 00:34:17,340
What I want you to do is,
from in this deck,
706
00:34:17,340 --> 00:34:19,380
I want you to try to see one card.
707
00:34:19,380 --> 00:34:21,420
Look closely, try to see one inside.
708
00:34:21,420 --> 00:34:23,420
Did you get one? I'll do it again.
709
00:34:23,420 --> 00:34:25,140
A little bit too quick.
710
00:34:25,140 --> 00:34:27,180
Try and see a card inside.
711
00:34:27,180 --> 00:34:29,060
Did you see one?
712
00:34:29,060 --> 00:34:31,980
You think you did? Don't say it.
Just hold it in your mind.
713
00:34:31,980 --> 00:34:34,380
This is not it but visualise
your card right here.
714
00:34:36,020 --> 00:34:38,220
I think the most significant
magic show
715
00:34:38,220 --> 00:34:41,260
that I can remember is
David Blaine's Street Magic.
716
00:34:41,260 --> 00:34:44,020
It was very simple. You know,
obviously it's on the street.
717
00:34:44,020 --> 00:34:46,540
Everything is pared down.
It's a real situation.
718
00:34:46,540 --> 00:34:48,660
He's borrowing
the coin from someone.
719
00:34:48,660 --> 00:34:50,700
(SCREAMING)
720
00:34:50,700 --> 00:34:52,700
Oh my God!
721
00:34:54,340 --> 00:34:56,860
Mm, mm. Watch, look.
722
00:34:58,300 --> 00:35:00,260
(SCREAMING)
723
00:35:01,340 --> 00:35:03,380
People thought he had magic powers
724
00:35:03,380 --> 00:35:07,020
and it was shot like, one camera,
him just walking around the streets.
725
00:35:07,020 --> 00:35:09,580
There was that really raw,
real vibe to it
726
00:35:09,580 --> 00:35:11,660
that hadn't been seen before.
727
00:35:11,660 --> 00:35:14,700
'The days of a man in a tuxedo
pulling rabbits out of a hat
728
00:35:14,700 --> 00:35:16,740
were well and truly over.'
729
00:35:16,740 --> 00:35:18,780
Now watch this. Watch this.
730
00:35:18,780 --> 00:35:20,740
'Whilst over here our magicians
731
00:35:20,740 --> 00:35:24,580
were also taking their tricks direct
to the people, like Paul Zenon,
732
00:35:24,580 --> 00:35:27,820
and his series of street
magic special in 1999.
733
00:35:30,660 --> 00:35:33,580
And in recent years a new wave
of young, hip magicians
734
00:35:33,580 --> 00:35:36,020
have brought street magic
to a new generation.'
735
00:35:36,020 --> 00:35:38,020
Squeeze it, squeeze.
736
00:35:40,020 --> 00:35:42,020
Open your hand.
737
00:35:42,020 --> 00:35:44,020
(SCREAMING)
738
00:35:44,620 --> 00:35:47,860
The shrieks and the screams...
739
00:35:47,860 --> 00:35:49,940
Oh my God!
740
00:35:49,940 --> 00:35:53,940
..and the astonishment of the people
who are watching amazing things
741
00:35:53,940 --> 00:35:56,780
happen in front of
their very own eyes.
742
00:35:56,780 --> 00:35:59,500
The camera showed their reaction.
Bingo!
743
00:36:00,420 --> 00:36:02,660
I want you both just
to focus on the bottle.
744
00:36:07,140 --> 00:36:10,500
'So what do magic's elder statement
feel about this TV trend?'
745
00:36:11,700 --> 00:36:16,100
The big advantage to television
of street magic is...
746
00:36:17,300 --> 00:36:19,340
..you don't have to
pay that the studio,
747
00:36:19,340 --> 00:36:21,220
you don't have to pay
for the scenery.
748
00:36:21,220 --> 00:36:24,180
You don't have to pay for the
costumes, you don't have to pay...
749
00:36:24,180 --> 00:36:27,060
It's a very cheap thing.
We used to call it busking.
750
00:36:27,060 --> 00:36:29,660
That ring. Yeah, yeah.
Can I borrow that ring?
751
00:36:29,660 --> 00:36:31,420
Cheers.
752
00:36:31,420 --> 00:36:34,260
If you can stand on the street
with nothing but a deck of cards
753
00:36:34,260 --> 00:36:37,540
and still pull in the crowds that
these big theatre productions could
754
00:36:37,540 --> 00:36:39,300
there's something in that.
