Ali Cook
Encyclopedia
Ali Cook is an English
magician, comedian, actor and film producer originating from Yorkshire
.
Cook is known best for writing and starring in seven British television magic shows for Channel 4
, Channel 5, and Sky1, produced by Objective Productions
.
Cook is a respected headliner on the British stand up comedy circuit. His 2010 Edinburgh show “Pieces of strange” was in the top 2% of best reviewed shows according to the British Comedy Guide
and caused a sensation with a "genuinely astounding" Houdini-inspired water tank escape (Chortle review).
His 2011 show Principles and Deceptions was deemed "perfection" and nominated for Broadway Baby's six-star award (Broadway Baby review).
's controversial television sketch show Jerry@Trick Show before moving on to co-write and star in many high-profile TV series, including Monkey Magic (nominated for The Golden Rose of Montreux
), Psychic Secrets Revealed with Derren Brown
(both for Channel 5)and the Secret World of Magic for Sky One
.
Cook was the star of Channel Four’s critically acclaimed late night show Dirty Tricks
(nominated for a British Comedy Award and The Golden Rose of Montreux
).
Cook starred in the first Penn & Teller: Fool Us
(ITV1
) hosted by Jonathan Ross
. In 2011 he performed his Houdini-style water Torture Escape on The Slammer
(CBBC
). He has also starred in the prestigious France 2
series Le Plus Grand Cabaret du monde produced by Magic TV
.
comedy award.
, Dirty Tricks was described as "magic meets Natural Born Killers
". Hosted by Barry and Stuart
, the show had regular spots from Cook and the Monkey Magic boys Pete Firman
and Jonathan’s Escapes. There were also appearances from international variety acts and celebrities, including Penn and Teller and Kevin James. It was nominated for a Rose D’Or Comedy award in Montreaux.
Cook demonstrated a range of psychic feats such as bending keys, walking on fire, contacting the dead, spirit guides, and clairvoyance. Psychological illusionist Derren Brown
and psychologist Dr. Richard Wiseman
then explained how these feats could be being more psychological than paranormal.
Cook and his Monkey Magic co-stars hosted this series, which included tricks such as Horace Goldin
's sawing a woman in half and David Copperfield
vanishing the Statue of Liberty
.
, Juan Tamariz
, and Max Maven
.
in Chicago and Los Angeles. He has also studied at The Actors Temple
with lead tutor Mark Radcliffe and been coached by Paul Gregory. He has played the lead role in ten British short film dramas, most notably the psychotic character Greg in Andrew Saunder's and Stephen Frears
Striklem .
In 2007 he wrote, produced and starred in his own Comedy short, The Enchanter: The Crime Fighting Magician, a spoof of 1970s detective series, directed by Adrian Vitoria.
Cook has recently acted alongside Bob Hoskins
, Phil Davis
and Jenny Agutter
in the feature film Outside Bet
directed by Sacha Bennett
(2011).
), Pieces of Strange (2010) "Astoundingly impressive"(Mail on Sunday) and Principles and Deceptions (2011) "Mischief of the slickest kind" (The Daily Telegraph
).
and Dark Tide
starring Halle Berry
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
magician, comedian, actor and film producer originating from Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
.
Cook is known best for writing and starring in seven British television magic shows for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, Channel 5, and Sky1, produced by Objective Productions
Objective Productions
OBJECTIVE PRODUCTIONS is a UK-based television production company, based in London and Glasgow and was founded by Andrew O'Connor and Michael Vine in 1991...
.
Cook is a respected headliner on the British stand up comedy circuit. His 2010 Edinburgh show “Pieces of strange” was in the top 2% of best reviewed shows according to the British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide
The British Comedy Guide or BCG is a British website covering all forms of British comedy, across all media. At the time of writing, the BCG has published guides to more than 1,200 individual British comedies - primarily TV and radio situation comedy, sketch shows, comedy dramas, satire, variety...
and caused a sensation with a "genuinely astounding" Houdini-inspired water tank escape (Chortle review).
His 2011 show Principles and Deceptions was deemed "perfection" and nominated for Broadway Baby's six-star award (Broadway Baby review).
Television career
Cook began as a sketch actor on Jerry SadowitzJerry Sadowitz
Jerry Sadowitz is an American-born Scottish stand-up comic and card magician, known for his frequently controversial "sick humour". An accomplished practitioner of sleight of hand, he has written several books on magic and invented many conjuring innovations. He is widely acclaimed as one of the...
's controversial television sketch show Jerry@Trick Show before moving on to co-write and star in many high-profile TV series, including Monkey Magic (nominated for The Golden Rose of Montreux
Rose d'Or
The Rose d’Or is one of the most important international festivals in entertainment television. It was founded in Montreux in 1961 and has taken place in Lucerne since 2004. Producers, executives from independent and public service broadcasters and heads of production companies from over 40...
