John Archer The full interview

3:24 Of speed cameras doing 35 in a 30 zone and just all tottered up this one went nearly 20 years ago now and thankfully the the judge sort of said you know you're in a job where you're just gonna almost get caught by cameras. You need a lense you know look out for them and drive slower and he gave me six points I had 15 points on my licence. And and a big fan but well I was on mine and and what happened was I was on the end I mean it's not an excuse. But I was I was on the m4. It was 50 mile-an-hour roared work section and and I thought the road work section had ended and they accelerated up and there was a speed camera and it hadn't ended yet. And that's and that was what something up but of course doesn't matter what you tell them you know they got done done mother done it's.

4:16 Out in the open it's a reason why I never go fast is that I got two reasons one I'm really paranoid of other drivers I just I come from the mantra known to me people. Are yeah exactly so I just the other drivers over pricks and whenever I'm on a drive and it lasts for about an hour or longer. I always see someone doing a maneuver which depends on the maneuver of the person they're doing it to to like someone cutting cross someone and if that if that other person. Ducie for Audrey no because I think I've got a lot of road rage towards me because I need like to clear lanes before I change lanes right. I will hog the fast lane yeah until I've got complete you know then the next few days completely clear so I don't suffer from it I think I probably you've got it quite a lot yeah.

5:06 Alright and it's mainly about lens and pulling in front of people that's what it is yeah and I said trusting other people and don't have such a problem here there's no lens no the other big problem with me is I'm a real tight ass when it comes to petrol. I got an eco car and I know that if he drive 80 dependent six that you just burning a lot more yeah you know what my dad's like that my dad's 81. Now yeah and he really loves to think he's getting the most mouths but come out his car and of course he's got one of these cars. That gives how many miles per gallon he's got but he has it in his head that the way to get the best out of mileage. Is just literally about the revs he's doing this news his speedometer he just uses the revs it's like if I stick the 1500 revs son.

5:47 That's it and I'm just gonna put your foot there's people behind you you know just I'll give you the money for petrol just go. And I know that you got interested in magic a very early age with you cool showing you a card trick but your life took Oh quite a different. Path early on didn't it yeah yeah I had an interest but I didn't do it it was just one of those things I thought oh that's interesting. You know but wasn't the passion wasn't something I did until later in life but yeah I've solved more it was I was hobby while I was more interested. In music and and work-wise I mean I had various jobs before I actually got into performing as a comedy magician yeah music and singing was my initial. Sort of introduction to karaoke no I'm just in a band that used to it you know saying I'm well I played guitar I played.

6:38 Guitar since I was eight so I play guitar and and then I got in a few bands and if you do so it was just that thing of you know teenage. Bands you never really doing gigs but practicing all the time in the garage it was that type of thing so that was my hobby really sort of music. And guitar and did you ever do the thing we recorded a demo on like a cassette yeah places cassette tape and that yeah and it was even before. It was even before you had sort of multitrack recorders that we've got now he was it was literally record it on a cassette and then somebody. Learned that if you know you could you could record on cassette and then play that cassette back and record something on another cassette and sing along with it that was a really really so antiquated.

7:17 At the area tonight various bands and a couple of jurors some of them never had names as well I was in a duo called fresh. Fish and another duo kolcheck - and some bands I don't think we ever got in the stage of coming up with a name process. That's probably that's probably by agents and performing in a band probably and like myself he did a degree in product design how do you comedy. And then magic and then and their music and then design how don't you know why wasn't magic was at the end of that story so it was it was music and performing. Was my hobby yeah job wise and I thought was I was good at technical drawing and design and that sort of thing and maths and physics I was quite good at so I got a job as a draftsman.

8:09 Originally was a draftsman for three years working for a company that made living platforms for oil accommodation only oil rigs basically and then that was three years doing. That apprenticeship and I was doing annoyance in engineering to become fluent before an engine I was gonna become a mechanical engineer then I decided I wanted to be more artistic. Because I was creative so I packed it in went to the foundation caught art college and it was during that foundation cuz we did you do it an art foundation. Course ever know well I think the foundation cost really just to find out what I wanted to do and that included everything from fine arts. Ceramics sculpture photography and it was during that course I realized that could merge the artistic side with the mechanical side a new product was that so then I went to London. It's a Central School of Art Museum which is now central Sint Maartens in Harbin.

9:01 And did a product design degree which was a mixture of you know the engineer inside and that skills with with the artsy design and how products. Look really and that the visual aesthetic side of them and that's really when magic started to get serious because there was a it was a magic. Shop right across the road from the college called Allen Allen's magic spot and it was run by a and we just called Allen Allen sadly. Died last year but he was a lovely quirky weird character and you know if he was friend kalim Allen I didn't um so well fact call him Allen but anyway. Allen Allen it's a joke so anyway Allen run this shop and that stuff going in just to buy jokes really to use in my presentations. You know so fab designed a new lamp like a bedside lamp I buy a light bulb that lit up on his own so I could sort of do that in my presentation.

9:51 Yeah and make my presentations fun and interesting and then as I got to norm with him he was one of these guys if he knew you like Heathrow. Everybody else and he'd lock you throw everybody else out the shop he'd locked the door and they'd say look at this I mean he really was passionate. About magic him and he had really strong opinions and how it should be done and he wasn't afraid of Changi if something was rubbish but as I got to know him he said show. Me a couple of tricks and I bought you know one often mr. silly at the coin trick then another little card trick. So while I'm doing my degree so those were the days when you got a grant I was getting a student grant and basically spending it on magic books. And magic tricks and so I was getting educated in magic at the same time I was getting educated in product design to the point that when I finished.

10:36 I went back home I didn't want to stay living in London really that's how I missed my family and things and I went back home. Joined the local magic Society up there which is middles were circular magicians which is where Paul Daniels came from and yeah another great comedy magician who's on the circuit. Pick Furman he's from up there as well I joined that society. People sort of a young lad after I've been in there a while people came along as well and that's when I just really became a passion. And and I started adding it to my little performances that dude was when I was singing and playing guitar I start adding jokes and it just it just eventually. Took over and when I start doing it on my own music and magic and then the music went and then just recently in the last four.

11:16 Or five years I started putting music in with the ukulele so I do a few silly ukulele bits. Your life's gonna go up well you can't you can think you can but you never know what's gonna happen so much it's a weird little root and Here I am now did you remember. Jim of the moment when he said white design is not not for me because I remember for myself why I went on a diploma in industry. Which means he go around he welcome to work placements and their first one was with Martin Baker they do with the ejector seats they were weapons on the Eurofighter. They gave me a big lump of foam they said right go into the workshop and make her ejector seat I'd no bloody idea what to do spent. About four hours I've broke the bunsall three times got sacked yeah and then I got another placement very quickly I was deciding plug socket so I'd son one plug socket.

