''TV's 50 Greatest Magic Tricks'' is a one-off list show that was produced by

Objective Productions Objective Media Group (OMG), previously known as Objective Productions, is a media company that produces shows in comedy, comedy drama, entertainment, factual entertainment and Magic. It has produced shows including '' The Cube'', ''Breaking Ma ...

for Channel 5. The programme counts down the fifty greatest

magic tricks Magic, which encompasses the subgenres of illusion, stage magic, and close up magic, among others, is a performing art in which audiences are entertained by tricks, effects, or illusions of seemingly impossible feats, using natural means. It ...

– The Magic Bullet by

Penn & Teller Penn & Teller, Penn Jillette and Teller, are American magicians, entertainers, and scientific skeptics who have performed together since the late 1970s. They are noted for their ongoing act that combines elements of comedy with magic. The duo h ...

is the illusion at number one. The show was presented by the British actress

Fay Ripley Fay Ripley (born 26 February 1966)Ripley, Fay (25 February 2011).Don't tell me you are going to get my followers up to 5,000 for my birthday tomorrow...I say my birthday tomorrow. Twitter. Retrieved 26 February 2011. is an English actress, telev ...

, and was directed by Helen Albon. ''TV's 50 Greatest Magic Tricks'' was first broadcast on Channel 5 on 31 December 2011. The list of magic tricks features set pieces, stunts and rabbit-out-of-the-hat tricks. Contributors to the programme included Penn & Teller,

Paul Daniels Newton Edward Daniels (6 April 1938 – 17 March 2016), known professionally as Paul Daniels, was an English magician and television presenter. He achieved international fame through his television series ''The Paul Daniels Magic Show'', which ...

and

Dynamo "Dynamo Electric Machine" (end view, partly section, ) A dynamo is an electrical generator that creates direct current using a commutator. Dynamos were the first electrical generators capable of delivering power for industry, and the foundati ...

. Two tricks by the British magician

Pete Firman Peter "Pete" Firman (born 26 April 1980) is an English magician, comedian and television presenter. He has appeared in magic shows on BBC1, ITV, Channel 4, Five, and Sky1. He was also the presenter of two game shows on CBBC: ''Stake Ou ...

featured in the list, with his Goldfish Trick in the top ten.

Magic tricks

# The Magic Bullet (

, 1996) # Death Saw (

David Copperfield ''David Copperfield'' Dickens invented over 14 variations of the title for this work, see is a novel in the bildungsroman genre by Charles Dickens, narrated by the eponymous David Copperfield, detailing his adventures in his journey from inf ...

) # Russian Roulette (

Derren Brown Derren Brown (born 27 February 1971) is an English mentalist, illusionist, painter, and author. He began performing in 1992, making his television debut with ''Derren Brown: Mind Control'' in 2000, and has since produced several more shows f ...

, 2003) # Chop Cup (

, 1985) #The Cardboard Box Illusion ( Shahid & Lisa Malik, 2000) #Walking on Water (

, 2011) #Goldfish Trick (

, 2005) #Challenge of the Death Dive ( Robert Gallup, 1996) #Cigarette Routine (

Tom Mullica Thomas Blaine Mullica (August 19, 1948 – February 18, 2016) was an American comedy Magic (illusion), magician, Impressionist (entertainment), impressionist and actor who performed on television specials and appeared on ''Late Night with David Le ...

, 1996) #Quick Change ( David & Dania, 2006) #Blended Mouse (Pete Firman, 2005) # Metamorphosis (

The Pendragons Jonathan and Charlotte Pendragon were a husband-and-wife team of American illusionists who called their work "physical grand illusion". They are widely known due to numerous national and international television appearances. Performing partnersh ...

, 1983) #Shoe Trick (

John Lenahan John Lenahan (born 1961 in Philadelphia, US) is an American illusionist and entertainer resident in the UK since 1984. A successful corporate entertainer, he came to greater fame as a result of a 1994 appearance on the BBC One show ''How Do The ...

, 2003) #Dream (

Siegfried & Roy Siegfried & Roy were a duo of German-American magicians and entertainers, best known for their appearances with white lions and white tigers. It was composed of Siegfried Fischbacher (June 13, 1939 – January 13, 2021) and Roy Horn (born Uwe ...

, 1994) #Torn and Restored Newspaper ( The Great Soprendo, 1982) #

Guillotine A guillotine is an apparatus designed for efficiently carrying out executions by beheading. The device consists of a tall, upright frame with a weighted and angled blade suspended at the top. The condemned person is secured with stocks at t ...

(

Simon Drake Simon Drake (born Simon Alexander; 1 March 1957) is an English magician based in London. He is best known for the television series ''The Secret Cabaret'' made for Britain's Channel 4. Early life Born in London, Drake is the son of a GP. Dr ...

, 1992) #Pool Shark (

Paul Zenon Paul Zenon (born Paul Collins) is an English stage and TV magician, comedian, presenter and writer. He is the author of three books on magic, proposition bets and practical jokes, and an expert on the history of magic and magicians, variety, ...

