Paul Zenon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Zenon
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Paul Zenon in 2012
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| Born |
Paul Collins
29 June 1964 Skipton, Yorkshire, England
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| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | magician, sceptic, comedian, writer |
| Years active | 1980–present |
Paul Zenon (born Paul Collins) is a famous English magician, comedian, and writer. He is well-known for his amazing magic tricks on stage and TV. Paul has also written several books about magic and fun practical jokes.
He is an expert on the history of magic. Paul knows a lot about famous magicians like Harry Houdini. He is also a sceptic. This means he questions claims about psychic abilities and the paranormal. Paul Zenon is a respected member of The Magic Circle. He has won many awards for his comedy and magic.
Contents
Paul Zenon's Career in Magic and Comedy
Paul Zenon started his journey into magic as a teenager. He spent his summer holidays working at 'The House of Secrets'. This was a magic and joke shop in Blackpool. The shop owner, Bill Thompson, became his friend and teacher.
Early Performances and Travels
When he was 19, Paul traveled around Europe. He performed street magic and even ate fire! He also told fortunes to earn extra money. After returning to the UK, he started performing in comedy clubs. Paul also entertained British, UN, and US Forces in many countries. These included Germany, Croatia, and the Falkland Islands.
Performing Around the World
Since the 1980s, Paul has performed at events worldwide. He is a regular at international Arts and Fringe Festivals. These include festivals in Edinburgh, London, and Melbourne. He has performed his own solo shows like 'Turning Tricks'. Paul is also a long-time cast member of the award-winning show 'La Clique'.
Paul Zenon on Television
Paul Zenon has been on TV since 1980. He has appeared as a performer, presenter, and expert. He even performed at a Royal Command Performance. Paul has had four of his own TV specials on Channel 4 and ITV. He is also a regular guest on Channel 4's 'Countdown'. He has appeared on the show about 120 times!
In 2012, Paul worked with comic book artist Vince Ray. They created a special deck of playing cards called the Z-Ray Deck. Paul also gives live talks at universities and conferences.
Acting and Stage Shows
Besides magic and comedy, Paul Zenon has also acted. He had early roles in a Children's BBC show called Tricky Business. He has also written and performed his own stage play. This play is called 'Linking Rings'. It tells the story of his early magic days. The show received great reviews. In 2016, he performed 'Linking Rings' in London's West End.
Awards and Recognition
Paul has received several important awards. In 2015, he won the Carlton Award for Comedy. In 2017, he received the Sir Ken Dodd Comedy Award. This award was presented by Ken Dodd himself. He also won the Neville King Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2019. In the same year, he received the David Berglas Award. This award is for outstanding contributions to magic.
Paul Zenon's Television Appearances
Paul Zenon first appeared on TV in 1980. He was on shows like Fun Factory and New Faces of '86.
Children's TV and Magic Shows
In the early 1990s, Paul starred in Tricky Business on BBC Children's. He played a character named Micky. He also presented Tricks n Tracks on BBC One. For this show, he also helped with the magic tricks. In 1993, Paul created a video called Magic You Can Do.
Creating TV Shows
Paul created and wrote Crazy Cottage. This was an ITV game show that ran for three series. He also had his own Channel 4 show called Paul Zenon – Turning Tricks in 1998. This led to more one-hour magic specials. These included Paul Zenon's Tricky Christmas and Paul Zenon's Trick or Treat. He also made White Magic with Paul Zenon for ITV1.
In 2005, he created Paul Zenon's Revenge Squad for ITV. This show used hidden cameras for pranks. Paul has been a regular guest on Countdown since 2004. He has also appeared on many other shows. These include The One Show, The Culture Show, and The Gadget Show.
Paul Zenon's Charity Work
Paul Zenon is the founder of The Wonderbus. This is a special charity. It helps older people from care homes. The Wonderbus takes them on fun days out. They get to see live entertainment and events.
To raise money for The Wonderbus, Paul has hosted special shows. In 2008, he toured with comedians like Harry Hill and Lee Mack. In 2009, he hosted a benefit show at the London Palladium. Famous comedians like Dara Ó Briain performed there.
Paul Zenon's Views on Scepticism
Paul Zenon has always been a sceptic. This means he questions claims about the paranormal and supernatural. He believes in explaining things with logic and science.
He has spoken out about people who claim to be psychic. Paul believes that many psychic claims can be explained by tricks or other means. He has taken part in many debates on this topic. He has spoken at events like Edinburgh Skeptics and QED Conference. He wants people to think critically about such claims.
Paul Zenon's Books
Paul Zenon has written three books:
- 100 Ways to Win a Tenner: Scams, Cons, Games You Can't Lose! (2003).
- Paul Zenon's Dirty Tricks: Pranks, Wind-Ups and Practical Jokes – A Guide to Getting Your Own Back! (2004).
- Street Magic: Great Tricks and Close-up Secrets Revealed (2005).
His book Street Magic was re-released in 2008. It had new illustrations. 100 Ways to Win a Tenner was also released in other countries. It was called 100 Ways to Win a Ten-Spot in the US. In 2016, shorter versions of his books were released. These were called Paul Zenon's Practical Jokes and Paul Zenon's Practical Magic.