12:05 For three months completely copped it up and also got the moment into a fire exit site doing those men but yeah yeah and that's what I was doing for the next six. Months and that's how I do that ya. Know I knew even before that I sort of knew when I was doing my degree I got probably about halfway through my degree I thought. It was mainly the idea I just realized that even though it seemed very glamorous I was gonna be sat at a desk yeah for the rest of my life and I thought I don't want. To I don't want to do that I wanna you know I want to be I want to be out and about doing things and I want. To I want a life that's different every day I don't want something that's the same every day and also all the design then was happening.

12:46 In London and I sort of I mean I'd probably have probably live in London now I would happily live in London er I don't but I would but then I'd just was adamant. I didn't want to live unless I thought. It was just it was just too it's just too busy and hectic and crazy and expensive and and I quite like the Northeast I like the people in the Northeast. I like the countryside isn't there and family and friends I still had loads of family and friends so that it was lots of reasons really wow yeah I wanted to go back so it was those reasons. Really I want a job that's different every day and I want to and I want to be so doing design you say that's not for you yeah. He kind of getting more into the Pullman side yeah where the heck did that but hopefully extinct coming to it you know the police thing was nice.

13:36 A good question why did I'll John the police I think that that idea of having a job where it's different every day and I wasn't. Stuck at a desk that that appealed to me I sort of had a few little jobs I was a I came back from art college. And I was a youth worker working out outside just with disenfranchised youth if you like just kids on the street who didn't have jobs and stuff in you know 18. To 21 ish age group and I you know my job was just to engage them in things and keep them occupied and help them look. For work magic did you incorporate you yeah do that church of them tricks and we you know in hire and minibus and we say right we're gonna do something we just go and take them somewhere so the one just doing nothing and it was it was it was sort of.

14:23 A funded thing it was a funded job for a year so I did that for you and it was just you know that's all I could do it for and then I got a job as a car salesman. For one day I was a car salesman and I got the job instantly I went and did the interview showed the guys some tricks he said you're amazing. You're great with people you're bridge talking and then the next day I went he said you start tomorrow and I came in and starred and he literally. Sort of give me a load of pamphlets about all the cars and he said right so the next woman who comes in of the next person who comes in it happened to be a woman so the next person who comes in I want. You to go and try and sell him one of these cars and and this woman came in and she was the old woman I mean now.

15:02 She was probably my age but then she seemed like a poor woman and she came in and I was trying to sell her this gun she sent out on really one that can't afford it and I said she can't afford it I said well you know tell her about finance. Drunk I just thought I don't want to do I just didn't I didn't feel I was trying to did make somebody do something they didn't want to do a lot. Of great car salesmen out there who do that but this this just seemed to me like I was trying to I thought I don't want to spend my rest of my life trying to make people. Make decisions the door I make yeah I suppose I could have made them make the decisions they do on a Mac but I haven't thought it through so I literally.

15:36 That night so there's the keys to the company car you've just given me I didn't even driven it I said I'll get the bus home I don't want the job yeah. And then somebody suggested the police if somebody suggests that a few police people suggested the police. Quite fit and athletic then and it's hard to believe I was in the bodybuilding and weight training and and also the new I had a personality. That was good with people and a few people thought you make a great piece when you know and I thought yeah that would be good now be changing. The world and so I joined the police and acted then there was lots of it I did enjoy me it's it's not it's never the job you think it is the place. It's a horrible job in lots of ways you know it's a job it's about bad news you telling somebody somebody's died are you telling somebody of the house has been burgled.

16:23 Are you telling somebody they've been arrested you are pretty much the man who gives bad news to people you're not a popular guy you know for whatever it is somebody who's stopping. Them for speeding yet you're the you know you're the society's bad gang you know we need somebody to do the bad things police you're the man who doing it so you're not you're. Not liked and yeah it's a hard job and you know there's a lot of bureaucracy and paperwork and rules and regulations. And also you know constantly they've been whenever it's something done that's done badly bad place which is done you know they do do things wrong then it's jumped. On and it's in the press and some newspapers and you suffer from it even though you've never done anything wrong so it's a hard job but the there were lots of times when I felt I've.

17:08 Done good things you know yeah load spamming that you're doing that all the time you're arresting people that's the main thing and because it depends on your definition of bad guys you know people speeding. In the cars are they're really bad guys but you know when you talk to traffic officers who've picked up dead babies off the side of the road you know that's. Why they're so passionate about the job because they don't want to do that they really did rather say it slow down I don't want to be picking like the law and then and that's their passion it's. Like they're gonna shake people's lives and I know it sounds stupid but when they see somebody doing 35 they think that's a thin end of the wedge to them so um so so yeah all of that you know you know horrible. Stuff and going and telling people have died and catching baddies and and now and again you know finding lost kids which is lovely the odd.

17:57 Little bits of wonderful things that you get to do try to bring your of your magic into it it's come on lighten up I had this image when you said about the police I had this image of you putting. Handcuffs on someone with like sleight of hand yes I don't even know I did that there were there was sort of I mean obviously I couldn't. When it was the serious part of the job I could be criticized if I was doing stuff but yeah if we had kids that have been you know come. In and then lost the parents in the town then I've you know a little balloon but make a dog for them or I'd show them a magic treatment. Vanish your handkerchief or do something silly and now and again if we you know we had regular sort of drunk and disorderly homeless guys would get the deliberately.

18:38 Smasher window so they could spend a night in the cells now and again I show them a trick and you know sometimes you could get. People to relax and be friendly if you if you befriended them and magic sometimes was a good way of just getting them on your side to realize. That actually you're human and so I didn't use it now and again but not not all the time I wasn't I wasn't with the Red Nosed gonna be guys. But yeah I did a bit yeah maybe should have done that there was made a film about you but you know late there was one there was one football. Match middle to reveal Chelsea in that and we I was policing the match and the inspector put me on the the normans area between the Chelsea. Fans and the Middlesbrough funds and there was three police officer as an inspector and two police customers me and another guy and there was a time.

19:23 When the Chelsea fans were chanting at the Middlesbrough phones and they're about 20 feet apart with six-foot fence between mesh fence and there was a time. When there and I blew up a big balloon and made a balloon dog and went and gave it to one of the Chelsea fans was a big skinhead. Chelsea fan and I said little present for you and then they started waving it at the Middlesbrough fans guru what we've got enchanting you know and it's. Always funny so there was chance just football chance but you know they were using that to goad them on so then I would say I had to go and make one I had to make sure I made them in the right colors. For the pill I go met with the middle friends and it became a bit of a joke between the fans of you know and then the one that hats making.

20:03 And balloon house so reddit you were inciting a riot with balloon animal no no I did I'm the country and actually I calmed them down I got. Them yeah I got a good thank you from the inspector for doing that so but now and again silly things like that do and also in training I can remember. In police training we used to do riot training and I used to just crack jokes you know and make silly things happen they just have a thing that made. Like a ratchet noise so we used to get things where we used to do exercises before we did right try nice so when we did stretcher. They used to do this ratchet noise because everybody was stretching you know and just you know just silly things just deliberately try and make the instructor. Giggle and he'd never he said that view isn't in our channel yeah so yeah I was I was a bit of a probably an annoying.