), Psychic Secrets Revealed with Derren Brown
Derren Brown
Derren Victor Brown is a British illusionist, mentalist, painter, writer and sceptic. He is known for his appearances in television specials, stage productions and British television series such as Trick of the Mind and Trick or Treat...
(both for Channel 5)and the Secret World of Magic for Sky One
Sky One
Sky1 is the flagship BSkyB entertainment channel available in the United Kingdom and Ireland.The channel first launched on 26 April 1982 as Satellite Television, and is the fourth-oldest TV channel in the United Kingdom, behind BBC One , ITV and BBC Two...
.
Cook was the star of Channel Four’s critically acclaimed late night show Dirty Tricks
Dirty tricks
Dirty tricks are unethical, duplicitous, slanderous or illegal tactics employed to destroy or diminish the effectiveness of political or business opponents...
(nominated for a British Comedy Award and The Golden Rose of Montreux
Rose d'Or
The Rose d’Or is one of the most important international festivals in entertainment television. It was founded in Montreux in 1961 and has taken place in Lucerne since 2004. Producers, executives from independent and public service broadcasters and heads of production companies from over 40...
).
Cook starred in the first Penn & Teller: Fool Us
Penn & Teller: Fool Us
Penn & Teller: Fool Us is a British entertainment comedy television programme. Hosted by Jonathan Ross, Fool Us is a magic competition show, which challenges magicians to perform in front of American magician/comedian duo Penn & Teller...
(ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
) hosted by Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross may refer to:* Jonathan Ross , English television and radio personality* Jonathan Ross , United States Senator, Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court* Jonathon Ross , former Australian rules footballer...
. In 2011 he performed his Houdini-style water Torture Escape on The Slammer
The Slammer
The Slammer is a Children's Talent show that has been broadcasting on BBC One since 22 September 2006.Set in a fictional prison called HM Slammer, this programme follows a variety show format where “prisoners” compete, by performing to an audience, who decide which act should be released.The show...
(CBBC
CBBC
CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
). He has also starred in the prestigious France 2
France 2
France 2 is a French public national television channel. It is part of the state-owned France Télévisions group, along with France 3, France 4, France 5 and France Ô...
series Le Plus Grand Cabaret du monde produced by Magic TV
Magic TV
Magic TV is a British music television station owned by Box Television. It plays mainly easy listening music videos and is based on the Magic Radio network also owned by Bauer...
.
Television
- 2011 Le Plus Grand Cabaret du monde, Magic TVMagic TVMagic TV is a British music television station owned by Box Television. It plays mainly easy listening music videos and is based on the Magic Radio network also owned by Bauer...
, France 2France 2France 2 is a French public national television channel. It is part of the state-owned France Télévisions group, along with France 3, France 4, France 5 and France Ô... - 2011 The SlammerThe SlammerThe Slammer is a Children's Talent show that has been broadcasting on BBC One since 22 September 2006.Set in a fictional prison called HM Slammer, this programme follows a variety show format where “prisoners” compete, by performing to an audience, who decide which act should be released.The show...
, CBBCCBBCCBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14... - 2011 Penn & Teller: Fool UsPenn & Teller: Fool UsPenn & Teller: Fool Us is a British entertainment comedy television programme. Hosted by Jonathan Ross, Fool Us is a magic competition show, which challenges magicians to perform in front of American magician/comedian duo Penn & Teller...
, September FilmsSeptember FilmsSeptember Films, a UK independent television and film production company, is a division of UK independent production and distribution group DCD Media...
, ITV1ITV1ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their... - 2010 Talk of the TerraceTalk of the TerraceTalk of the Terrace is a British ESPN Magazine show hosted on Mondays between 6.30-8.00pm during the football season.-Presenters:The first series was hosted by BBC Sport presenter Mark Chapman and former Sky Sports and Setanta host Kelly Cates...
, ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming.... - 2005 Dirty Tricks, Objective ProductionsObjective ProductionsOBJECTIVE PRODUCTIONS is a UK-based television production company, based in London and Glasgow and was founded by Andrew O'Connor and Michael Vine in 1991...
, Channel 4Channel 4Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel... - 2004 Secret World of Magic, Objective Productions, Sky OneSky OneSky1 is the flagship BSkyB entertainment channel available in the United Kingdom and Ireland.The channel first launched on 26 April 1982 as Satellite Television, and is the fourth-oldest TV channel in the United Kingdom, behind BBC One , ITV and BBC Two...
