Tricky TV
Encyclopedia
Tricky TV is a fast paced modern magic show for CITV
. Presented by children's presenter and magician Stephen Mulhern
, the show features magic on the street, "wicked wind-ups", illusions, and teaches a number of tricks step-by-step.
.
In Series 1, Mulhern was joined each week by one or more special guest celebrities such as Aryaman Chauhan, who often took part in a number of tricks during the show, and also usually participated in the show's closing illusion. In Series 2, the show format changed slightly, and the different special guests were replaced by Mulhern's regular co-presenter on Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown
, Holly Willoughby
, who acted as his assistant in the closing illusions. Then in series 3, the format is dramatically redesigned as Stephen Mulhern presents more in the background and allows a 'Tricky Team' of young magicians to perform the illusions.
, Globo Loco
and Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown
which also starred Stephen.
Tricky TV was first broadcast in the 4pm slot on ITV
from 5 September 2005. Creative consultant was Paul Andrews. The show's executive producer was Vanessa Hill for The Foundation. Series 2 was produced by Ian France and directed by Paul Andrews.
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
. Presented by children's presenter and magician Stephen Mulhern
Stephen Mulhern
Stephen Daniel Mulhern is a British TV presenter, entertainer, and former magician. He began presenting in the studio on CITV in May 1998 and became a leading presenter until he left in August 2002. He has presented a number of shows, including SMTV Live, Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown and...
, the show features magic on the street, "wicked wind-ups", illusions, and teaches a number of tricks step-by-step.
Synopsis
The show featured magic tricks ranging from making a tank vanish to making an entire football team appear. The "wicked wind-ups" included a gorilla that came to life and a cinema with exploding popcorn and unstoppable drinks machines. Classic con tricks were also exposed in "Beat the Cheat". Each show usually closed with a performance of a classic "grand illusion", such as Sawing a Woman in HalfSawing a woman in half
Sawing a woman in half is a generic name for a number of different stage magic tricks in which a person is apparently sawn or divided into two or more pieces.-History:...
.
In Series 1, Mulhern was joined each week by one or more special guest celebrities such as Aryaman Chauhan, who often took part in a number of tricks during the show, and also usually participated in the show's closing illusion. In Series 2, the show format changed slightly, and the different special guests were replaced by Mulhern's regular co-presenter on Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown
Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown
The Ministry of Mayhem was a CITV show which broadcast on the ITV Network from January 2004. As of January 2006, the onscreen name was Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown. It was the last regular studio-based Saturday morning show on ITV....
, Holly Willoughby
Holly Willoughby
Holly Marie Willoughby is an English television presenter and model, known for her work in presenting children's TV and entertainment shows. In her early career she modelled underwear and went on to present CD:UK...
, who acted as his assistant in the closing illusions. Then in series 3, the format is dramatically redesigned as Stephen Mulhern presents more in the background and allows a 'Tricky Team' of young magicians to perform the illusions.
Episode 1
- Original air date: September 5, 2005.
- Special guest: Jennifer EllisonJennifer EllisonJennifer Lesley Ellison is an English actress, glamour model, television personality, dancer and singer...
. - A full-sized model gorilla comes to life, Stephen makes a dream come true for a class of schoolkids - by causing their teachers to vanish. Jennifer Ellison is amazed by a card trick,
Episode 2
- Original air date: September 12, 2005.
- In this episode, Stephen Mulhern attempts to make a tank disappear, a boy is put through a mangle, a cookery class gets out of hand, and a classic confidence trickConfidence trickA confidence trick is an attempt to defraud a person or group by gaining their confidence. A confidence artist is an individual working alone or in concert with others who exploits characteristics of the human psyche such as dishonesty and honesty, vanity, compassion, credulity, irresponsibility,...
is explained in Beat the Cheat.
Episode 4
- Original air date: September 26, 2005.
- Special guest: The Cheeky GirlsThe Cheeky GirlsThe Cheeky Girls are a pop duo consisting of twin sisters Gabriela and Monica Irimia, from Cluj-Napoca in Transylvania, Romania, but based in Britain. After appearing as auditionees in Popstars: The Rivals, they achieved success in the charts with four top ten hits between 2002 and 2004...
. - In this episode, the Cheeky Girls help Stephen perform a trick with playing cards - by sitting on them. Plus Stephen demonstrates a trick where a handkerchief turns into an egg with a touch of magic.
Episode 5
- Original air date: October 3, 2005.
- Special guest: Bradley Walsh.
- In this episode, Stephen amazes actor Bradley Walsh with a football-themed card trick and tries to turn an old family car into something much classier. Plus, the sight of a harmless plastic spider alarms members of the public.
Episode 6
- Original air date: October 10, 2005.
- Special guest: Rachel StevensRachel StevensRachel Lauren Stevens is an English singer-songwriter, actress, presenter, dancer, television personality and model. She is a former member of the successful pop group S Club, and launched a solo recording career in 2003, releasing seven singles and two albums in the UK between 2003 and 2005...
. - In this episode, magical mayhem abounds on a school trip to the cinema, and singer Rachel Stevens is amazed when Stephen performs a mind-boggling trick with her expensive ring. Plus, Stephen produces a fridge out of nowhere and encounters the Table of DeathTable of deathThe table of death is a predicament escape that is alternately considered as falling into the categories of a magic trick or an act of escapology.-Description:...