20:46 Joker at times but you told me that you left the police cause of the hearing condition said I had another image of someone firing a gun yeah. I've been watching too much NCIS yeah what happened not that romantic that no no just just a thing it's a thing called Meniere's disease which is a hearing. Condition it can affect anybody I think it can affect both is we mean it's just my left ear so I got hearing loss and I have a noise in mine left-hand. Side most of the time I told the instructor and the driving class I said you're gonna have to talk loud he said don't worry I'll be talking about so and then dizzy. Spells and stuff and that that was eventually how I ended up leaving the police although I was I was thinking about leaving anyway so it was it was like fortuitous.

21:30 That you know I've got this condition so rather than just leave the police I told them about my hearing problem and got medically retired which meant I sort of left with a police pension. Rather than just you know resigning from the job of my police pension and away it so that made it a little bit easier sort of suddenly. Thinking I've got to live on what I earn from gigs which wasn't at the time I was doing some gigs in in the places it you know on weekends. And things but not owning a lot all of a sudden it was like right this is my living now yeah that was a big job that was after ten. Years had been in the police for 10 years then so okay so you've been in the police ten years he leave with a medical pension. Yes so how do you make that kind of massive leap because it it seems like you made a big jump from the world of art and design yeah.

22:16 I wait for a few jobs said he got into the police but thankfully the world of policemen into like full full time comedy comedian magician. Seems like jumping a castle what yeah but you know way it wasn't really because I was doing it when I was in the place I want to start performing so I had experience. On stage had experience performing I had a little bit of a background of people who knew me ring me up the cellar will you come and do a gig. So I had a bit of that structure already in place it was just suddenly I was doing it to a much greater extent and I was very fortunate. That as I packed in a friend of mine was also a magician and was also doing it a little bit shocked full-time had heard from an agent. Who did holiday camps funnily enough and he said they're doing a showcase do you want to come and add I said yeah all right so I went and did the show and I did a little double.

23:06 Act with this guy a magic double act that we just we only used to perform in magic convention competitions and things it was a silly little thing. Called Archie nyan Smith and it was a 1920s escape act and he wanted us to audition but it was it's just a 10-minute routine so we went auditioned. It and they say just said well it's you know it's really funny it's good but it's ten minutes you know if I have higher G you'd have to do 45. Minutes to an hour each. And he said do you do anything else and I have the props in my car I said well I'd do a magic act comedy magic at myself. He said well go and get it and do 15 minutes for mean those little audience there and there's all actor doing juggling and bits and bobs with me and I went.

23:45 And got some stuff out the car and put it on a table and did 15 minutes for it and he loved it and said it's grit and he immediately got. Me a circuit for having holiday camps which I mean they're not you know they're not great geeks to do the hard work and they're not well paid. Gigs them a gigs a gig and I got me a lot he got me a hundred and seventy gigs in that in that first year. But there were hundred seventy gigs paying about hundred and something quid each there weren't paying hundreds and hundreds at least it was a regular eight it was a regular income. And and it was more important than any of that it was a regular experience it was just me going in front of an audience a regular. Audience of you know anywhere between 50 people and 300 people five or six nights a week and I literally was on the road from the sort.

24:31 Of you know April right away through the December you know just non-stop and and that was great because I learned I learnt the most important. Thing that you need to learn as a comedian which is not to be afraid of dying once you've learned that dying is actually you know I don't mean physically. Dying I mean down on once you've learned that that actually isn't that bad and it doesn't matter once you've learned it doesn't matter that's when you get confidence. Because that's when you realize actually I'm not frightened of it and once you're not frightened of it they can see that you're not frightened of it and if an audience. Can see you're not frightened you look confident you can't fit confidence you're not confident when you've got comedy something I've started the driver the instructor. And I said to him you know he's you know he's driving regularly losing races you know it's a bit like God they need to crash they need to they need to lose control of the car but need to all of those things for them to happen for them to not.

25:25 Be frightened of going into a corner full pill you know and once they've not got that fear and they've learned what the car can do they can drive with confidence. And driving out there I'm not confident cuz I don't know that actually if I slide off I'm gonna be alright and if the car turns. Over you know I'm gonna be alright it's all happened to them so I learned that value of a lesson those you know that that first. Year and the second do it again that then went on to doing different stuff that's my ambulance just arrived yeah she still died on stage. Or have you done so many gigs there do you know what you know how to rescue games I don't want to sound big-headed but I don't. I don't die die on stage very much corporates now and again I do some corporate gigs that I just renowned for being horrible you can talk to any comic.

26:10 They'll say you know there are certain corporates where you're just gonna go in and they don't want to see you before you can start but the regular. Gigs where the audience is wanting to come and see me or comedy club kings or gigs where the audience are up for being entertained I might. Have a hard night I might have a night where I go. Spectators but I don't really have those notes where you know I walked a walk stage and and I get booed off stage or I walk. Off stage if I have only been I think I've been booed off stage once and I go yeah well anything to that extent maybe not boob boob but groans. And boos and yeah to that extent where you just go I'm gonna finish early I've had that once and that was a long time ago and and I wouldn't do that now.

26:52 I think if it happened now I just it wouldn't bother me I just carry on I just did enjoy yourselves you know fill your boots and the able en yeah. So yeah and when you're progressing through your room your career as a best comedian and magician and kind of going off all the time how. Do you choose what kind of how did you choose what kind of magic your way to do because you got lots of different types right you got something. Like dynamo who does a street street magic yeah someone like David Blaine he'll just do insane stunts and then you've got you know Copperfield who makes people believe. He's got much more powers how do you actually decide it's kind of finding your voice I guess it is it is it is just like a comic. Fan li's moisture also finding your style and I'm very keen that I wanted to be a comedy magician so I don't wanna ever ever wanted.

27:36 People to believe I've got real powers so I would you know I never want to be the sort of I mean David Blaine doesn't really get people to believe he's got real powers. I could never be a Darren brown because I would always want to go for the laughs so I'd lose that of believability. Dinamo his street magic and it's TV magic you know if I wanted to know what he was doing I have to gonna have to have a TV. Show of that style and I haven't got that and and I'm not gonna get it I've got the look that you know nobody's gonna pick me for the cool. Yeah well cool it's just what it is you know I'm never gonna be the guy that you know with the with the boxes and the good-looking. Girls sticking swords in it you know I sue comedy magic and so so yeah and I sort of know what works for me I don't want to do cheesy.

