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According to Russ Stevens at Blackpool, the new series of BGT starting soon has more magicians then ever. Let's hope they keep up a high performance standard!

Mandrake wrote:According to Russ Stevens at Blackpool, the new series of BGT starting soon has more magicians then ever. Let's hope they keep up a high performance standard!

Nice to see this now. I think the last few years, have really opened the doors again, and the judges are taking magic serious.

From what Russ said, the staging for earlier magicians left a lot to be desired and he had to fight to get it changed. He has many years practical stage experience and knew what would and wouldn't work on TV. Apart from Darcy Oakes he's mentored all the successful magi on the show, helped to choose and obtain the effects they did, and worked out the presentation. Certainly a guy to listen to and trust his judgment.

PS The other thing Russ mentioned which surprised many was that, contrary to what he's said, Simon Cowell has always loved magic. The reason he was unhappy to see it on BGT is that it was usually very poor quality magic presented by naff performers. He loves top quality entertainment of all kinds but the cr@p stuff really gets up his nose!!

For those who didn't get the email from Alakazam, apparently this Sunday's BGT is well worth watching/recording.
Added later: It's Marc Spelmann!

Two very different acts! I'm not sure if the audience were applauding Marc Spelmann's magic or the emotional stoty but it was certainly attention grabbing. I think most if us will know ways of achieving the same magical effects but we'd probably be hard pressed to come up with an equivalent story.

Matt Johnson's escapology act was excellent although I'm not sure how he'd follow that!

Mandrake wrote:Matt Johnson's escapology act was excellent although I'm not sure how he'd follow that!

Yea I was also wondering what he'll be doing next .... let's wait and see

So what do we think of this year's acts? Certainly a wide range to choose from!

I enjoyed them all to be honest, nice to see magicians getting some good exposure. It all stems back from Jamie doing the Cardtoon effect, at least thats what I'm saying. Loved Marc's audition, plus Maddox and Mandy. I think Simon was a bit critical of Matt's semi final performance, i have since seen a drawing of him with a fishbowl on his head so he obviously took it in good humour

Almost 12 months ago Mandrake wrote:So what do we think of this year's acts? Certainly a wide range to choose from!

Same question really! There were certainly far more magicians this year than ever and the range of magic was as wide as it could get - dark scary stuff, comedy stuff, simple and easy close up stuff and so on.

Any bets as to who 'X' actally is? A mate of mine says it's Derren Brown but I can't believe that as his body language is all wrong. We'll probably find it's Issy Simpson* on stilts! No, seriously, what are the chances of it being one of the other winners from previous years? Richard Jones, Darcy Oakes...


PS *Could it be grandpa Russ Stevens himself?

Well, well well - Marc Spelman!!!

I know I'm biased but I thought the standard of magic this year was truly wonderful; some serious hard work went into those routines. It's a pity 4MG chose tricks for the final which were easily rumbled (see all the 'I know how they did it' posts) but even so, their ‘Four Horsemen’ arrangement was excellent. Let’s hope we see more of them and all the other magi in the not too distant future.

Just been catching up on old news - watched the clip of "Elizabeth" playing a trick on Amanda Holden who reportedly confessed she 'peed her pants' in terror.

Proof yet again that magic is all in the presentation!

louderandlouder wrote:Just been catching up on old news - watched the clip of "Elizabeth" playing a trick on Amanda Holden who reportedly confessed she 'peed her pants' in terror.

That would be a sight to beHolden!