, 2000) #The Tube Experiment (Derren Brown, 2001) #Iron Maiden (Paul Daniels, 1987) #Hummer Illusion, ( Franz Harary, 2006) #Spreadwave ( Mathieu Bich, 2011) #Coin Trick (

Criss Angel Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos ( el, Χριστόφορος Νικόλαος Σαραντάκος; born December 19, 1967), known professionally as Criss Angel, is an American magician, illusionist and musician. Angel began his career in New ...

, 2005) # Houdini's Water Torture Escape (

Ali Cook Ali Cook (also credited as Alistair Cook) is an English magician, actor and comedian originating from Yorkshire. Cook played Sgt. Paul McMellon in the feature film ''Kajaki'', which won the ''Producer of The Year Award'' at the 2015 British I ...

, 2002) #Truck Trick (Penn & Teller, 1990) #

Levitation Levitation (from Latin ''levitas'' "lightness") is the process by which an object is held aloft in a stable position, without mechanical support via any physical contact. Levitation is accomplished by providing an upward force that counteracts ...

(

David Blaine David Blaine (born April 4, 1973) is an American illusionist, endurance artist, and extreme performer. He is best known for his high-profile feats of endurance and has set and broken several world records. Early life Blaine was born and r ...

) #Card Manipulation ( An Ha Lim) #Pulse Stopping (

David Berglas David Berglas (born 30 July 1926) is a British magician and mentalist of German-Jewish descent. His secret technique of locating a particular card within a pack has been described as the Holy Grail of card magic. He was one of the first magicia ...

, 1986) #Motorcycle Illusion (

Doug Henning Douglas James Henning (May 3, 1947 – February 7, 2000) was a Canadian magician, illusionist, escape artist and politician. Early life Henning was born in the Fort Garry district of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and began practising magic at Oaken ...

, 1983) #Snowball Trick (Dynamo, 2011) # Flying (David Copperfield) # Sawing in Half (

Kevin James Kevin George Knipfing (born April 26, 1965), better known by his stage name Kevin James, is an American comedian and actor. In television, James played Doug Heffernan on ''The King of Queens'' from 1998 to 2007, and receieved a Primetime Emmy ...

, 2007) #Goldfish Transformation (Criss Angel) #Silhouette (Simon Drake, 1992) #Homunculus ( Barry & Stuart, 2005) #Tax Disc Trick (Paul Zenon, 2000) #Doves (

Lance Burton William Lance Burton (born March 10, 1960) is an American stage magician. He performed more than 15,000 shows in Las Vegas for over 5,000,000 people until retiring after 31 years in 2010. Professional history Burton first became interested in ma ...

, 1982) #Interlude (Siegfried & Roy) #Floating Lightbulb (

Harry Blackstone Jr. Harry Bouton Blackstone Jr. (June 30, 1934 – May 14, 1997) was an American stage magician, author, and television performer. He is estimated to have pulled 80,000 rabbits from his sleeves and hats. Early life Blackstone was born in Three Riv ...

, 1986) #Toe Cards (Ali Cook, 2002) #Signed and Restored Card ( Piff the Magic Dragon, 2011) #

Spoon Bending Spoon bending is the deformation of objects, especially metal cutlery, purportedly by paranormal means. It is a common theme for magic tricks, which use a variety of methods to produce the effect. Performers commonly use misdirection to draw t ...

(

Uri Geller Uri Geller ( ; he, אורי גלר; born 20 December 1946) is an Israeli-British illusionist, magician, television personality, and self-proclaimed psychic. He is known for his trademark television performances of spoon bending and other i ...

, 1983) #Card Revelation (David Blaine) #

Portal Portal often refers to: * Portal (architecture), an opening in a wall of a building, gate or fortification, or the extremities (ends) of a tunnel Portal may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Gaming * ''Portal'' (series), two video games ...

(David Copperfield) #Any Card at Any Number (

Marc Paul Marc Paul (born 29 May 1968) is a United Kingdom-based mentalist and magician. Paul starred in his own TV series ''Mind Games'' on the short-lived UK cable channel L!ve TV. Other television credits include: *'' Paul Daniels' Secrets'' (BBC1) ...

, 2002) #One Million Pound Vanish (Paul Daniels, 1984) #673 King Street (

James Galea James Galea is an Australian magician and actor based in Sydney and Los Angeles. Early life and education Galea was introduced to the art of magic at the age of 14. He spent most of his youth studying sleight of hand magic, practicing for ei ...

, 2009) #Bottle Glass ( Tommy Cooper, 1971) #Tower Bridge Vanish (Franz Harary, 2004) #Miser's Dream (Penn & Teller, 2011) #Floating Guitar (Dynamo, 2011)

Reception

Following the original broadcast in 2011, Channel 5 repeated ''TV's 50 Greatest Magic Tricks'' multiple times, including in 2012 and 2013. When broadcast in 2012, the programme achieved an average of one million viewers and an audience share of 3.9%.

References

External links

* * * {{Use dmy dates, date=July 2018 2011 British television series debuts 2011 British television series endings British television documentaries English-language television shows Magic tricks