28:25 Magics and I trying to avoid magic that uses props that look like magic props yeah that's sort of one of my rules I don't have a lot of rules I do a lot of mind-reading. Need type effects where it looks like I'm reading people's minds but I do it no comedy where I mean one of the hardest things if you're a comedy. Magician one of the hardest things is to find the balance where you use you serve for magic in other words you get in laughs in the audience. So enjoying it and laughing but they still appreciate that something mystical and magical has gone on because some urns. The big challenge is sometimes that comedy removes the mystery and you've got it you've got to be very careful at you can get laughs with the people. That you're onstage with that and then the moment when you've got to make them realize look this has gone on because I don't want to be a comedy magician that does bad.

29:12 Magic you know I love Tommy Cooper but I didn't want to be Tommy Cooper and I didn't want to be one of those comedy magicians. Who does great magic but their company's just cheesy lines and not great comedy so nothing was always I want to be I want to do really strong comedy. Where the audience are laughing as much as the would if they saw a comedian it's always difficult cuz the moments when they have to come off the comedy. For the magic and I also wanted to be doing magic tricks there they would go away and go I haven't got a clue how he did that but I don't want anything I'm real there's. Anything blown I just want them to be mystified fooled and entertained and laugh and just have a great time so with other magicians like that type of magicians. Who do want people to think that they've got magical powers the officer and distain fruit so quaintly Penn & Teller last year and I cut I got.

29:58 The impression from them that they really don't like magicians who come across like yeah this is real powerful magic yeah I'm a God. You know what I mean Penn Penn & Teller's especially Penn have lots of imagine most them oh alright I sort of and I know what what. Pen means when he's got a disdain for those people who try and pretend they've got real powers at the main thing about me I don't have to stand for them I don't. Think but I wonder why what more events somebody who does magic to want their audience to think they've got powers for me it's got me yeah. It comes down to it must be it must be well you must really want people to think that you're more special than you are I want. Them to think I'm funny which is evil and I want them to think I'm talented this is Eagle I know you know I want all of those things.

30:46 We all have ego for a performer but it's almost like there's a little personality seen that it's wrong with them that they want people to think. What I tell you know an ant that very close to like you know mediums fake mediums are so many you know mediums out there who you know who are claiming. To contact the dead and it's because magicians we all know what they're doing is fickle. And I find that repulsive because then it is it's not just an ego thing of a nice special it's that plus I'm gonna check money. I'm gonna check 100 quid or 200 quid off this old lady is austere husband and give her this false hope that the guys still spend. You know which sounds a bit weird because you know I've got a religion I've got a fifth but but I wouldn't take money off people.

31:42 To just you know I'd have the same feelings about a TV evangelist it takes money off you know and it's just the something wrong about earning. Money from people's grief while earning money from giving people a false and anything. Just stay constant the horrible people horrible horrible people I would love to name them but they're probably sue me and ever and they'd probably win. An antenna am I right in thinking that on their show fool us you were the only magician to forward no I was the first one to fool the first one I was the first guy to fool. Them on their on their Shore foolish which they did what happened was they did a special first which was a one and a half hour special. Basically was a broadcast special trip to see whether the format would work and there was I don't I was 10 or 11 magicians on that I can't really remember and chewy.

32:37 Was fooled them I was the first one in a brilliant condition called Ben L. But not just can't close up fantastic and he fooled them as well and just after me literally you know 10 or 15 minutes after me one we were filming. So yeah my only claim with him is possibly the first one but then the series that then made a series about four or five months later. I think in that series of maybe about 3540 magicians I think seven or eight fielding was nerve-racking experience for you because you're something like this yeah. I've gotten control if I cough up one oh I can cut something out yeah yeah so I've got yo control with it it's my thing. With your shows you must have a certain element of control you know what's coming your what's happening but you know with being on someone else's.

33:20 Show and having a thought that you know millions of people on primetime TV are watching you did that do anything inside we will Jefferson yeah do you know what it was probably. The most nerve-wracking thing I've done and if I watch the clip which is available on YouTube it got taken off actually OK it got up to about two. Million views and then they decided to make the series in America which is which they've just been doing and so everybody who had it on YouTube. Got told that to take it down by youtuber by the company who make the program but anyway that's aside like it's on there again but anyway. If you watch the clip of me doing it and certainly people who know me you can see that I'm actually nervous certainly at the start. Of the routine I'm certainly not as relaxed as I would normally be so if you watch the clip of me for example in Dave's one-night.

34:10 Stand which is all available also and much more relaxed on that and the reason there was two reasons I think why I was nervous one of them was because it was TV. And you know that that's gonna be that but I wasn't too worried but it was sort of it was effectively live because I knew that I just got one shot it wasn't. Like I've done other TV since and you know it's like oh can we found that again you can retake and if your chick doesn't work and you can rehearse it lots and lots in front of the people you gonna do it for but it was TV. And it was effectively as live even though it wasn't nice but the main thing was that I was performing it in front of two magicians. Who saw in was to try and work out how the trick was done and the guys at top of their game as well yeah yeah they're.

34:56 Arguably to the you know greatest working magicians in the world today you know I you know there's something up there in my top list of you know acts that you know I want. To go and see and do go and see whenever I'm in Vegas but yet to these top guys but and I perform for magician I've performed at lords of magic comments. As well magician know how I do everything so I wasn't bothered about that but this was you know two magicians who know how most tricks. Are done and have seen lots of magic and D vanished their own tricks that are you know ingenious and fool people and fool me you know. They're bullet-catch haven't got a clue so at one point did you say that tell oh you can see teller looking at your hands yeah well what. Happen was I came on and I was very nervous oh I've decided I wasn't gonna look at them I can't look at them to try.

35:43 And keep myself in my comfort zone I thought I'll look at the audience because I'm used to looking at the audience and that could and I thought I'll see them react. And I'll see them laughing it'll be alright I went out and they were sat right in the middle pen and telling two seats so I literally. So it looked to the left and then I looked up and over their heads and looked across the audience below and then down to the right and then I went over and across again. And I never looked at them and until I felt relaxed and that was after a maybe I've handed out one or two the envelopes can't remember the moment. But I decided I feel a little bit more relaxed now I'm gonna look I looked at a crack that Gaghan was a pause where I could look.

36:16 At the audience and relax and pen was through his head back and was laughing I thought great pens - teller wasn't laughing at all tell. Her it was just staring like he wasn't even looking at my eyes he's looking at the envelopes in my hand and he was just watching. Them tense and I thought he is just burning it's a phrase we have in magic your hands are being burned by the eyes you know they just weren't like you go and then I suddenly I thought I'm not leaving. But yeah I was very nervous if funnily enough the prize was to go in Vegas and perform in their show the real in Vegas. That was great and I wasn't nervous at all really then I sort of went out and I did twenty five minutes I think it had to do the trick that fooled.

36:56 And plus some other stuff they did their whole show first and then I went out and performed and that was great fun yeah different performing. To an American audience compared to a British audience a different reaction do you know what it is I am more who people cheering yeah American. Audiences start from a different place to English all these singers with an e maturity an English only staff with the impression of unless they know who you are unless they're. Like you know a big a big fan of Ricky Gervais and the goddess see him they're gonna love him from the day while some stage yeah but if they're going to see someone that they don't know the start. Of that level of you've got to impress me prove to me that you're any good and then and then if you are it rises up and you get a great reaction.