755
00:36:39,300 --> 00:36:41,100
Name a colour.
Purple.
756
00:36:41,100 --> 00:36:43,140
Purple? Purple.
757
00:36:43,140 --> 00:36:45,020
Yeah, it might be cheaper to make,
758
00:36:45,020 --> 00:36:47,340
but the fact is it really
resonated with people.
759
00:36:47,340 --> 00:36:49,340
People love it.
760
00:36:49,340 --> 00:36:51,340
Oh my gosh, no way!
761
00:36:53,140 --> 00:36:55,940
'Next I bring the magic
show story right up to date...'
762
00:36:55,940 --> 00:36:59,980
Ladies and gentlemen, my prediction
for the lottery numbers this week.
763
00:36:59,980 --> 00:37:02,660
'..as I look at how the
21st-century saw TV magic
764
00:37:02,660 --> 00:37:05,740
grab the headlines and reach
dizzy new heights.'
765
00:37:06,500 --> 00:37:08,340
How high were you when you levitated?
766
00:37:08,340 --> 00:37:10,300
1,016 feet.
Wow.
767
00:37:16,220 --> 00:37:18,460
'As magic moved into
the 21st century
768
00:37:18,460 --> 00:37:21,100
magicians and illusionists
look for inspiration
769
00:37:21,100 --> 00:37:23,700
to stand out in a competitive
multichannel era.
770
00:37:28,780 --> 00:37:31,420
Throughout history the most
successful magicians
771
00:37:31,420 --> 00:37:34,100
have been those who've harnessed
the power of the media
772
00:37:34,100 --> 00:37:37,580
and created big events that have
got the whole nation talking.'
773
00:37:38,380 --> 00:37:40,140
And Harry Houdini, master of magic,
774
00:37:40,140 --> 00:37:42,820
is about to try one of
his most difficult stunts.
775
00:37:42,820 --> 00:37:44,980
'It's a style
synonymous with one man,
776
00:37:44,980 --> 00:37:48,220
a true pioneer whose legacy
to magic lives on:
777
00:37:50,820 --> 00:37:52,780
Harry Houdini.'
778
00:37:53,540 --> 00:37:55,340
This is amazing footage.
779
00:37:55,340 --> 00:37:57,500
Look at the people's faces
in the crowd, look.
780
00:37:57,500 --> 00:38:01,540
They just can't believe what they're
seeing in front of their very eyes.
781
00:38:01,540 --> 00:38:04,780
'His very public stunts
not only drew huge crowds,
782
00:38:04,780 --> 00:38:06,780
they made front-page news.'
783
00:38:07,900 --> 00:38:11,060
And that's why, long before
television or the Internet,
784
00:38:11,060 --> 00:38:15,060
Houdini became one of our first
ever global celebrities.
785
00:38:18,060 --> 00:38:20,580
'100 years on magician
still know the value
786
00:38:20,580 --> 00:38:22,660
of the big publicity stunt.'
787
00:38:22,660 --> 00:38:27,460
David Blaine would spend 44 days
suspended in this glass box
788
00:38:27,460 --> 00:38:30,420
without food and drinking
just pure water.
789
00:38:30,420 --> 00:38:32,340
'In the early 2000s
790
00:38:32,340 --> 00:38:35,380
David Blaine baffled and
enthralled in equal measure
791
00:38:35,380 --> 00:38:37,740
with a series of Houdini
style feats.'
792
00:38:37,740 --> 00:38:39,940
It definitely did what he intended,
you know.
793
00:38:39,940 --> 00:38:42,180
It got people talking about him,
about his magic.
794
00:38:42,180 --> 00:38:44,020
It intrigued people.
795
00:38:44,020 --> 00:38:46,940
I think that the man is
completely mad but there we go.
796
00:38:46,940 --> 00:38:48,700
He pushed his body to the limit.
797
00:38:48,700 --> 00:38:51,060
No one thought it was
possible he could survive
798
00:38:51,060 --> 00:38:53,260
that many days or nights
without food or drink.
799
00:38:53,260 --> 00:38:56,540
I'm gonna be encased
in six tonnes of ice
800
00:38:56,540 --> 00:38:58,620
in Times Square.
801
00:38:58,620 --> 00:39:01,660
You're left going, this guy
is absolutely out of his mind
802
00:39:01,660 --> 00:39:03,500
and crazy.
803
00:39:03,500 --> 00:39:06,020
But it's one of those things
you can't look away from.
804
00:39:06,020 --> 00:39:09,380
'But it wasn't just Blaine who was
turning magic into headline news.'
