News

London – National Geographic Channel (Ngc) has inked a deal with U.K. based TV sales banner Passion Distribution for a pair of magician-led shows from UKTV, a British TV networks joint venture of lifestyle channels firm Scripps Networks Interactive and BBC Worldwide. Ngc-us will broadcast the new show The Happenings and second season of Dynamo: Magician Impossible, scheduled to premiere later this year. Photos: 2014's New Broadcast and Cable TV Shows In The Happenings, double-act magicians Barry and Stuart convince unsuspecting residents in towns across the U.K. and U.S. that mysterious events are occurring. Through

read more...

BBC One's Saturday night series Magicians concludes this weekend and rumour has it that the final dreaded forfeit is the toughest to date. Magicians Pete Firman, Latimer and Barry and Stuart will be joined by comic Ed Byrne, actor Joe Swash and dancer George Sampson as they attempt to prove that they are the king or kings of BBC magic. But who will pull the rabbit out of the hat on Saturday and prove triumphant? Digital Spy caught up with the magic men for a quick-fire Q&A. Latimer Which famous person would you like to play a trick on?

"To play a trick on? Hmmm I don't know...I am not the type to just seek out one person to fool... but if I had to guess I would love to fool a magician... or at least see how long it takes them to realize somebody is messing with them.

MasterChef duo John Torode and Gregg Wallace are the latest celebrities to take on a grand illusion on BBC One's Saturday night series Magicians. Wallace and Torode perform an astonishing stunt at the top of London's Tate Modem, while working with tricksters Barry and Stuart. Aussie chef Torode commented: "This may be the most exciting thing I've done in my life and it's just going to be pure magic!" Wallace added: "I'm really excited about learning how to do magic, I've always loved (more)...

Joe McElderry and Outnumbered stars Tyger Drew-Honey and Daniel Roche are to appear in BBC One's The Magicians. The two actors from the family sitcom will feature in several illusions with magician pair Barry and Stuart for the returning series. McElderry joined them as they recorded a 'Grand Illusion' at Westfield Shopping Centre last month, which involved asking a member of the crowd to pick a random CD from a music store. The volunteer picked Joe McElderry's Classic Christmas, and discovered that their apparently random choice had been predicted in advance. McElderry said: "I've always been a fan of magic so it was nice to be a part of it and see how it all works and be able to trick someone else. I was quite nervous - I was just hoping they wouldn't do something like make me disappear forever!" (more)...

Lenny Henry has signed up to host BBC One's new competition The Magicians. The show will focus on three established acts - sleight of hand artist Chris Korn, illusionist Luis de Matos and double act Barry and Stuart - as they battle it out over five weeks. Each episode will see the acts team up with a celebrity partner to perform various tricks. The stars taking part in the series include Rolf Harris, N-Dubz, Chris Tarrant and Diversity member Ashley Banjo. "I've always been a fan of magic on the TV, from David Nixon to David Blaine, Penn and Teller to Paul Daniels, and (more)...