Popular hit magic show returns to BBC One
The hugely popular hit show The Magicians returns to BBC One in the New Year, with a show-stopping live new format, a dazzling new host and an astonishing line-up of magicians who train their celebrity assistants through a range of seemingly impossible tricks.
Following last year’s ratings success of over six million viewers, the 2012 series has been extended to six 75-minute programmes which transmit live from Saturday, 7th January – the first time a magic series has been transmitted live on the BBC in over 30 years.
In addition to the new format, The Magicians has an exciting new host in Scottish-born television presenter Darren McMullen, in his debut UK primetime presenting role.
Darren has fronted national shows in both Australia and the US and will preside over the celebrities and magicians as well as announcing the results of the live audience vote each week.
He said: “I can’t wait to host live shows here. The Magicians is a huge entertainment show and talked about around the world so I can’t wait to be at the heart of it. Being a live show, the pressure really will be on the magicians and whether or not they can pull off dangerous stunts in front of a live audience. I’m certainly going to have to have my wits about me!”
Magic duo Barry and Stuart return to the series this year and are joined by magicians Pete Firman and Jason Latimer (Latimer).
Each magician is paired with a different celebrity partner each week which includes: actors Daniel Roche and Tyger Drew-Honey, Tina Hobley and David Hasselhoff; TV presenters Julia Bradbury, Joe Swash, Mel Giedroyc, Myleene Klass, Arlene Phillips and John Torode and Gregg Wallace; from the world of sport, boxer David Haye and former England cricketer Phil Tufnell; stars of Strictly Come Dancing Flavia Cacace and Craig Revel Horwood; comedian Ed Byrne; and from the world of music, Kimberly Wyatt and Keith Duffy, and street dancer George Sampson.
Together the Magicians and celebrities perform four illusions, two live and two pre-recorded, from the classic to the never-attempted before, after which their performances will be put to the viewers’ vote. The magician and celebrity pair with the fewest votes will then have to face a live and dramatic forfeit, a dangerous trick that no-one really wants to tackle.
The Magicians will need to dazzle, delight and excel beyond their own favoured speciality, be it escapology, illusion or sleight of hand card tricks, to ensure they get the audience’s support for the live vote.