805
00:39:09,380 --> 00:39:11,260
Tonight I shall play
Russian Roulette
806
00:39:11,260 --> 00:39:13,300
live in this barn behind me.
807
00:39:13,300 --> 00:39:15,380
One gun, one bullet
808
00:39:15,380 --> 00:39:18,340
and every intention of being
alive at the end of the show.
809
00:39:18,340 --> 00:39:20,700
'Here in Britain
illusionist Derren Brown
810
00:39:20,700 --> 00:39:23,020
made a name for himself
with a series of ambitious,
811
00:39:23,020 --> 00:39:25,860
and often controversial,
TV specials.'
812
00:39:25,860 --> 00:39:29,420
One of the things that Derren Brown
did as his career progressed
813
00:39:29,420 --> 00:39:33,180
is the return of live magic on TV.
814
00:39:33,180 --> 00:39:36,940
One of his most famous stunts was
predicting the national lottery.
815
00:39:36,940 --> 00:39:40,340
Tonight I'm gonna try
and predict at least five
816
00:39:40,340 --> 00:39:42,860
of the six lottery
numbers you win...
817
00:39:42,860 --> 00:39:44,620
You need to win the jackpot.
818
00:39:44,620 --> 00:39:46,660
'This was event
television at its best.
819
00:39:46,660 --> 00:39:49,660
Even those with no interest
in magic tune in just to see
820
00:39:49,660 --> 00:39:51,540
what was gonna happen.'
821
00:39:51,540 --> 00:39:55,180
Ladies and gentlemen, my prediction
for the lottery numbers this week
822
00:39:55,180 --> 00:39:57,260
are two, 11...
823
00:39:57,260 --> 00:39:59,820
'Now that's one trick
we all wish we could do.'
824
00:39:59,820 --> 00:40:03,500
Derren hasn't been afraid
to break certain boundaries
825
00:40:03,500 --> 00:40:07,140
in television and, you know,
create material
826
00:40:07,140 --> 00:40:12,180
that people are clearly absolutely
fascinated and engaged by.
827
00:40:12,180 --> 00:40:15,620
'In recent years a new TV star
has grabbed the headlines.
828
00:40:19,660 --> 00:40:22,060
A young magician who
burst onto our screens
829
00:40:22,060 --> 00:40:24,420
with a series of showstopping
illusions.'
830
00:40:26,940 --> 00:40:29,300
Whoa!
831
00:40:29,300 --> 00:40:31,300
'His name is Dynamo.'
832
00:40:32,340 --> 00:40:34,380
(SCREAMING)
833
00:40:34,380 --> 00:40:36,780
'A Paul Daniels for the
YouTube generation.
834
00:40:40,260 --> 00:40:43,140
Born Steven Frayne he was
raised by his grandparents
835
00:40:43,140 --> 00:40:45,180
on a tough Bradford council estate.'
836
00:40:46,540 --> 00:40:49,780
Hi, everybody. Welcome to
Steven Frayne's world of magic.
837
00:40:49,780 --> 00:40:52,500
'As a teenager he would
post videos of himself
838
00:40:52,500 --> 00:40:54,500
doing tricks on the Internet.'
839
00:40:55,100 --> 00:40:57,060
He was very small,
used to got bullied a lot,
840
00:40:57,060 --> 00:41:01,020
and magic for him was a way of,
kind of, escaping that situation.
841
00:41:01,900 --> 00:41:06,340
'In 2011 Steven was given his
own fly-on-the-wall TV series
842
00:41:06,340 --> 00:41:09,500
which followed him performing
tricks around the world.'
843
00:41:09,500 --> 00:41:12,860
That show was structured around
an inspirational message
844
00:41:12,860 --> 00:41:15,300
of being able to accomplish
amazing things
845
00:41:15,300 --> 00:41:18,580
even though you've come from
unfavourable circumstances.
846
00:41:20,180 --> 00:41:22,140
(GASPING)
847
00:41:22,860 --> 00:41:26,260
Dynamo has been great for magic
over the last few years.
848
00:41:26,260 --> 00:41:29,700
He's got a whole new generation
of kids into magic.
849
00:41:34,020 --> 00:41:36,780
I mean, he doesn't worry
about a script or dialogue,
850
00:41:36,780 --> 00:41:39,100
he just gets to the point.
He goes, "You see this?"
851
00:41:39,100 --> 00:41:40,820
Bang. Your phone's in a bottle."