, where he has to escape from his shackles before a bed of sharp spikes falls and impales him.
Episode 7
- Original air date: October 17, 2005.
- Special guest: Jack OsbourneJack OsbourneJack Joseph Osbourne is an English media personality, best known as the son of musician Ozzy Osbourne and music manager Sharon Osbourne, and brother of Aimee and Kelly Osbourne.-Early life and family:...
. - In this episode, Stephen presents a baffling trick with a box of tissues and shows the secret of card prediction, while guest Jack Osbourne receives some unusual help to overcome his jet-lag.
Episode 8
- Original air date: October 24, 2005.
- Special guest: Joe PasqualeJoe PasqualeJoseph Ellis "Joe" Pasquale is an English comedian from Grays, Essex, arguably most famous for his high-pitched voice, use of visual gags and more recently being crowned "King of the Jungle", on the reality TV show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!...
. - In this episode, comedian Joe Pasquale plays a version of Russian roulette, and Stephen tries to turn a pack of cub scouts into brownies.
Episode 9
- Original air date: October 31, 2005.
- Special guest: Peter AndrePeter AndréPeter James Andrea , better known by the stage name as Peter Andre, is an English-born Australian musician, singer-songwriter, television personality and businessman. As a recording artist, he has achieving four top 10 UK albums and ten top 10 singles.-Early life:Andre was born at Northwick Park...
. - Stephen makes a sleeping person levitate, and singer Peter Andre receives a shock when the presenter attempts a trick using a fearsome fork.
Episode 10
- Original air date: November 7, 2005.
- Special guest: Mischa BartonMischa BartonMischa Anne Marsden Barton is a British-American fashion model, film, television, and stage actress, best known for her role as Marissa Cooper in the American television series The O.C..-Early life:...
. - In this episode, Stephen teaches special guest Mischa Barton a trick called “The Infected Ear”. In this trick, she uses a sewing needle to thread a length of dental floss through the hole in her pierced ear. Having tied it in a knot to form a continuous loop passing through and underneath her earlobe, she pulls it straight through her lobe without ripping it.
Episode 2
- Original air date: March 17, 2006.
- Special guest:
Episode 3
- Original air date: March 24, 2006.
- Special guest: David BeckhamDavid BeckhamDavid Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
. - In this episode, Stephen makes Holly’s wedding ring vanish from inside her closed hand and then reappear inside a rose, and brings a David Beckham waxwork to life.
Episode 10
- Original air date: May 12, 2006.
- Stephen attends a school in Denbigh and puts a schoolgirl called Sophie through an illusion called the Wringer where she is flattened.
Episode 12
- Original air date: May 26, 2006.
- Stephen surprises a mother with some conjuring, and takes to the high seas for an illusion with pirates. Plus, magic tips for viewers in the Secret Circle.
Tricky Quickies
Tricky Quickies is a cut down version of the show which has a duration of 5 minutes. Series 1, 10 editions. Series 2, 15 editions.Production
The show is produced by The Foundation, the same company that makes Finger TipsFinger Tips
Finger Tips is a television programme produced by RDF Media's Children's production division, The Foundation. It is made primarily for CITV and was first broadcast in 2001....
, Globo Loco
Globo Loco
Globo Loco is a British children's game show that aired on CITV from 16 May 2003 to 28 January 2005, presented by Stephen Mulhern.The show featured two teams of children, boys and girls, who tried to predict the outcome of often crazy challenges, each. If their prediction was closest they each won...
and Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown
Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown
The Ministry of Mayhem was a CITV show which broadcast on the ITV Network from January 2004. As of January 2006, the onscreen name was Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown. It was the last regular studio-based Saturday morning show on ITV....
which also starred Stephen.
Tricky TV was first broadcast in the 4pm slot on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
from 5 September 2005. Creative consultant was Paul Andrews. The show's executive producer was Vanessa Hill for The Foundation. Series 2 was produced by Ian France and directed by Paul Andrews.
Series Guide
| Series | Premiere | Last in series | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 September 2005 | 13 November 2005 | 10 |
| 2 | 10 March 2006 | 2 June 2006 | 13 |
| 3 | 14 September 2010 | 15 October 2010 | 20 |
The Quick Trick Show
The Quick Trick Show is a British children's television series. It was presented by Stephen Mulhurn and like it's sister show, Tricky TV, the show featured magic tricks, "wicked wind-ups", illusions, and teached a number of tricks step-by-step. Five series in total were produced and aired on CITV between 1999 and 2002.Series Guide
| Series | Premiere | Last in series | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 April 1999 | 18 May 1999 | 6 |
| 2 | 23 February 2000 | 5 April 2000 | 7 |
| 3 | 27 February 2001 | 20 March 2001 | 13 |
| 4 | 24 September 2001 | 11 October 2001 | 13 |
| 5 | 16 October 2002 | 18 December 2002 | 10 |
External links
- Tricky TV at itv.com/citvItv.comitv.com is the main website of ITV plc, the UK's largest commercial television broadcaster which operates 11 out of 15 regions on the ITV network under the ITV1 brand. The website offers on-line streaming, ITV archive, news, sport, entertainment, games, soaps, lifestyle, drama and an interactive TV...