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Pete Firman facts for kids

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For the English artist and animator, see Peter Firmin.
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Pete Firman
Born
Peter Firman

(1980-04-26) 26 April 1980 (age 45)
Middlesbrough, England
Occupation Comedian, illusionist, television presenter, actor
Years active 2003–present

Pete Firman, born on April 26, 1980, is a talented English magician, comedian, and television presenter. He's known for making people laugh while amazing them with his magic tricks.

You might have seen him on TV! He has appeared on many magic shows across channels like BBC1, ITV, Channel 4, and Sky1. He also hosted two fun game shows for kids on CBBC: Stake Out and Wait for It..!. Pete was also one of the main magicians on the BBC One show The Magicians. Today, he performs his exciting shows live in theatres and comedy clubs all around the world.

Pete's Early Life and Magic Beginnings

Pete Firman was born in a town called Middlesbrough, England. His interest in magic started when he was just eight years old. His mom bought him a magic book, and that's where his journey began!

He went to Acklam Grange Secondary School. There, he showed off his skills and won the school talent show not just once, but twice! After school, he studied at Middlesbrough College. Later, he went to the University of Hull's campus in Scarborough. He earned a degree in theatre, which helped him learn how to perform for an audience.

Pete started performing his magic tricks in pubs. He wanted to find more regular places to perform. He realized that adding comedy to his magic made it even better. He always tried to make his magic funny and lighthearted, never taking himself too seriously.

Pete's TV Career and Magic Shows

Pete's big chance came in 2002. A TV company called Objective Productions was looking for new magicians for a show. Pete sent them a video of himself doing tricks. They liked him right away!

Monkey Magic and Early Shows

In 2003, Pete joined the cast of Monkey Magic on Five. This show featured four magicians, each with their own special style. It was a big hit and was even nominated for a British Comedy Award! A second series of Monkey Magic aired in 2004.

Pete also helped host The Greatest Magic Tricks in the Universe... Ever. This show counted down the most amazing magic tricks of all time. It featured famous illusions like Horace Goldin's sawing a woman in half and David Copperfield's Vanishing the Statue of Liberty.

In 2005, Pete traveled the world for The Secret World of Magic on Sky1. He went with fellow magician Ali Cook. They met famous magicians like Mac King and Juan Tamariz. They also performed their own sleight of hand tricks on the streets of cities like Paris, New York, and Las Vegas.

Dirty Tricks and Other Appearances

Pete co-hosted Dirty Tricks on Channel 4 in 2005. This show was known for its unique and sometimes edgy magic. It featured other magicians and even celebrities like Stephen Fry. The show was also nominated for an award!

Pete has also been a special guest on other shows. In 2008, he appeared on Don't Miss a Trick on BBC One. He also hosted two game shows for kids on BBC1: Stake Out (2008) and Wait For It..! (2009).

In 2012, Pete was one of the featured magicians on The Magicians. This was a live magic show on BBC1, which was very exciting because anything could happen! He also appeared as a contestant on ITV's The Next Great Magician in 2016.

Live Theatre Performances

Pete Firman loves performing live for audiences. In 2007, he performed his first solo show called Hokum at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. This is a huge arts festival in Scotland.

Since then, Pete has performed a brand new show at the Edinburgh Festival every year. His shows have received great reviews from critics. The Telegraph newspaper even called him "the new poster-boy for British comedy magic."

He has also toured his solo theatre shows all across the UK. In 2008, he was invited to perform at the Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal, Canada.

Pete as an Author

In 2006, Pete Firman wrote his first book, Tricks to Freak Out Your Friends. In this book, he shares some fun and surprising secrets. For example, he teaches readers "how to crack your nose" and "how to take a bite out of a glass." He also includes simple card tricks and even how to pretend to swallow knives! The famous mentalist Derren Brown wrote the introduction for the book.

Selected Television Appearances

  • Monkey Magic (2003)
  • The Greatest Magic Tricks in the Universe... Ever (2003)
  • The Secret World of Magic (2005)
  • Dirty Tricks (2005)
  • Don't Miss A Trick (2008)
  • Stake Out (2008)
  • Wait For It..! (2009)
  • The Magicians (2012)
  • Celebrity Mastermind (2013)
  • The Next Great Magician (2016)
  • Good Omens (series 2, 2023)

Selected Theatre Shows

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