''Magic Numbers'' is a British television game show which aired for one series of seven episodes in July and August 2010.

Show format

The show is hosted by magician

Stephen Mulhern Stephen Daniel Mulhern is an English television presenter, magician, and comedian. He began his television career on CITV, presenting the children's shows ''Finger Tips'' (2001–2004) and ''Tricky TV'' (2005–2010). Mulhern has presented vario ...

, who was joined each week by a number of celebrity guests.Simon Cowell, BGT and babies: Mirrorgirl plays Catchphrase and gets goss from Stephen Mulhern
''Mirror'', 17 March 2014. In the first part of each episode, the celebrity guests answered questions or took part in challenges to generate a sequence of 6 numbers. Members of the public then called a

Premium-rate telephone number Premium-rate telephone numbers are telephone numbers that charge callers higher price rates for select services, including information and entertainment. A portion of the call fees is paid to the service provider, allowing premium calls to be an ...

if their home or mobile phone number contained two or more of these digits. Callers were entered into a prize draw, the winner of which would compete in the final round for a prize of up to £350,000. Throughout the show, Mulhern would also perform a number of magic tricks or illusions, assisted by some of that week's celebrity guests. While the initial public phone-in was taking place, Mulhern would also perform a featured grand illusion, again assisted by one or more of that week's celebrity guests. The highest prize won by a contestant was £290,000, won by Pamela Mullins from Sheffield, Yorkshire.

Similarity to previous ITV game shows

The show was very similar to a previous ITV game show, '' Talking Telephone Numbers'', the key difference being that viewers of ''Magic Numbers'' could call in if two of the numbers matched their phone number, rather than five as on the previous show. This was a technique employed by ITV to generate more calls, and hence higher revenues from the show. The show was created by

CPL Productions CPL Productions (formerly Celador) is a British entertainment company originally formed in the United Kingdom in 1981 as an independent television production company. It created and produced a number of popular light entertainment shows and is ...

and Paul Brassey and commissioned by John Kaye Cooper at ITV.

Episode guide

References

External links

* *{{UKGameshow, Magic_Numbers, Magic Numbers 2010s British game shows 2010 British television series debuts 2010 British television series endings ITV game shows ITV (TV network) original programming Television series by Sony Pictures Television English-language television shows