Tom McCarron: Hi there pete, do you have a magician who you idolise or a magician who got you into magic, and if so who is it?

Peter: There were two magicians who were responsible for getting me into magic, Pete Green and Henry Smith. Both are just regular guys just slogging away with their shows but watching them shook my life upside down! Until then although I was interested in magic as entertainment, my real aim was to be an actor. These days there are so many magicians I think are great for so many different reasons some of which I have covered elsewhere on this question list.

I don't really have any 'idols' just folk I deeply admire and enjoy watching!

Peter Mc

T'T: Magic used to have class.

Now it doesn't. Right?

Peter: Hmm... what a strange question, are you asking for my agreement or do you want me to challenge the statement?

If it's agreement you are looking for then I'm afraid you are out of luck. Just a quick look around will show you that thee are still 'classy' magicians out there doing very slick and sophisticated acts. Alan Shaxon and Scott Penrose are just two names that spring to mind.

Of course it's possible that by 'class' you don't mean presentation but attitude. Are you suggesting that magic used to be a place of high moral values and now it doesn't? If so perhpds you need to go back and have a quick perusal of your magic history. Magicians have discussed and fought over the same issues of presentation, ethics and exposure for at least the last hundred years!

I guess the short answer is "wrong"

Peter Mc

Kid's Magic: Hi Pete,

Just wondering how you think up gags for your shows and how comedy came about for you?

Peter: How to create comedy is a really tough question because it is such a subjective and personal thing. The process is often long and non repeatable for others. However one huge stepping stone would be to attend or at the very least get hold of the mnotes for John Archers 'Comedy Writing Workshop'. John is a top professional who has a screamingly funny act, he also writes comedy on a regular basis for TV including the BAFTA award winning 'Sketch Show'. Book him now for your local club to do his lecture it will change the way you approach comedy!

Basically there are all sorts of ploys you can use to stimulate ideas etc when creating comedy, but you need to find what works for you. Personally I run through ideas with a few close friends and often it's late at night coming back from a gig whilst chatting on the phone that a new idea is born.

I try to base gags on surprise and normal everyday comments twisted, but that is just my style.

Peter Mc

Boywonder: Have you got any good jokes that you could tell me that are sutable for all ages?

Peter: Sorry mate but the best comedy comes from within, rather than tell someone elses jokes concentrate on finding whats funny in what you do on stage or write your own gags. Much more satisfying when you hear folk laughing than ripping off someone elses material

All the best

Peter Mc

Druid1980: Peter,

Will the series be released on video/dvd?

I missed a couple of them due to work commitments and really wished I had seen them.

Cheers

Peter: Druid,

I'm afraid I have no idea what the state of play is concerning a possible DVD or video, but I think it's a great idea! It would save me a lot of time when folk say "I don't get channel five, what was it like?"

I guess the thing to do is to write to five and tell them it's a good idea! Their email address is dutyoffice@five.tv

Peter Mc

Druid1980: Thanks Peter, Ill do that.

Mop: The best of the first 3 derren brown tv progs is being released on dvd just now, so i suppose in a year or two we might see mm on dvd too.

Elwood: I have been involved in entertainment for 20 years. I used to perform classical piano recitals, I've been in some reasonably successful bands (on a local level...I've played to crowds of 5000 and more, been on telly, just missed out on a job with Ozzy).

My dad was a professional muso. He, as a session and touring musician, played with Bowie, Roxy Music, Alexis Korner, John Lee Hooker, and on and on.

Everyone thought I would follow suit, but I seldom pick up a guitar now. Magic is far more..."instant", for want of a better word.

The pleasure I get from performing Magic to small groups of people far outweighs the feeling of playing guitar to 1000's.

I got into Magic late (I didn't take it seriously until I was in my early twenties) and even now, I look at Magic as an audience participation sport.

So my question is, as someone who has inherent charisma (which you do), why did you choose Magic as the media to express yourself?

Peter: Elwood, you smooth talker you It's not often that I have been described as "inherently charismatic" but I can see what you are getting at!

The reason I chose magic originally was a bit of a side step actually. I was studying at theological college to be a minister and planned to go into working with young people. One of my specific areas of interest was communicating in schools.

One of the key methods I was using to break the ice was theatre, however I quickly realised that what was fine when I had a bunch of willing helpers wouldn't be so easy on my own. I needed to find a way to communicate creatively that only required me and the audience. Realising that mime was unlikely to be the answer I looked around and settled on magic.

In fact my main area of interest at first was escapes and all the sort of street magic arts like fire walking etc. Later I developed a more mainstream act and incorporated comedy and magic etc.

These 'tools' have served me well over the years to communicate what I believe and entertain folk in equal portion. For me Monkey Magic and the rest of the TV that I do is a bit of a career change, but one that I tremendously enjoy and am very proud of.

Peter Mc

MagicSamX: Hello Pete

I was just wondering, If Money, availability etc etc were no problem what one effect would you most like to do? (one of our previous guests said magically streal the crown jewels for example)

Peter: Wow there are so many great effects out there that I would like to do that already exist without coming up with new ones! I've always wanted to do a really big bullet catch with a tank or somesuch and there are several escapes by Steve Baker (Mr. Escape) that are stunning and I would love to try.

As for stealing the crown jewels, yeah maybe! A really good 'heist' trick would be fun, a sort of cross between Mission Impossible and the Italian Job!

I think the ultimate effect would be something in space (but mostly because I would seize any excuse to go ) Perhaps I could stand on the moon and raise a cloth and the earth vanishes! Do you think people would believe it perhaps if we filmed it live and combined it with a global powercut and an eclipse at the same time!

Ah well back to practising card shuffles!

Peter Mc