Talking Tricks with Kane & Abel

Hatty Ashdown    Hatty Ashdown joins us to discuss working as a stand-up comedian, running a comedy show for new mums and her Next Up Comedy special.  She chats about her 2022 Edinburgh Fringe show, napping audience members, guilt over the hot weather, grief and whether she can get her commemorative bench before she dies so she can enjoy it.    Plus, find out which of the following three stories i...

Cameron Gibson    Cameron Gibson joins us to discuss his brand new magic shop and venue Wonder & Co, Edinburgh Fringe 2023 and working at Jamie Allan’s Illusionarium in Canada. Plus, find out which of the following three stories is a lie as we play Would Me Lie To Thee.    He has an estranged twin brother living in Australia, he used to be in the military and he once snuck Harry Styles out of a wi...

Arron Jones quit his jobs as an unsatisfied clone close-up magician to work for the Government.    He joins us to chat about now quitting that Government role to become a full-time Rockstar magician.    Also, in Would Me Lie To Thee, find out which of these three facts about Arron is the lie and which are the hilarious truth:    He hid a teabag in every ceiling at his school; joined a troupe of Mo...

After a lengthy hiatus, Talking Tricks returns with an Absurd new outlook. Meet our new co-host Ava Beaux and hear all about the new show Absurd that Kane & Abel and Ava Beaux will be performing at the Edinburgh Fringe. We also introduce a brand new feature. Would Me Lie To Thee when guests will share three facts but we warned one is a filthy lie.  

We preview the Blackpool Magic Convention with our hot take on which lectures, shows and performers you cannot afford to miss.  Listen to our exclusive interviews with Max Maven, Ben Hart and Magic Sam to find out what you can expect from their performances at the convention. All this and much more on this week's Talking Tricks.  

Tony Middleton joins us to discuss his journey to producing and performing two weekly West End shows in London and launching a magic bar Maskelyne & Cooke in the capital.  He tells us how stopping for a coffee in a hotel in St Pancras led to gaining a gig as the resident magician, producing shows for David Stone, Chris Dugdale and Mahdi Gilbert and the London Festival of Close-up Magic. He also ch...

Richard Filby joins us to discuss the London opening of his full evening variety show The Richard Filby Spectacule. Richard talks about what led to him finally getting his show off and running above a vintage clothes shop in London, breaking his foot the night before he was last set to open a show and his life and career as a full time street performer in Covent Garden. We also chat about his earl...

We gear up for Christmas by talking the miracles of Jesus with Christian magician Mark Watson. Mark gives us the full story behind Jesus's iconic miracles and his lesser known ones, plus how they have inspired magicians from Paul Daniels and Penn & Teller to Barry & Stewart and Criss Angel and Dynamo.  Find out the true meaning of Christmas and learn about these miracles. 

Tiernan Douieb joins us to talk being a political comedian and preview the upcoming British General Election.  Tiernan tells us what led to him becoming a political comedian, discusses touring as the support act for Frankie Boyle and gives his predictions for this week's General Election. He also tells us everything we need to know about the GE and the party leaders.   

Tom Brace joins us to discuss embarking on a 30-day UK headline tour, finding the perfect blend of magic show to be fun for all the family but not 'too kiddy' and getting his start in magic with a sell out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. We also talk close-up magic gigs in London, disastrous opening nights, the best and worst way to hand out flyers and how to fail your Magic Circle entrance...

Kane & Abel are joined by fellow magicians to discuss the incredible The Amazing Jonathan Documentary following its preview screening at 98 UK cinemas and live Q&A session with Director Ben Berman conducted by Louis Theroux on November 19th 2019. Neil Kelso and Chris Cook chat with Laurence Abel about what we find out about The Amazing Jonathan during the documentary that was supposed to follow hi...

Chris Cook joins us to discuss trusting a real audience member with a real arrow to finish his show, his Tedx Talk, what makes a good trick and his highs and lows from more than half a decade at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Chris also reveal what led to him being named Wedding Magician of the Year and how a near death experience led to him taking magic more seriously.  

Whether you know him as Ken Dyne, Kennedy or just that mind reader guy with the white hair you will know that he is one of the best mentalists on the planet. Ken joins us to discuss how his career only got started because he was showing off with mind reading on a date in a pub, inspirations from palm reading to Max Maven and Al Koran, corporate after dinner performing, how to turn the people in th...