37:41 Again yeah American audiences start and the opposite they start already thinking this guy's gonna into tennis he's gonna be great he's been introduced well you come on stage that are there and your job is to keep them there I'll get they'll take the further up and if the de sadly. Not you will then lose them so it's almost like polar opposites if you drew a graph it's like you know it's that or that so um so yeah and and also Penn. & Teller's audience not only were American no and there was a lot of Brits there and holidaymakers obviously but potentially mostly American the other thing is they're magic. Fans which is great because some people don't like magic that's a fact and you know you're in a comedy club you may have you know 25%. Of the audience who go a magician so they're all magic fans and they're American so there are wonderful audience to perform to the out great and I've just seen Penn & Teller for an hour and a half or whatever they're.

38:32 Already on a high yeah they're already up there so and I had a great time I loved it there's them one of the highlights in my career. Definitely there was something that II said that really surprised me you said you don't play a lot of comedy club so I think that's a real shame because I went. To a really well-known comedy club just a couple of weeks ago in London yeah and I it was just that the same ol same ol. It's just known I don't think new it was like you know three three straight guys one gay guy oh you always knew what was a woman. If you're looking something as I put a woman on yes. Sometimes to be very young male dominated yeah I knew this was coming up I thought about you and I thought you know what if there was like some kind of comedy.

39:11 Magician on this lineup it would be amazing yeah I actually don't actually be something quite different yeah and now out of the box so why don't. You do comedy clubs there's several reasons I mean one of the reasons is I live 250 miles away from London so there are some reason. There are comedy clubs around the country you know yeah but I'd have to travel to them all financially by the time I travel to do a comedy. Club it's not financially viable the other thing there's a lot of comedy clubs don't want special acts you know certain places like the Comedy Store they're. Pretty much they are about a man and a Mike or a woman in the mountain dance but the comedy comedy star wouldn't really be interested. I don't think in you know in booking them I don't think Don wants you know especially don't think you want ventriloquist or jugglers or or comedy.

40:01 Magician sir no matter no matter how funny they are well yeah and it is changing a little bit I mean. You know burlesque came along and burlesque was a little bit more like variety similarly there were people dancing and still comedy but it was more about other. Stuff other than just the comedy and then what's happened now is this is sort of new variety time happening then there are some shores happening. Now where they are you know jugglers happen on stage and magicians and comedians and a mixer and burlesque axon and a mixture of things and you know I think that will grow a little bit I think that will grow and I do do the odd comedy. Club now and again and there are you know Pete Fuhrman does a lot more comedy clubs than I do piss the Magic Dragon and John. Vanderpoof who's now living in Vegas he used to do a lot of magic comedy clubs so do magic in comedy could excite your club yeah.

40:54 But you know I'm not so I like I've got a very very sort of pattern of work I do I do a lot of comedy. Sort of kids of my own comedy magic gigs of my own weapon we just booked me the normally and then bring me and want me to go and do an event church. Gigs charity gangs magic conventions magics design he's not going to go on a lecture for them and that happens abroad I might go you know to Europe. Or America and perform for a magic convention so and then writing for the TV writing for you know Tim vans my best mate so I write. Then I'm chewing with him at the so that's you know two and a half months to in with him in theatres so it's very varied. What I do I have you know and then you know have three series of a kid show on CBBC.

41:40 So it's various I don't miss doing comedy clubs I suppose if it didn't have enough work then I probably think you know what I'd love to do I on tour I might I might eventually. Do my own tour just for a bit of a different dynamic but I'm sort of I'm living all the variation and that goes right back. To you know when I the beginning of my life when I was saying I I don't want a job when I'm just in one place doing one thing the same thing I like the variation. And you mentioned Tim fine just go back to yeah Tim I know that you guys met was it part of her an event at Butlins. And it was was there a keg AG that he did wait a minute that's the comedy part of the feat almost like almost like a bromance.

42:19 Remaining ya know what I mean it's not really a comedy partner but you'd get annoyed if we were called a double act but because we're not but um do you know what it was more just personality. That's like what what it was it was a Christian camp but thing called spring harvest that happens at Brooklands and then like thousands of magicians. Ate not magicians Christian's magicians that would be horrible Christian magician even weirder no about 8,000 Christians you send on Butlins and for a week and then have you know they have meetings. And you know sing praise songs and have preachers and everything else but they also have a little sort of after-hours entertainment program going on and they tend to tend. To book people obviously or Horsham but also some and people or Christians a lot of time people Christians just so that they don't you know start swearing.

43:10 On stage and ever and I was on the I was on the entertainment streamers particular in 94 I think it was I was still in the police at the time and and we were having a little meeting than the symbol of unity I said I do comedy. And magic and then Tim arrived live I mean you know he was young you know to be in his late 20s then I think and he came he said ah it's. Just the end of tennis team I think I'm part of you and then when we said what do you do and he said I'm a comedian. And everybody went oh like it was some sort of competition and he went why and and he looked down at me and I'm seven years older. Than I was in my thirties I looked at me and I said how do comedy and anyway all right cuz you know he's a better comic.

43:49 Than I am I'd never claimed to be a good at comedians he is but I do magic yeah but then we just hit it off we just sort. Of just you we just like hung out together for the hall we would ever week I think we hung out together for the whole week and we kept in touch and then he'd. Just gone full-time then I think he was just I don't know where they just done pebble mill which was a lunchtime thing then it was the first TV thing. He'd done but he was new to the circuit and and we just became best mates and then when he started doing TV because we had a similar sense of humor. He said will you will you be my writer and I just got robbed him to write in on TV for him you know and he's.

44:27 Still right little guy see him now does he registered for me on the tour at the moment there's gags that he's doing the average not a lot but you know fair. Few and there's lots of bits that I'm doing in my act throughout the two he said why don't you do this why don't you do that we've. Tried it and it's worked so yeah we've we feed into each other's act a little bit and and then whenever he did you know the main amount of writing I do is if he's got a TV project. And he wants a writer on it then you'll try and get me involved and and I'll work on that with the writers well sir did you ever get a little bit frustrated. When you're on tour with him did you ever get a little bit frustrated when you're on tour with Tim not being the headline now did you ever think maybe.

45:02 If I open channel five the Spice Girls I'd be the headliner right now do you know what I've toured with him now I've been in support. For over 12 years so when I first started there was some of that yeah now I sort of know I love to see him do well and I'm happy. And also the other thing is I make a joke about me being the support act and I said the end of my little set and in the show I sing. A song about you know the audience belonging to Tim but just for a little bit that belong to me you know that song it's in a Steve Martin. But tonight you belong to me and I started seeing a comedy version of that song to the audience and I make a joke about always. Almost the bridesmaid never the bride type thing but it doesn't really bother me you know I I have enough terms now where I go out and I am the main.

