Pete Firman
Encyclopedia
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..!
.
, Firman began his interest in magic as a child. When he was eight, his mother bought him a magic book. He was educated at Acklam Grange Secondary School
, where he twice won the school talent show. He then studied at Middlesbrough College
then at the School of Arts & New Media unit of the University of Hull Scarborough Campus
in Scarborough where he gained a Bachelor of Arts
in theatre
.
Firman performed his magic
in pubs and as he later explained: "anywhere I could get paid for doing tricks, basically. I figured I wanted somewhere a bit more regular to work, and I saw the comedy circuit as something I could explore. Because I'd always tried to make the magic I was doing funny and lighthearted, and I never took myself too seriously."
, who were searching for new magicians for a new television show, Monkey Magic
. He sent in a tape of himself in his underpants performing magic in his parent's back garden and was chosen almost instantly.
In April 2003 the cast of Monkey Magic had their first meeting and Firman met fellow magician Ali Cook
with whom he later shared a flat for two and a half years. During this time they wrote routines for The Greatest Magic Tricks in the Universe... Ever, the second series of Monkey Magic and The Secret World of Magic.
The first seven-part series of Monkey Magic was broadcast on Five in 2003 as well as a Christmas special. The show featured a team of four magicians each with their own unique style and personality. It was short listed for a British Comedy Award
and nominated for a Rose d'Or
. A second series of Monkey Magic aired in 2004, which
saw his first Mr Ball routine.
Firman co-hosted The Greatest Magic Tricks in the Universe... Ever series on Five which saw a countdown of the most amazing tricks of all time from Horace Goldin
's sawing a woman in half
illusion to David Copperfield
's Vanishing the Statue of Liberty
illusion.
In The Secret World of Magic, which aired on Sky1 in 2005, Firman travelled the world with Ali Cook, interviewing the world's greatest magicians, including Mac King
, Juan Tamariz
and Max Maven
, whilst also performing their own brand of sleight of hand
on the streets of Paris
, Madrid
, New York City
, Los Angeles
, Las Vegas
and Buenos Aires
. He also did a Mr Ball routine in The Secret World of Magic which was developed by him and Ali Cook.
Dirty Tricks was a six part series in 2005 on Channel 4, hosted by Firman along with Barry and Stuart
. It was described as "like magic meets Natural Born Killers
" by critic Sam Wollaston of The Guardian
. The show had regular spots from Ali Cook and Jonathan Goodwin as well as guest appearances from international variety acts and celebrities including Penn & Teller
, Stephen Fry
, Mylene Klass and Kevin James
. The show was nominated for a Rose d'Or.
Firman was a special guest on Don't Miss a Trick, a one-off family show version of The Real Hustle
, which first aired on 25 August 2008 on BBC One
.
In 2008, Firman hosted the children's television show, Stake Out on CBBC and in 2009, Wait For It..!
, also on CBBC.
In July 2008 he performed his act at Club Soda in Montreal
, Canada
, as part of the Just for Laughs
comedy festival
. He performed his third solo show, The Pete Firman Magic Show at the 2009 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Firman performs his Mr Ball routine in his live shows. "I perform that routine in my live shows, it's always well received. The fact I move my lips when he talks is of course deliberate. I see it as a post-modern evaluation
of ventriloquism
in popular culture."
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 and television presenter
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
.
He has appeared in British television magic shows on 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...
, Five, and Sky1. He is also the presenter of two gameshows on 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...
: Stake Out and Wait For It..!
Wait For It..!
Wait For It..! is a children's game show produced by CBBC Scotland Productions. It is presented by Pete Firman with the voice of Tim Dann. It ran from 26 August 2009 - 7 October 2009.- The Main Rules :...
.
Early life
Born in MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
, Firman began his interest in magic as a child. When he was eight, his mother bought him a magic book. He was educated at Acklam Grange Secondary School
Acklam Grange Secondary School
Acklam Grange School is a specialist college of mathematics and computing, situated at the end of Lodore Grove, Acklam, Middlesbrough. It opened in 1952 and has gone through many changes, being first Hugh Bell School, then Stainsby School, and currently Acklam Grange Secondary School.Andrea...
, where he twice won the school talent show. He then studied at Middlesbrough College
Middlesbrough College
Middlesbrough College, located on one campus at Middlehaven, Middlesbrough, England, in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, is the largest college in the Tees Valley.-Admissions:...
then at the School of Arts & New Media unit of the University of Hull Scarborough Campus
University of Hull Scarborough Campus
The University of Hull Scarborough Campus is a higher education institution in the North Yorkshire town of Scarborough in England, as well as a satellite campus of the University of Hull.-History:...
in Scarborough where he gained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
.
Firman performed his magic
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
in pubs and as he later explained: "anywhere I could get paid for doing tricks, basically. I figured I wanted somewhere a bit more regular to work, and I saw the comedy circuit as something I could explore. Because I'd always tried to make the magic I was doing funny and lighthearted, and I never took myself too seriously."
Career
Firman's first big break came in 2002 when he responded to an advert from Objective ProductionsObjective 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...
, who were searching for new magicians for a new television show, Monkey Magic
Monkey Magic
Monkey Magic may refer to:*Monkey Magic , an animated Japanese television series**Monkey Magic , a 1999 PlayStation game based on the animated series...
. He sent in a tape of himself in his underpants performing magic in his parent's back garden and was chosen almost instantly.