852
00:41:40,820 --> 00:41:42,860
So I've got this phone
and the bottle.
853
00:41:42,860 --> 00:41:44,860
Watch.
854
00:41:46,300 --> 00:41:48,260
Oh...(BLEEP).
855
00:41:49,020 --> 00:41:51,220
'One of Dynamo's most famous stunts
856
00:41:51,220 --> 00:41:53,980
was levitating above Britain's
tallest building,
857
00:41:53,980 --> 00:41:55,980
The Shard.
858
00:41:57,780 --> 00:41:59,740
Rather him than me.
859
00:42:05,380 --> 00:42:07,380
I arranged to meet him there
860
00:42:07,380 --> 00:42:09,420
to find out how he has taken TV magic
861
00:42:09,420 --> 00:42:11,420
to a whole new level.'
862
00:42:13,700 --> 00:42:15,580
And here he is.
Hey, how you doing?
863
00:42:15,580 --> 00:42:17,380
Yeah, I'm brilliant. Nice to see you.
864
00:42:17,380 --> 00:42:19,940
Listen, the reason I wanted
to bring you to The Shard,
865
00:42:19,940 --> 00:42:23,060
obviously this is the scene of
one of your most famous illusions.
866
00:42:23,060 --> 00:42:24,820
What's it like to be back?
867
00:42:24,820 --> 00:42:27,900
I kind of love it up here, you know.
It brings back amazing memories.
868
00:42:27,900 --> 00:42:30,420
And what's really interesting
is that, not only did I
869
00:42:30,420 --> 00:42:34,820
do The Shard levitation above
The Shard right here where we are
870
00:42:34,820 --> 00:42:39,300
but from here you can see the
River Thames, which I walked across.
871
00:42:39,300 --> 00:42:42,460
My first ever, kind of,
major stunt that I've done.
872
00:42:49,180 --> 00:42:53,660
Big Ben over that way where I,
kind of, floated alongside a bus.
873
00:42:59,260 --> 00:43:01,460
This really is the best
view in the city.
874
00:43:01,460 --> 00:43:04,260
See I don't like it, that's
why I keep holding onto this.
875
00:43:04,260 --> 00:43:06,340
I think this is wobbly.
876
00:43:06,340 --> 00:43:08,460
It's...it's not nice
looking down there.
877
00:43:08,460 --> 00:43:10,580
How high were you when you levitated?
878
00:43:10,580 --> 00:43:14,340
It was actually 1,016
feet above ground level.
879
00:43:14,340 --> 00:43:16,340
Wow.
880
00:43:20,340 --> 00:43:22,660
How do you come up with these ideas?
881
00:43:22,660 --> 00:43:25,100
Cos these are big, major stunts.
882
00:43:25,100 --> 00:43:27,540
I always used to hear about
these big, crazy stunts.
883
00:43:27,540 --> 00:43:30,620
You obviously heard about things
that Houdini did back in the day,
884
00:43:30,620 --> 00:43:32,500
you know, before I was even born.
885
00:43:32,500 --> 00:43:35,180
You heard about, you know,
David Copperfield in America
886
00:43:35,180 --> 00:43:37,940
and David Blaine doing
these incredible things.
887
00:43:37,940 --> 00:43:43,100
No one in this country was doing
that type of big, I guess,
888
00:43:43,100 --> 00:43:45,740
big publicity type stunt.
889
00:43:45,740 --> 00:43:50,340
I, kind of, wanted to be the first
to bring it back home a little bit.
890
00:43:50,340 --> 00:43:52,220
100 years from now, you know,
891
00:43:52,220 --> 00:43:54,980
hopefully people, you know,
when they think of magic
892
00:43:54,980 --> 00:43:58,740
they'll think of, "Oh, when Dynamo
walked across the River Thames."
893
00:44:02,100 --> 00:44:05,220
'I couldn't let Dynamo leave
without showing me a trick.'
894
00:44:05,940 --> 00:44:07,620
I got some cards.
Yeah, OK.
895
00:44:07,620 --> 00:44:09,980
So take it behind your back.
Using my back, OK.
896
00:44:09,980 --> 00:44:12,460
Give 'em a cut.
OK.
897
00:44:12,460 --> 00:44:14,620
And then when you're happy -
Top or the bottom?
898
00:44:14,620 --> 00:44:16,780
Either the top or the bottom.
Don't look at it.
899
00:44:16,780 --> 00:44:19,900
Just slide it into your back pocket.
Slide it into my back pocket.
900
00:44:19,900 --> 00:44:21,940
Bring the cards out in front of you.
