Tricky TV facts for kids

Tricky TV was a cool British TV show that aired on CITV from 2005 to 2010. It was hosted by the awesome magician Stephen Mulhern. The show was packed with amazing street magic, funny pranks, big illusions, and even taught you how to do some magic tricks yourself!

Show Format

Tricky TV was all about incredible magic. Stephen Mulhern would make huge things disappear, like a tank! He even made an entire football team suddenly appear.

The show had fun segments:

• Wicked Wind-ups: These were funny pranks. Imagine a gorilla coming to life or popcorn exploding at the cinema!
• Beat the Cheat: This part showed you how some classic tricks, used by con artists, actually work. It helped you understand how to spot them.
• Grand Illusion: Almost every show ended with a big, classic magic trick. One famous one was sawing a woman in half!

Stephen Mulhern performing a magic trick for a child at Chessington World of Adventures while filming the show.

In the first two series, famous people often joined Stephen. They would help with tricks or even be part of the big closing illusion. For Series 3, the show changed a bit. Stephen was still the main host, but a "Tricky Team" of young magicians helped perform the illusions.

Show Dates

Here's when Tricky TV was on air:

Episodes and Tricks

Tricky TV had three exciting series, full of different magic tricks and guest stars.

Series 1 Highlights

Series 1 had ten episodes, airing in late 2005. Stephen Mulhern performed many cool tricks.

• He made a model gorilla come to life!
• He made a whole class of teachers disappear.
• Famous guests like Jennifer Ellison and Caprice were amazed by card tricks and even helped with illusions like the "Zigzag Girl."
• The Cheeky Girls helped Stephen saw them in half and switch their lower bodies!
• Other tricks included making a tank vanish, transforming an old car, and making a poster come to life.
• Rachel Stevens had her expensive ring vanish and was sawn in half while standing up.
• Peter Andre got a shock with a fork trick, and Stephen showed how to make someone float.

Series 2 Highlights

Series 2 ran in early 2006 and had thirteen episodes. More amazing magic happened!

• Stephen visited Blackpool beach, making people appear and disappear.
• He showed how magicians make ice cream and even gave a donkey a ride!
• A cool trick involved bringing a David Beckham waxwork to life.
• Nikki Sanderson was amazed by a bottle trick.
• Phillip Schofield saw some close-up magic, and Stephen made a viewer's mother float high above London.
• Tricks included making a gymnastics coach's body disappear, leaving just her head and legs.
• Stephen stretched and squashed a bodybuilder to impossible sizes!
• He also sawed his assistant, Holly, in half while she was standing up.

Series 3 Highlights

Series 3 had twenty episodes and aired in late 2010. This series changed things up with the "Tricky Team" of young magicians helping out.

• Girls Aloud joined Stephen at the seaside for some magic.
• Sporty magic was performed with special guest Nell McAndrew.
• The young apprentices showed off their own magic skills throughout the series.

Tricky Quickies

There was also a shorter version of the show called Tricky Quickies. These episodes were only five minutes long. Series 1 had 10 episodes, and Series 2 had 15 episodes.

The Quick Trick Show

Before Tricky TV, Stephen Mulhern hosted a similar show called The Quick Trick Show. It also featured magic, pranks, illusions, and how-to guides. This show had five series and aired on CITV from 1999 to 2002.

Series Guide

Here's when The Quick Trick Show was on:

Where Tricky TV Aired Around the World

Tricky TV was popular in many countries!

• It aired in Southeast Asia on Cartoon Network Asia.
• In Germany, you could watch it on Super RTL.
• People in the Arab World watched it on MBC 4.
• It was shown in Iceland on Stöð 2 and in Norway on NRK Super.
• In Canada, it aired on VRAK.TV.
• Kids in India watched it on Nickelodeon.
• It was also on ATV World in Hong Kong and Disney XD in Japan.