45:48 Actor if you like that I can sort of cope with it yeah yeah it's good fun and it's easier now we got and we have a tool manager. A guy called job in terms of job industry and that when we used to to just the two of us I felt a little bit like I was the dog's body and I was the guy who drove. And helped Lord everything in the van and he was the style sound the autographs put everything back in the car and drove away again it's. Not so much that now I saw sit in the back of the band and somebody else drives and I feel a little bit I feel. More like an act those days. Yeah it's great and I say isn't my best man so I want him to do well I mean wants me to do well so there was the blindfold.

46:27 Routine I know it's your favorite trick I was kind of hoping folded. Big-breasted assistance disappearing clothes do you know I don't have any tricks with it for the big I'm probably the biggest breasts for the system it's in short. But no the my blindfold routine is simply it so my favorite routine to perform I don't do it a lot because it's a 20 minute routine. And sometimes if I'm only doing half an hour that's too long as one section but it's basically just a routine where I get a man and woman to plan. For me but the tip coins off my eyes and put a blindfold and more tape around my eyes and then I ask people in the audience to draw pictures basically. And I tell them what they're drawn and I love the routine not really because of the trick but I just love the interaction with the two people on stage I play I normally.

47:11 Get a couple and I play the girl off against the guy so I flipped with a girl and I I thought this is the guy a little. Bit and you know that kiss is partner at one point and so I got a plain folder while she's checking the back fully enough yeah so um yeah. That's I'm gonna say so my favorite routine ah my favorite routine is constantly changing. Whatever new is always favorite issue at the time I love that process of you know comics come up with material much quicker than magicians do really a lot of the time because magicians. Have to get the trick right and that's to get the comedy right and then they have to get work out how the comedy works within the trick and the method. And everything so for me a trick can take a year it's at the point where now it now it's it's it's finished the baby's born you know it goes to the kiss I got out and I do it and I know it is a similar.

48:06 Thing in the world of magic I like there is with comedy like you can't recreate someone's act or is there much more of a loose kind. Of robot it's looser exclusive in that you can do magic tricks get sold and get released so people will release tricks on DVD or they'll sell the props for a trick. And you can do them and sometimes they'll release the routine so you can people will buy the routine with the gags that come with the routine. And do it as is the successful guys don't do that but successful guys that will do tricks that already exists perhaps but they'll come up with their own presentation. For them and if you want to be successful and actually get anywhere you sort of have to have an original presentation for a trick but quite often the tricks on them are not original.

48:50 And quite often there's bits of business that are generic that sort of you know floor around between all magicians certain little gags you know like they've. Been around for twenty or thirty years like you know blowing your nose on a hankie and you throw the hankie on the Fulani bounces because you've. Got a rubber ball in it yeah and it's just a bit of business and a lot I don't I used to do that years ago I don't do it now but yep. There are certain things that are almost generic. Except of things but it would be not accepted to steal somebody's routine that they haven't released and that is an original routine for them and if you were doing somebody's. Routine that they had released and you were doing all of their release routines in a similar arena to them it would probably be frowned upon it's.

49:35 Sort of uncertain people get certain tricks that they're known for doing so if you started doing that trick. There are morals but there may loose a looser yeah them they're not as loose as the old you know 1970 stand-up comedian days where everybody shared. Everybody's jokes but they're not as tight as the modern SOT a comedy circuit where you know anybody steals any tiny little thing into it so it's a bit of a muddy middle. Ground somewhere closer towards the comedy circuit but still got some of that water to go left in it tape like Harry Blackstone it's like mold trick yes. Could you recreate that in a way we'll all that be you know though is that he's well signature trick Harry black seems like a light. Bulb thing as I'm a closely-guarded really the exact method of it and that that since he died there have been people who've brought out versions.

50:30 Of it and there has to be hands clock who's a German illusionist he's he's done a version of it performed on stage with the blessing. Of the Blackstone family I believe. Proper written approval well maybe maybe not written but certain verbal I'm not really sure how it works but like I say it's a bit big. I mean a teller from Penn & Teller took took a guide to court for pinch in his classic roars routine that he does with shadow. When he just just shadows in front of a picture and in front of a roars and things happened to the roars he's doing to the picture. To the shadowed it's a beautiful routine tellers done it since before he was with Penn you know so over 30 years he's been doing this routine this guy recreated. And then tried to sell it and thankfully teller had enough money to take him to court and stop me from doing a lot of stuff I think he still.

51:27 Certain things he can do which was a bit annoying but yeah it's it's all very vague unfortunately just going back to light bulb trick I know the either. He told me that was he afraid I know a spot the reason what reason why I mentioned it yes why was that your favorite trick. Mine other magician well I think it was it was it was partly to do with the trick and partly to do with the moment and partly. To do with Harry Blackstone jr. it was my first ever magic convention so obviously just the idea of cleaning a magic convention was very magical. It's the first bit of magic you saw our theater yeah what no I had seen magic before but I've never been a magic convention which is a weird. Thing just like a hundred the magic deal isn't a magic show that just every act was a magician but then Harry Blackstone jr. he's a legend.

52:10 In the magic world he was a legend his father was a legend Harry Blackstone senior appeared with Laurel and Hardy in one of their movies and all sorts. Of stuff and then he had this trick and it was just Harry Blackstone jr. had this fantastic booming voice had a grip he saw you know he had a great. Physique he was sort of tall dark hair he wallet says it's a good evening and you know he just had this great booming voice and he said did this thing and it was just a green. Light body so his wife walked on he didn't have bulb from the lamp and it's diddle it was like light and green and he walked into the audience. And said have a look at it and then they look at the light bulb and it was just it was just a light bulb and then he'd hang it above the heads and it would just float above.

52:52 Their heads and then he just take it and it walks somebody else to look at it and they'd look at it and he told him of the head and lead gone in the floor in the audience. Then he went back onstage and he said them and he too I mean I had a little hoop ramp so whenever it floated he'd put a hoop over it and this hoop over his head and he said Oh some of you didn't see it he said I'll. Let you see it but promise you don't touch and he let go of it and it floated away from the stage above the heads of the audience. Then when it got to one point he went like this and it floated across the audience and he went like this and it floated back to him flow it through the hoop and he took it was just you know it was just I mean was magical.

53:28 A man saw know how he did it yeah but we straight somewhere right brings mirrors animals magnets and geese certainly something did it but one big goose that one big goose I think it was probably a goose and an electromagnet. Yeah but you know what if you were in that theatre you wouldn't have known how it was done there you could all your theories you had you could look and not see any of these theories it was impossible. To fathom and yeah that's probably my favorite. Magical moment I had one other recently when I saw a French musician called Yan fresh doing a close up thing I needed this piece of close-up. Magic with a little red ball and a teapot and a mug and it's almost like juggling but it was I can't I can't describe it if you use. Name spelt I think it's about Y air double N Fri SCH I think Yan free SH go and look him up on YouTube and he does this little.