Got it.
901
00:44:21,940 --> 00:44:24,740
The idea is I will look through
all the cards really quickly
902
00:44:24,740 --> 00:44:26,580
as you flick 'em
in front of my eyes
903
00:44:26,580 --> 00:44:29,100
and try and determine which
card you have taken out.
904
00:44:29,100 --> 00:44:31,420
And you don't even know
what it is yourself. No.
905
00:44:31,420 --> 00:44:33,300
Ready?
906
00:44:37,980 --> 00:44:39,860
Eight of diamonds.
907
00:44:39,860 --> 00:44:41,900
Do you think so? Can I have a look?
908
00:44:41,900 --> 00:44:43,780
Go for it.
909
00:44:43,780 --> 00:44:47,340
If this is the eight of diamonds
you'd better give him a big cheer.
910
00:44:47,340 --> 00:44:49,380
Come on!
911
00:44:49,380 --> 00:44:51,140
(APPLAUSE)
912
00:44:51,140 --> 00:44:55,460
'I've been on a magical trip
through 60 years of TV trickery.
913
00:44:57,060 --> 00:44:59,100
It's been an amazing experience
914
00:44:59,100 --> 00:45:02,020
and reminded me exactly why I
first fell in love with magic
915
00:45:02,020 --> 00:45:04,020
as an 11-year-old boy.
916
00:45:05,500 --> 00:45:07,940
But my journey isn't quite over yet.'
917
00:45:08,860 --> 00:45:10,900
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
918
00:45:10,900 --> 00:45:14,220
Welcome to the
Royal Variety Performance 2014!
919
00:45:14,220 --> 00:45:16,220
This is it!
920
00:45:17,100 --> 00:45:19,700
'Back at the London Palladium,
in front of royalty,
921
00:45:19,700 --> 00:45:21,660
I've got a trick
of my own to perform.
922
00:45:23,300 --> 00:45:25,100
I'm gonna be following
in the footsteps
923
00:45:25,100 --> 00:45:27,100
of some of the conjuring greats.
924
00:45:28,140 --> 00:45:30,300
Even going back to the likes
of David Devant
925
00:45:30,300 --> 00:45:32,220
and The Great Cardini.
926
00:45:32,700 --> 00:45:34,420
No pressure, Stephen.'
927
00:45:34,420 --> 00:45:36,940
The cards are all good.
OK, let's do it.
928
00:45:36,940 --> 00:45:38,980
To sprinkle some magic
929
00:45:38,980 --> 00:45:41,540
please welcome Stephen Mulhern!
930
00:45:45,500 --> 00:45:47,540
Now, Wendy, pick a card.
931
00:45:47,540 --> 00:45:50,980
That's it. Now, for a moment you're
allowed to lift up your blindfold
932
00:45:50,980 --> 00:45:53,060
and have a look at the card.
933
00:45:53,060 --> 00:45:55,420
OK, and also show
the audience as well
934
00:45:55,420 --> 00:45:58,260
so everybody at home can see it.
Have you done that? I have.
935
00:45:58,260 --> 00:46:00,700
Put your card back in the back.
Good luck, Wendy.
936
00:46:00,700 --> 00:46:03,020
Here's the big moment.
Drum roll please!
937
00:46:03,020 --> 00:46:04,980
(DRUMROLL)
938
00:46:04,980 --> 00:46:07,420
Wendy, throw the cards in the air!
939
00:46:07,420 --> 00:46:09,420
After the count of three.
Oh.
940
00:46:09,420 --> 00:46:11,260
(LAUGHTER)
941
00:46:11,260 --> 00:46:13,300
What's happened? What's happened?
942
00:46:13,300 --> 00:46:15,300
(APPLAUSE)
943
00:46:16,300 --> 00:46:18,260
Wendy, please name your card.
944
00:46:18,860 --> 00:46:20,900
The four of diamonds.
The four of diamonds.
945
00:46:20,900 --> 00:46:23,660
Stand up for me, sir. Slowly
show everybody in the theatre.
946
00:46:23,660 --> 00:46:25,420
Is it the four of diamonds?
947
00:46:25,420 --> 00:46:27,300
Come on!
(APPLAUSE)
948
00:46:27,300 --> 00:46:29,180
Wendy!
949
00:46:29,180 --> 00:46:32,220
Thank you so much everybody,
enjoy the rest of the show.
950
00:46:32,220 --> 00:46:34,220
Bye.
951
00:46:37,220 --> 00:46:39,180
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