Ash Pryce and Theresa Dewa join us to discuss this year’s Edinburgh Horror Festival. We talk about this year’s programme, including everything from horror stand-up comedy and magic to theatre, movies, drag, poetry, Rocky Horror Picture Show and guided tours. We also discuss the history of seances, mediumship and spiritualist churches plus whether magicians tricks inspired faux-seances or if the ch...

Dave Alnwick joins Talking Tricks to discuss thirteen full houses in a row at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and everything he’s learnt in his time at the world’s largest arts festival. Dave reveals why he is more inspired by authors Dan Harmon and Stephen King than other magicians, adding a narrative to his magic show, growing as an artist and structuring a magic show. He also discusses what led t...

Kane & Abel preview their show SPLIT EGG: A Magic Show About Being Twins and discuss everything that led to it making its London debut. Find out the one question everyone asked that inspired the show’s concept, its name, narrative and two-year journey to opening in the UK’s capital. They also discuss the many magic and variety shows on offer in October including: Jay Adkins – A State of Mind, Grif...

The ‘mind reader who can’t read minds’ Chris Cox joins Talking Tricks to discuss the latest West End run of The Illusionists, the upcoming Broadway run and what it’s really like to be a member of the world’s largest touring magic show. Chris also discusses his role in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, his BBC iPlayer series Mind Boggling Magic, consulting with Heston Blumenthal and much more. He...

Enigmatic contortionist and magician Chris Cross joins Talking Tricks to discuss his upcoming tour of the North East, performing onstage with David Blaine during his UK tour and coming into ownership of Paul Daniels' former illusions. Chris also discusses his relationship with Paul Daniels and planned shows they had before his death, beating Mike Tyson in a test of strength, his two biggest challe...

Regardless of if you know him as Kieron Lefever, Kieron Johnson or Kieron The Mighty you will know Kieron as one of the most inventive and highly-regarded magicians on the planet. He joins us on Talking Tricks to discuss being one of just seven known regurgitators on the planet and how it feels to create cutting-edge magic that is performed by other magicians on stage and screen. Kieron also talks...

Hypnotist Robert Temple discusses his career from performing in pubs in Newcastle aged just seventeen to headline theatre tours via summer seasons and student union gigs. Robert also talks about his recent Edinburgh Fringe run and upcoming tour, the public perception of hypnosis and how to change it, nearly being banned from performing, the differences between magic and hypnosis shows and much mor...

Kane & Abel are joined by Man of Mischief Mark Watson to preview the 72nd Edinburgh Fringe Festival. We give you our top tips on the best magic, cabaret, comedy, musicals, children's shows and theatre on offer this year. We also randomly flick through the guide and highlight shows that standout. Also, get top tips on where to eat during the festival.

Magic Singh talks performing magic at 10 consecutive Glastonbury festivals, the problems that come with using knives and paint ball guns in magic, marketing yourself on Instagram and becoming an influencer, weddings and corporate gigs, his inspirations and TV appearances from the Friday Night Project to Thai breakfast TV and his TEDx Talk. Singh also tells us what one dish he would have if washed...

We’ve washed up some of our favourite magicians, comedians and variety performers on a desert island and given them just one dessert for the rest of their lives. Find out what delicious puddings Talking Tricks alumni Paul Dabek, Ben Hart, Charlie Caper, Ava Beaux, Maggie Fayne, Magic Sam Hurst, Steve Dela, Neil Kelso, Katie Pritchard and Elliot Bibby would have if stranded on our fictional dessert...

Ahead of their six performances at Glastonbury Festival this week, Kane & Abel are joined by genuine festival punter David Lowe to preview everything the festival has to offer. Find out the top tips for who to watch from the world of music, magic, comedy, cabaret, circus and variety during the five-day festival on Worthy Farm. Hear festival memories from comedian and magician Steve Best, magician...

Steve Best joins us on Talking Tricks to discuss his 30-year career as a magician, comedian and photographer. Best discusses the biggest changes in the industry during his career, touring with the likes of Frank Skinner and Harry Hill, nearly suing Joe Pasquale, getting his start playing guitar and performing magic in a bar in Cyprus, touring the world and TV. He also talks about his amazing photo...