54:26 Routine and it's just beautiful and it's phenomenal and he doesn't speak and he's like slightly mad almost autistics a fancy tag character. And it's just beautiful to watch and that was that was another moment where I watched this guy do it and immediately just stood up and I don't. Give standing ovations very often but I did for him I didn't he was one of the times when I stood up without waiting to see if anybody. Else stood up I just stood up and it was a phenomenal have you ever walked out on a magic act before have you ever could. Have seen anything oh yeah there's this unfortunate there's a lot bad and the problem with magic is it's it's easy to do some magic magic. Magic it's not as difficult some magic is very very difficult don't get me wrong with it it's also very easy to do simple magic and fool.

55:13 People with easy stuff but still not make it you know just being obnoxious so on so on and yeah all the time magic conventions maybe. Not I'm the big theater stores but you see guys doing stuff and you just go it's terrible okay I'm your magic and comedy nights where. You need to see some guys who just go yeah I'm got a clue you know but I don't walk out really I wouldn't do that and you know trying. To encourage them to spoke to me but yeah yeah there's a lot of magic around that's fun you ever take him to one side and say wait that it was sure that was bad. If somebody asked me and I thought it was bad but I don't think I've gone tell them without being asked you know it's not my job to rent. On people's parade is it but yeah yeah if somebody asked me for their opinion I try and be honest.

56:04 I don't if you ever remember a guy called Ali Bongo. Ali Bongo was he was like magic consultant for Dave Berg for David Nix and he was manic consult for Paul Daniels used to appear on kids magic. Shores and he did like a Sheik of Araby the shriek of our arabica fingers gone and he was a genius with magic props and ideas. And everything he's very creative and he used to watch me and when I appeared in magic convention competitions and things afterwards he'd come up to me and he said yeah you did this wrong you shouldn't have done that you should try to do enough I remember. Once I did a show at the Magic Circle and a came offstage and I walked up to Ali and I said come and then tell me what I did wrong. Do anything I understand he was perfect and that was for me that was just meant so much so I know how much it means for people.

56:58 To get feedback from people who respect but I'd want them to ask for it and I've won them probably well I would think if they asked they probably respect. Me anymore both of your career hollows as well I know you just mentioned magic so you want a very big Magic Circle competition yeah I want the Magic. Circle stage magician of the year which is a competition that's held every two years. And it's got stage magicians and yeah I want it in 2009 I think it was so I would no longer they recently I'm no longer the reigning champion. And that'll changing hero to Stan well yeah that would that was that was a special thing I mean the gingers were John Fisher who was Paul. Daniels magic producing odd how is it called Perry.

57:49 First name wrong it may not be Claude anyway Perry the guy who wrote dad's army one of the guys who wrote that song and then a guy called Doug and Trillo who and managing. Websites or information website friend who's a great magician so they are really respected these three judges and then when and really I was doing comedy magic. Most people doing really great serious proper magic yeah I just want to go back to your religious side for a second he mentioned that he met him a Christian. Unit yeah yeah we a few Damian Jones last year yeah yeah and Milton Jones has a very big frustration on the circuit and what what he said was that it seems like every. New comic either has a bit about being an atheist how great it is to be an atheist or a bit slacking off Christian's do share.

58:40 That kind of frustration yeah make you angry it doesn't make me angry it is it is restrained but it's understandable I mean I mean if somebody's. An atheist I suppose they've got as much right to get up and shout about being an atheist as I have about being a Christian I suppose. The slight differences I don't get up and shout about being a Christian in master Jaken unless I'm bugged by a church who wants me to talk about being a Christian. Well I don't think my audience would like it I don't think I would like it if I started you know using using the time I've been given. On stage to entertain them to to preach to them I think if that's what they've come to see and then know that's what the come to see then I think it's a kettle. Of fish but I think I think it's the same that if you know if you've paired to see somebody entertain you and they get up and then start preaching.

59:26 Atheism to you I think he's as bad as me getting up and preaching Christianity to them in a comedy club where it's not being invited I don't. You know I wouldn't do it so it is a bit annoying and then the fact that they're then prime target tends to be Christianity I think I think. That's because we're the easiest target. You know they know we're gonna forgive them you know. The you know let's let's saw them you know some of the religions who might decide they're gonna take it on their own that's to have a go back. So so yeah it's I think it's understandable that Christianity gets picked on and why if he is decide I think I think a theist not all I know some really great. I've got good friends who are atheists and know I've got a massive yeah yeah and and Penn & Teller I've got respect for me and I think they both know.

1:00:17 That I've got a faith but you know they've never there's never made me suffer for it and I've never really brought it up and and you know how to go up me about it Darren. Brown you know he's a well-known atheist but got a lot of respect from me and it's always been lovely to me so yeah yeah. But there are some angrier theists who who want that they use their atheism. To to get at other religions too you know and that's I don't know I mean a little bit but they're gonna suppose there aren't Christians. Who have done a similar thing and I had a pop up atheist you know I mean it's all you know you know there aren't there are bad. Guys in every camp yeah so I don't want to sort of find too many thing just cuz they could point fingers at some horrible Christian.

1:01:07 You know leaders and Christian churches who have some horrible beliefs you know with your faith with going out on the road being on tour how. Do you juggle all of that with your family like see you've got three kids all right you got yeah it is it is a juggle. Handy it's hard work but I mean my kids are grown up now so it's not so much of a problem but that creates another problem in that my wife hasn't got kids at home to keep her company so she's. At home on Iran do you know what it's not people say that but she's got a job plus she wouldn't enjoy what she made on my out over and over again and you know standing. Travel lodges and premier inns and you know it's not it's not a glamorous lifestyle now and again she'll come I'm the two with Tim she's come and stayed in some nice hotels.

1:01:48 Because Tim's been and she's come and see me in a couple of things and yeah now and again if I get you know a few nice gigs. That she might want to comment on too but yeah by and large it's just not practical it's of it's the nature of being in show business that you travel. A lot until you get really famous and then you don't have to you can just pick and choose and you know how to keep the relationship. Live do you have like a scheduled date night so you know I'm hopeless it all of that I mean we're ship now he's gonna being away a lot I do get guilty. And I said look we'll you know we must do this when I get home and but yeah I mean I'm not the guy who asked of you know how. Do make a relationship work because I'm you know I'm hoping the sound really I saw try my best I get home and I saw I buy.

1:02:30 You flowers and I said come on let's go out for a meal and again but I don't do it as much as I sure door as often as I should but same. Thing as they suppose but yeah it's it is a juggle I've gotten thankfully out they've got we've got good friends who who make sure you know there so she's. Looked after now and you know visit and invite around when I'm not there which is what you need you know so she's at home. He's out partying somewhere or is it brands hats driving fresca when I talk about this oh great what I'd like you are and have you had many occasions. Where your tricks are really badly wrong. Not disastrously wrong that's the word I was trying to say yeah how about I'm at a moment where I had a moment where I cut my finger off and really badly using.

