TV's 50 Greatest Magic Tricks

Not to be confused with 50 Greatest Magic Tricks.

TV's 50 Greatest Magic Tricks is a one-off list show that was produced by Objective Productions for Channel 5. The programme counts down the fifty greatest magic tricks – The Magic Bullet by Penn & Teller is the illusion at number one.^[1] The show was presented by the British actress Fay Ripley, 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.^[2] Contributors to the programme included Penn & Teller, Paul Daniels and Dynamo.^[3] Two tricks by the British magician Pete Firman featured in the list, with his Goldfish Trick in the top ten.^[4]

TV's 50 Greatest Magic Tricks
Genre	Clip show Documentary Entertainment
Directed by	Helen Albon
Narrated by	Fay Ripley
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Production
Executive producers	Matt Crook Anthony Owen Andrew Newman
Producer	Helen Albon
Camera setup	Single-camera
Production company	Objective
Original release
Network	Channel 5
Release	31 December 2011 (2011-12-31)

Magic tricks

1. The Magic Bullet (Penn & Teller, 1996)
2. Death Saw (David Copperfield)
3. Russian Roulette (Derren Brown, 2003)
4. Chop Cup (Paul Daniels, 1985)
5. The Cardboard Box Illusion (Shahid & Lisa Malik, 2000)
6. Walking on Water (Dynamo, 2011)
7. Goldfish Trick (Pete Firman, 2005)
8. Challenge of the Death Dive (Robert Gallup, 1996)
9. Cigarette Routine (Tom Mullica, 1996)
10. Quick Change (David & Dania, 2006)
11. Blended Mouse (Pete Firman, 2005)
12. Metamorphosis (The Pendragons, 1983)
13. Shoe Trick (John Lenahan, 2003)
14. Dream (Siegfried & Roy, 1994)
15. Torn and Restored Newspaper (The Great Soprendo, 1982)
16. Guillotine (Simon Drake, 1992)
17. Pool Shark (Paul Zenon, 2000)
18. The Tube Experiment (Derren Brown, 2001)
19. Iron Maiden (Paul Daniels, 1987)
20. Hummer Illusion, (Franz Harary, 2006)
21. Spreadwave (Mathieu Bich, 2011)
22. Coin Trick (Criss Angel, 2005)
23. Houdini's Water Torture Escape (Ali Cook, 2002)
24. Truck Trick (Penn & Teller, 1990)
25. Levitation (David Blaine)
26. Card Manipulation (An Ha Lim)
27. Pulse Stopping (David Berglas, 1986)
28. Motorcycle Illusion (Doug Henning, 1983)
29. Snowball Trick (Dynamo, 2011)
30. Flying (David Copperfield)
31. Sawing in Half (Kevin James, 2007)
32. Goldfish Transformation (Criss Angel)
33. Silhouette (Simon Drake, 1992)
34. Homunculus (Barry & Stuart, 2005)
35. Tax Disc Trick (Paul Zenon, 2000)
36. Doves (Lance Burton, 1982)
37. Interlude (Siegfried & Roy)
38. Floating Lightbulb (Harry Blackstone Jr., 1986)
39. Toe Cards (Ali Cook, 2002)
40. Signed and Restored Card (Piff the Magic Dragon, 2011)
41. Spoon Bending (Uri Geller, 1983)
42. Card Revelation (David Blaine)
43. Portal (David Copperfield)
44. Any Card at Any Number (Marc Paul, 2002)
45. One Million Pound Vanish (Paul Daniels, 1984)
46. 673 King Street (James Galea, 2009)
47. Bottle Glass (Tommy Cooper, 1971)
48. Tower Bridge Vanish (Franz Harary, 2004)
49. Miser's Dream (Penn & Teller, 2011)
50. Floating Guitar (Dynamo, 2011)^[1]

Reception

Following the original broadcast in 2011, Channel 5 repeated TV's 50 Greatest Magic Tricks multiple times, including in 2012 and 2013.^[5] When broadcast in 2012, the programme achieved an average of one million viewers and an audience share of 3.9%.^[6]

References

1. TV's 50 Greatest Magic Tricks. 31 December 2011. Channel 5 Broadcasting Limited. Channel 5.
2. "TV's 50 Greatest Magic Tricks". London: Channel 5. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
3. Rackham, Jane. "TV's 50 Greatest Magic Tricks". Radio Times. London: Immediate Media. ISSN 0033-8060. OCLC 796069008. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
4. "TV's 50 Greatest Magic Tricks". petefirman.co.uk. 2014. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
5. Pratt, Steve (25 October 2013). "Talent spotter". The Northern Echo. Darlington: Newsquest. ISSN 2043-0442. OCLC 6685296. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
6. Sweney, Mark (27 December 2012). "Miranda wins Harts with 10 million viewers ahead of That Dog Can Dance!". The Guardian. London. ISSN 1756-3224. OCLC 60623878. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.

External links

• Official website
• TV's 50 Greatest Magic Tricks at IMDb
• TV's 50 Greatest Magic Tricks at TheTVDB