Number 170 - 27th September 2003

 

Derren Brown will attempt not to shoot himself in the head, live on Channel 4 on Sunday, October 5th. Filmed in a secret location, one person, selected from the thousands who applied, will load a real handgun with a single bullet and then hand it to Derren. Using a series of psychological tests Derren will then determine which chamber contains the bullet. He'll then hold the gun to his head and fire, until he comes to the live chamber. "Most of the stuff I do I reckon has a 90 per cent success rate," says Derren. All being well Derren will go on tour next year. Here are some confirmed dates: Monday 22nd March, New Theatre Oxford. Thursday 29th April, Bristol Hippodrome. Sunday 2nd May, Liverpool Empire. Wednesday and Thursday 5th and 6th May, Alexandra Theatre Birmingham. Friday 7th May, Grand Opera House, York. Sunday 9th May, Palace Theatre Manchester. To book online via TicketMaster Click Here. I was lucky enough to see Derren's sold out live show earlier on this year and he was excellent. 27.9.03

 

Max Maven lectures at the second Escape from the Asylum day of mental magic run by Spyros Melaris, this time entitled Another Escape, at the Waterfall Studios, London, on Sunday November 16th. For more information and booking details visit: www.magicinmind.com. 27.9.03

 

Playing Tricks is a new 10-part magic series which will be screened on Trouble every weekday from October 20th at 4.30pm. Described as "David Blaine meets Trigger Happy TV" seven undercover magicians will take to the streets with their own brand of magic. "Whether it be telling random members of the public their own pin numbers, dumbfounding viewers by leaning forward to an incredible 25 degree angle before righting themselves and walking off, or pouring red and white wine out of the same bottle, our magicians will amaze viewers with their sleight of hand, uncanny ability to predict, and incredible skill in creating illusions." The show features: Laura London, 19 from Barnet, Jez Rose, 20 from Buckinghamshire, Tariq Knight, 19 from Brighton, Keelan Leyser and Richard Reed, 22 and 23 from Surrey, Loki, 30 from Kent and Chris Nicholson, 17 from Brighton. Tune into Trouble every weekday at 4.30pm (repeated at 9.55pm), between Monday October 20th and Friday October 31st. 27.9.03

 

David Blaine's hanging in so to speak... 23 days and counting. The week got off to a dodgy start when his management company PMK took it upon themselves to fly over to the UK to see what all the bad publicity was about... and in the process generated a little more. Ah well. Here's the latest:

• Paint attack on Blaine. (Evening Standard) Click Here

• Magician Blaine's Sponsors Face Charge for Stunt. (Reuters) Click Here

• A pain in the Blaine. (Guardian) Click Here

• US bemused by Blaine-baiters. (BBC) Click Here

• Put her in the box: Poll. (Sky News) Click Here 27.9.03

 

Keith Fields appears on Inside Out, on BBC South, at 7.30pm on Monday September 29th. In a "city into the country" feature Keith leaves his comedy magic at home and 'roughs it' on a 48 hour survival course. 27.9.03

 

Tony Griffith will be lecturing for The Kent Magicians Guild on Tuesday 30th September. Contact Dave Akhurst on 01892 823259 for details. This will be the 'Creative Magic' lecture that Tony has presented worldwide. www.tonygriffith.co.uk. 27.9.03

 

Mind Magic by Marc LeMezma is reviewed in MagicWeek this week. To read the review Click Here. To order a copy from Amazon.co.uk Click Here. 27.9.03

 

Apollo Robbins and Shoot Ogawa will present their lectures at the British Magical Society on Tuesday, 30th September, following on from the British Ring Convention. All bona fide members of other magic societies are welcome on payment of £5 at their HQ: Selly Oak Ex-Servicemen's Club, 8 Selly Hill Road, Birmingham B29 7DL. For further information contact Pamela Buckley on 01827 715660. 27.9.03

 

On Tuesday, September 30th Monkey Boy and Tufty will be appearing on Loose Lips, an entertainment show hosted by Melinda Messenger and Richard Arnold on Living TV and the shows producers are looking for fans to join the studio audience. The show will be filmed at 12pm and they need audience members to arrive at their Chiswick Studio at 11pm. Anyone who would like to go along should call Yeva Paley on 0208 996 5575 or email yevapaley@screamfilms.com - mention that you read about the ticket offer on MagicWeek. 27.9.03

 

Tom Lyon makes a return visit to the Blue Peter studios on Monday, September 29th at 4.55pm, live on BBC1. In a new escape challenge Tom will be suspended upside down buckled into an unusual straitjacket that has both side and front 'loops'. These prevent the arms from being pulled over the head as in the traditional magician's escape and provide a very real challenge for the escapologist. A presenter will also be buckled into a jacket to show that it really is impossible to escape! See TV Magic. 27.9.03

 

New from Alakazam! "The one with the Trivial Pursuit cards" by Mark Elsdon... "Mark performed this in our shop and it totally knocked us for six!" writes Peter Nardi, for more information visit: www.alakazam.co.uk. 27.9.03

 

Monty, from Honolulu, emails: "I have started planning my 2004 magic lecture schedule. Would your magic club be interested in a lecture? At this time I am just trying to find out which clubs are interested so I can plan my schedule." Monty - Guinness World Record Holder. www.montysmagic.com. 27.9.03

 

Last Sunday's The Greatest Magic Tricks in the Universe… Ever, the first of six one-hour specials on Five, presented by the Monkey Magic boys, took a light look at magic and magicians, from Cardini to David Blaine, with comment from present day magicians and magic fans. The next in the series is at 8pm this Sunday • Mats G. Kjellstrom has launched a new magic project and is looking for magic authors; both experts and "newbies" - visit www.mastermagic.info • Rowland Valentine won the Magic Club of Great Britain's Close-up Competition on Thursday, September 25th. The finals of the Stage Competition will be held on November 6th at their club in Milton Keynes • The 8th Top Secret Magic Day in Milton Keynes is set to take place on Sunday, June 6th - details nearer the time • Martin Breese emailed to say that he has now managed to resolve the situation reported last week regarding copies of his magic CDs • That's it for this week. Your UK magic news is always welcomed, see you next week, Duncan. 27.9.03

 

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