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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

Peter "Pete" Firman (born April 26, 1980) is a talented English magician, comedian, television presenter, and actor. He is famous for combining magic tricks with comedy, making his shows both amazing and funny.

Pete has been on many TV shows across different channels in the UK. These include BBC1, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, and Sky1. He also presented two 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 in its second series. Today, Pete performs his live magic and comedy shows in theatres and comedy clubs all around the world.

Pete Firman's Early Life and Magic Beginnings

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

He went to Acklam Grange Secondary School, where he won the school talent show twice! After school, he studied at Middlesbrough College. Later, he went to the University of Hull Scarborough Campus. There, he earned a degree in theatre, which helped him learn how to perform on stage.

Before becoming famous, Pete performed his magic tricks in pubs. He wanted a more regular place to perform. He realized that his magic was already funny and lighthearted. So, he decided to explore the world of comedy.

Pete Firman's Career in Magic and Comedy

Pete Firman got his first big chance in 2002. A TV company called Objective Productions was looking for new magicians. Pete sent them a video of himself doing tricks. He was chosen almost right away!

TV Magic Shows and Appearances

In 2003, Pete met fellow magician Ali Cook. They became friends and even shared a flat for a few years. During this time, they created new magic routines together.

  • Monkey Magic: The first TV show Pete was on was Monkey Magic in 2003. It was a seven-part series on Channel 5. The show featured four magicians, each with their own special style. It was very popular and even nominated for awards! A second series aired in 2004.
  • The Greatest Magic Tricks: 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.
  • The Secret World of Magic: In 2005, Pete traveled the world for The Secret World of Magic on Sky1. He went with Ali Cook, meeting and interviewing famous magicians. They also performed their own sleight of hand tricks on the streets of cities like Paris, New York City, and Las Vegas.
  • Dirty Tricks: Pete co-hosted Dirty Tricks on Channel 4 in 2005. This show was known for its unique and sometimes surprising magic. It featured other magicians and even celebrities.
  • Game Show Host: Pete has hosted two game shows for kids on BBC1. These were Stake Out in 2008 and Wait For It..! in 2009.
  • The Magicians: In 2012, Pete was one of the main magicians on The Magicians on BBC1. This was a big Saturday night show and was special because it was broadcast live!

Live Theatre Shows

Pete Firman loves performing live on stage.

  • Edinburgh Festival Fringe: 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 there almost every year. His shows have received great reviews from critics.
  • UK Tours: Pete has also toured all over the UK many times with his solo theatre shows.
  • Just for Laughs: In 2008, he was invited to perform at the Just for Laughs comedy festival in Montreal, Canada. This is one of the biggest comedy festivals in the world!

Pete Firman as an Author

In 2006, Pete Firman wrote his first book, called Tricks to Freak Out Your Friends. In this book, he shares the secrets behind some cool illusions. These include tricks like how to make it look like you're cracking your nose or taking a bite out of a glass. He also teaches simple card tricks and how to perform the illusion of swallowing knives. The book even has a special introduction written by the famous mentalist Derren Brown.

Television Appearances

  • Monkey Magic (2003)
  • The Greatest Magic Tricks in the Universe... Ever (2003)
  • Monkey Magic 2 (2004)
  • The Secret World of Magic (2005)
  • Dirty Tricks (2005)
  • Greatest Ever Comedy Movies (2006)
  • Greatest Ever Disaster Movies (2007)
  • Saturday LIVE Again (2007)
  • The Convention Crasher (2007)
  • Comedy Cuts (2008)
  • Don't Miss A Trick (2008)
  • For One Night Only (2008)
  • Stake Out (CBBC game show) (2008)
  • Derren Brown Presents: 3D Magic Spectacular (2009)
  • Wait For It..! (2009)
  • This Morning (2010)
  • Comedy Rocks with Jason Manford (2011)
  • Edinburgh Comedy Fest Live (2011)
  • E4 Comedy Summit (2011)
  • TV's 50 Greatest Magic Tricks (2011)
  • The Magicians (2012)
  • BBC Breakfast (2012)
  • The One Show (2012)
  • Something For The Weekend (2012)
  • The Body Shocking Show (2013)
  • Celebrity Mastermind (2013)
  • Come Dine With Me - Comedians Special (2013)
  • The Sarah Millican Television Programme (2013)
  • Jon Richardson Grows Up (2014)
  • Edinburgh Comedy Fest Live (2014)
  • The John Bishop Show (2015)
  • The Magic Show Story (2015)
  • Now You See It (2015)
  • When Magic Tricks Go Horribly Wrong (2016)
  • The Next Great Magician (2016)
  • Weekend (2016)
  • BBC Breakfast (2016)
  • Tommy Cooper Forever (2017)
  • Let's Sing & Dance for Comic Relief (2017)
  • Tonight at the London Palladium (2017)
  • Don't Unleash the Beast (2020)
  • Good Omens (series 2, 2023)

Theatre Shows

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