- 2003 Monkey Magic Two, Objective Productions, Channel 5 (UK)
- 2003 Psychic, Objective Productions, Channel 5 (UK)
- 2002 Monkey Magic, Objective Productions, Channel 5 (UK)
- 2002 The Jerry@trick Show, Ronin Entertainments, Channel 5 (UK)
Monkey Magic
Monkey Magic played for two seasons of seven half-hour shows and a Christmas special on the Channel 5 network in the UK, commissioned by Andrew Newman. The show featured Cook and three fellow magicians showcasing their unique skills and comic personas to perform a variety of magic tricks. It was nominated for the Golden Rose D’OrRose d'Or
The Rose d’Or is one of the most important international festivals in entertainment television. It was founded in Montreux in 1961 and has taken place in Lucerne since 2004. Producers, executives from independent and public service broadcasters and heads of production companies from over 40...
comedy award.
Dirty Tricks
A six-part series for Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, Dirty Tricks was described as "magic meets Natural Born Killers
Natural Born Killers
Natural Born Killers is a 1994 crime/black comedy film directed by Oliver Stone about two victims of traumatic childhoods who became lovers and psychopathic serial killers, and are irresponsibly glorified by the mass media...
". Hosted by Barry and Stuart
Barry and Stuart
Barry Jones and Stuart MacLeod are a two-man magic act from Scotland, who perform as "Barry and Stuart" or "The 2magicians". They are known for their dark and gory performing style, and for taking as inspiration the accounts of Biblical miracles to form the basis for some of their illusions.-...
, the show had regular spots from Cook and the Monkey Magic boys Pete Firman
Pete Firman
Pete Firman is an English magician and television presenter.He has appeared in British television magic shows on Channel 4, Five, and Sky1. He is also the presenter of two gameshows on CBBC: Stake Out and Wait For It..!....
and Jonathan’s Escapes. There were also appearances from international variety acts and celebrities, including Penn and Teller and Kevin James. It was nominated for a Rose D’Or Comedy award in Montreaux.
Psychic Secrets Revealed
Psychic Secrets Revealed was a one-hour special and six half-hour episodes on the Five network.Cook demonstrated a range of psychic feats such as bending keys, walking on fire, contacting the dead, spirit guides, and clairvoyance. Psychological illusionist Derren Brown
Derren Brown
Derren Victor Brown is a British illusionist, mentalist, painter, writer and sceptic. He is known for his appearances in television specials, stage productions and British television series such as Trick of the Mind and Trick or Treat...
and psychologist Dr. Richard Wiseman
Richard Wiseman
Richard Wiseman is Professor of the Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom.Wiseman started his professional life as a magician, before graduating in Psychology from University College London and obtaining a Ph.D...
then explained how these feats could be being more psychological than paranormal.
Greatest Magic Tricks in the Universe Ever
Greatest Magic Tricks in the Universe Ever was a series of six one-hour episodes on the Channel Five network.Cook and his Monkey Magic co-stars hosted this series, which included tricks such as Horace Goldin
Horace Goldin
Horace Goldin was a stage magician who was noted for his lightning fast presentation style and who achieved international fame with his versions of the Sawing a woman in half illusion. -Early life:...
's sawing a woman in half and David Copperfield
David Copperfield (illusionist)
David Copperfield is an Emmy Award-winning American illusionist, and was described by Forbes as the most commercially successful magician in history. Copperfield's network specials have been nominated for 38 Emmy Awards and won a total of 21 Emmys...
vanishing the Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
.
Secret World of Magic
Secret World of Magic was a series of one-hour episodes on the Sky One network. Cook travelled the world with Pete Firman, interviewing notable magicians while performing on the streets of Paris, Madrid, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Bueno Aires. The series included performances from Mac KingMac King
Mac King is a comedy magician who has performed on television specials, often as a co-host. He has his own family-friendly show, "The Mac King Comedy Magic Show," at the Harrah's Las Vegas in the Clint Holmes Theater....
, Juan Tamariz
Juan Tamariz
Juan Tamariz-Martel Negrón is a Spanish magician.He is an experienced cardician, a magician specializing in magic with playing cards, and well respected by his peers as an authority in the field of misdirection...
, and Max Maven
Max Maven
Max Maven is an American magician and mentalist. He often appears on television magic shows to perform "interactive" mind reading tricks that work for the television audience....
.
Film
Cook trained at The Second CityThe Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
in Chicago and Los Angeles. He has also studied at The Actors Temple
The Actors Temple
The Actors' Temple, officially named Congregation Ezrath Israel, is a synagogue founded in 1917 in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Located at 339 West 47th Street since 1923, the temple was originally dubbed "The West Side Hebrew Relief Association," and it was the...
with lead tutor Mark Radcliffe and been coached by Paul Gregory. He has played the lead role in ten British short film dramas, most notably the psychotic character Greg in Andrew Saunder's and Stephen Frears
Stephen Frears
Stephen Arthur Frears is an English film director.-Early life:Frears was born in Leicester, England to Ruth M., a social worker, and Dr Russell E. Frears, a general practitioner and accountant. He did not find out that his mother was Jewish until he was in his late 20s...