1:03:17 A pair of scissors just a cut piece of rope and I was bleeding everywhere and it just I couldn't stop it and I had literally. Somebody had to come on and stop the show and bandage me off and carry on and then I've had tricks where I've just got things wrong you know I'm trying. To read somebody's mind and it's right yeah you're thinking of this no I'm not oh. But I do just cover up you deal with it as how it requires really itself you know sometimes you can make a joke of it sometimes you can you can you have an out in other words you have a way of making. It look like the trick having done wrong because you do something else and then it has worked. And sometimes you just fall on your sword which I'm sorry that's gone wrong it just happened very very much now.

1:04:02 On this tour I've got a card trick where have you got any tricks it shows yeah yeah I'm sure you I'll show you something but I'm this - I've got a card trick where this is quite a bit going on and there's a couple - twice out of 40. Something gigs so far where I've had to have the audience have known it's gone wrong but how that just suddenly start readjusting and things work you want to see a trick. Alright I'll tell you I'll show you them I show you one of my favourite ones okay you know some people hit some magician stay at this trick and similarly. Well because it's it's it's ridiculous in that it uses two elastic bands and also it's a popular trick and a lot of people do it but I like it I've got one too many elastic. Bands cameraman keep picking us up yes of course cameraman.

1:04:48 We should learn the camera man's name should we we shouldn't feel it's Phil hey Phil thirteen uses two elastic bands all right I call this the world-famous. Elastic band because it uses two world-famous elastic bands yeah I said - this one's world-famous he's only been around Europe he's replacing an elastic band that snappers last. Week in a tragic elastic band accident. All right all of this myself yeah yeah anyway the idea is I'm gonna put one on I slip them behind the other like this I'm now trapped. Yeah in what we would call a pair of crazy man's handcuffs in fact that's what the trick was called for a long time okay crazy. Man's handcuffs you see yeah I can't get out that way can't get out that way yep and I can't get out that way if I rub the elastic. Bands together like this what happens is they actually melt Wow.

1:05:31 Do it again they said do it again I'll tell you what I'll do it again but this time I'll do it really slow all right and I will point a few things out first. Thing I'll point out is people people think that the elastic bands are behind it yeah you're gonna need him to just check this just an elastic band yeah yeah. What do you think it's like press turds and velcro in there yes and the other thing people think they're not behind each other to start with but there really are that really is the really behind. You shift the one behind each other I would mean you know I wouldn't be able to do this wouldn't be able to do this yeah. We just robbed and they come right I'll do it one more time you can hold one of the elastic bandage yes they're both hands both hands okay.

1:06:10 Lock it on that way it doesn't know what people think I can sneak you up holding about that far. It's probably locked so there really is no way out can you feel that yeah can you feel that yeah you're feeling very well that's the joke that's an old one that's one of the ones I told you about dubious. Dubious background can't go up this way can't go up this way can't go out this way but watch. Yeah I don't know why people don't like that trick it's one of our favorites and also carry around it's like two elastic bands three elastic. Bands I don't know where bright I bought one out and kiss it in case I got a snap delicious Mondays and I tell you what I will show you do remember um sorry. I'll just do you remember said when I first started magic I went to Allen Allen's magic show yeah and he saw me a card trick and I'll show you the contract.

1:06:58 You saw me very the original cards no they're not the original cars here with the original cards are um a well one out now in fact I get through these quite a lot it's. A call a packet trick diseases a packet of cards and they're all the same they're all the eight of clubs you got to watch carefully what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna tip one of the eight of clubs to turn it face down like this and I'm going to count. A little shape what happens is another eight turns face down like that and then if I give them another little shake like that hopefully all of the eights have turned first down. We'll do it again do it again one I'm going to take what are the eight town like this is gonna turn it face up yeah. Give the count a little check the bottom one turns face up giving another shake and out all of the counts.

1:07:39 I'll do it one more time cause you can see you impressed by the way you yawning watch one card facedown on top give the cards a little shake. The bottom card I'm another shake and now all of the cards turn fish down now at this point people think I'm using an extra card yeah. I do I use one extra cover I'm gonna make it vanish in an amazing way I learned when I was five years old watch one got. Dirt on my card - it'll vanish three and it's gone. It's not very good is it I was five when I learn how to do that my mom used to say you put it in your back pocket but I look. Down I haven't put it in my back pocket what happens is that card comes back in the middle of the packet face-up in fact if I could push it in and give me a shirt like that we should not have two cards.

1:08:18 Face up and only two cards facedown in fact if I give them another little like this one should now have three cards face up and only. One card face down on that card let's turn the foot hold that that is which leads me we're not done leaves me with three eight. And another one turns facedown and that too has gone a funny color and if you didn't see that you didn't see that the chances are that you didn't see that book. You or can you only be famous the book PEEP um don't Brown frontier ivories dad seventeen yeah yeah normally people book me well it depends what the one who booked me for if it's a charity. Type thing then the book directors my age is not interested but normally my website it's got a link to my agent so it's just John. - Archie calm and yeah the corporates talked to my agent if it's a cherry gig you've dug up and running talk to me and then I'll say no instead.

1:09:14 You got any other tools coming up what's in the pipe flow field do you know what I sort of cheering with Tim and then it's. Mainly just a lot of gigs on my own really I'm going to America not tall but doing a magic convention out there going to Italy in a couple of weeks to do something. Up there so yeah just just ducking and diving waiting to find out whether or not we've got another series of the kids show but I've. Got a feeling it might not happen who knows they say yes it's come quickly in television or Northgate longer yeah and it's been a while so there might be deciding. On - no yeah so yeah lots of stuff really and and pitching things you know you know working on sitcom ideas I'd love to do a sitcom. So yeah just just what every act out there is doing them trying to get themselves more non trying to get themselves on telly just anything.

1:10:03 And everything John thank you so much me I'm not desperate book me okay okay yeah and thank you so much for coming for driving dude and noting. My head thank you thank you for letting me at Brands Hatch Thank You Brands Hatch absolutely fantastic experience get yourselves on it what was it called the m4. Experience the airport yep yeah it's the m4 experience. Club John what good dude we don't got a car but we have got a flag and if we've got a flag that's all we need grab hold of that yeah.

1:10:59 And all we're gonna do now is count to three and hopefully everything we need will arrive as we need it likes watching guys if did enjoy. That clip then please do subscribe to my channel but big goal for the year is trying to hit 10,000 subscribers as soon as I do I could turn what I do twelve. A chat show format by using the YouTube space in London so your support really is appreciated but also feel free to check out my channel there's. Lots of interviews and games and pranks that I've done with celebrities over the years on there I hopefully you'll find something you like you might not hopefully. You will thanks.