Striklem .
In 2007 he wrote, produced and starred in his own Comedy short, The Enchanter: The Crime Fighting Magician, a spoof of 1970s detective series, directed by Adrian Vitoria.
Cook has recently acted alongside Bob Hoskins
Bob Hoskins
Robert William "Bob" Hoskins, Jr. is an English actor known for playing Cockney rough diamonds, psychopaths and gangsters, in films such as The Long Good Friday , and Mona Lisa , and lighter roles in family films such as Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Hook .- Early life :Hoskins was born in Bury St...
, Phil Davis
Phil Davis
Philip Davis is an English film actor, writer and director who has appeared in many films and television series. He has written and directed various dramas during his career.-Personal life:...
and Jenny Agutter
Jenny Agutter
Jennifer Ann "Jenny" Agutter is an English film and television actress. She began her career as a child actress in the mid 1960s, starring in the BBC television series The Railway Children and the film adaptation of the same book, before moving on to adult roles and relocating to Hollywood.She...
in the feature film Outside Bet
Outside Bet
Outside Bet is an upcoming 2011 British drama film directed by Sacha Bennett and starring Bob Hoskins, Jenny Agutter and Philip Davis. It is due for release on 25 November 2011.-Partial cast:* Bob Hoskins - Percy 'Smudge' Smith...
directed by Sacha Bennett
Sacha Bennett
Sacha Bennett is a British actor, writer, producer and director for film and television. He was born in Harpenden, Hertfordshire where he attended St. George's School.-Devilwood:...
(2011).
Feature films
- 2011 Outside BetOutside BetOutside Bet is an upcoming 2011 British drama film directed by Sacha Bennett and starring Bob Hoskins, Jenny Agutter and Philip Davis. It is due for release on 25 November 2011.-Partial cast:* Bob Hoskins - Percy 'Smudge' Smith...
, Gateway Films, Sacha BennettSacha BennettSacha Bennett is a British actor, writer, producer and director for film and television. He was born in Harpenden, Hertfordshire where he attended St. George's School.-Devilwood:... - 2007 Licked, Talking Lens, Raza Malall
- 2005 SaharaSahara (2005 film)Sahara is a 2005 action-comedy adventure film directed by Breck Eisner and based on the best-selling book of the same name by Clive Cussler...
, Paramount PicturesParamount PicturesParamount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
, Breck EisnerBreck EisnerMichael "Breck" Eisner is an American television and film director.-Early life:Eisner was born Michael Eisner in California, the son of Jane Breckenridge, a business advisor and computer programmer, and Michael Eisner, the former Walt Disney Company chief executive...
Short films
- 2011 The King’s Men, Reelworks, Schuman Hoque
- 2010 The Turtle and the Nightingale, Igneous Features, Gershon Hinkson
- 2008 7pm Valentine, Symbionic, Christian Evans
- 2007 Striklem, NFTS, Andrew Saunders / Stephen Frears
- 2007 The Enchanter, ACP, Adrian Vitoria
- 2007 Disposal inc, Symbionic, Christian Evans
- 2006 Different Directions, Film Applications, Araceli Fernandez
- 2006 Missing Eunice, The Second City (Los Angeles), Mike Ross
- 2006 The Bus Stop, MTV Europe, Mario Cavalli
Theatre
Cook has written and performed three critically acclaimed sell-out Edinburgh solo shows; A Touch of Vegas (2008) "Bloody brilliant" (The ScotsmanThe Scotsman
The Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
), Pieces of Strange (2010) "Astoundingly impressive"(Mail on Sunday) and Principles and Deceptions (2011) "Mischief of the slickest kind" (The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
).
- Edinburgh Spotlight review 2010
- Broadway Baby review 2010
- Chortle review 2011
- Broadway Baby review 2011
Stage
- 2011, Stage, One man show, Principles and Deceptions, Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh
- 2010, Stage, One man show, Pieces of Strange, Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh
- 2008, Stage, One man show, A Touch of Vegas, Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh
Film Producer
In 2011 Cook was an executive producer on the feature films Outside BetOutside Bet
Outside Bet is an upcoming 2011 British drama film directed by Sacha Bennett and starring Bob Hoskins, Jenny Agutter and Philip Davis. It is due for release on 25 November 2011.-Partial cast:* Bob Hoskins - Percy 'Smudge' Smith...
and Dark Tide
Dark Tide
Dark Tide is an American thriller film directed by John Stockwell, produced by Jeanette Buerling and Matthew E. Chausse and written by Ronnie Christensen and Amy Sorlie...
starring Halle Berry
Halle Berry
Halle Berry is an American actress and a former fashion model. Berry received an Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG, and an NAACP Image Award for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge and won an Academy Award for Best Actress and was nominated for a BAFTA Award in 2001 for her performance in Monster's Ball, becoming...
.