In April 2003 the cast of Monkey Magic had their first meeting and Firman met fellow magician Ali Cook
Ali Cook
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...
with whom he later shared a flat for two and a half years. During this time they wrote routines for The Greatest Magic Tricks in the Universe... Ever, the second series of Monkey Magic and The Secret World of Magic.
The first seven-part series of Monkey Magic was broadcast on Five in 2003 as well as a Christmas special. The show featured a team of four magicians each with their own unique style and personality. It was short listed for a British Comedy Award
British Comedy Awards
The British Comedy Awards is an annual awards ceremony in the United Kingdom celebrating notable comedians and entertainment performances of the previous year.-History:...
and nominated for a Rose d'Or
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...
. A second series of Monkey Magic aired in 2004, which
saw his first Mr Ball routine.
Firman co-hosted The Greatest Magic Tricks in the Universe... Ever series on Five which saw a countdown of the most amazing tricks of all time from 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
Sawing 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:...
illusion to 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...
's Vanishing the Statue of Liberty
Vanishing the Statue of Liberty
Making the Statue of Liberty seem to disappear on live television is the creation of Jim Steinmeyer and Don Wayne, and it is still unpublished. In the illusion, Copperfield raises a giant curtain on Liberty Island before lowering it again a few seconds later to reveal that the space where the...
illusion.
In The Secret World of Magic, which aired on Sky1 in 2005, Firman travelled the world with Ali Cook, interviewing the world's greatest magicians, including Mac King
Mac 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....
, whilst also performing their own brand of sleight of hand
Sleight of hand
Sleight of hand, also known as prestidigitation or legerdemain, is the set of techniques used by a magician to manipulate objects such as cards and coins secretly....
on the streets of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
and Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
. He also did a Mr Ball routine in The Secret World of Magic which was developed by him and Ali Cook.
Dirty Tricks was a six part series in 2005 on Channel 4, hosted by Firman along with 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.-...
. It was described as "like 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...
" by critic Sam Wollaston of The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
. The show had regular spots from Ali Cook and Jonathan Goodwin as well as guest appearances from international variety acts and celebrities including Penn & Teller
Penn & Teller
Penn & Teller are Las Vegas headliners whose act is an amalgam of illusion and comedy. Penn Jillette is a raconteur; Teller generally uses mime while performing, although his voice can occasionally be heard during their performance...
, Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry
Stephen John Fry is an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter and film director, and a director of Norwich City Football Club. He first came to attention in the 1981 Cambridge Footlights Revue presentation "The Cellar Tapes", which also...
, Mylene Klass and Kevin James
Kevin James (magician)
Kevin James is an award-winning French-born American magician, known for creating several unique magical effects, such as the "Floating Rose" which is performed by David Copperfield....
. The show was nominated for a Rose d'Or.
Firman was a special guest on Don't Miss a Trick, a one-off family show version of The Real Hustle
The Real Hustle
The Real Hustle is a BBC television series made by Objective Productions and written by Alexis Conran and Paul Wilson. The show demonstrates confidence and magic tricks, distraction scams and proposition bets performed on members of the public by presenters Conran, Wilson and Jessica-Jane Clement...
, which first aired on 25 August 2008 on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
.
In 2008, Firman hosted the children's television show, Stake Out on CBBC and in 2009, Wait For It..!
Wait For It..!
Wait For It..! is a children's game show produced by CBBC Scotland Productions. It is presented by Pete Firman with the voice of Tim Dann. It ran from 26 August 2009 - 7 October 2009.- The Main Rules :...
, also on CBBC.
Theatre
In 2007 Firman performed his debut solo show, Hokum at the Underbelly as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In 2008 he performed his second solo show, Flim-Flam at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and also toured the UK with the show.In July 2008 he performed his act at Club Soda in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, as part of the Just for Laughs
Just for Laughs
Just for Laughs is a comedy festival held each July in Montreal, Quebec, founded in 1983. It is the largest international comedy festival in the world.- Information :...
comedy festival
Comedy festival
A comedy festival is a celebration of comedy with many shows, venues, comedy performers and is held over a specific block of time...
. He performed his third solo show, The Pete Firman Magic Show at the 2009 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Firman performs his Mr Ball routine in his live shows. "I perform that routine in my live shows, it's always well received. The fact I move my lips when he talks is of course deliberate. I see it as a post-modern evaluation
Evaluation
Evaluation is systematic determination of merit, worth, and significance of something or someone using criteria against a set of standards.Evaluation often is used to characterize and appraise subjects of interest in a wide range of human enterprises, including the arts, criminal justice,...
of ventriloquism
Ventriloquism
Ventriloquism, or ventriloquy, is an act of stagecraft in which a person manipulates his or her voice so that it appears that the voice is coming from elsewhere, usually a puppeteered "dummy"...
in popular culture."
Tricks to Freak Out Your Friends
In 2006, Firman wrote his first book, Tricks to Freak Out Your Friends, in which he reveals secrets such as "how to crack your nose", "how to take a bite out of a glass" and "how to stick a barbecue skewer through your tongue". It also included simple card tricks and how to swallow knives. It has a foreword from Derren Brown.Filmography
- Monkey MagicMonkey MagicMonkey Magic may refer to:*Monkey Magic , an animated Japanese television series**Monkey Magic , a 1999 PlayStation game based on the animated series...
(2003–2004) - The Greatest Magic Tricks in the Universe... Ever (200?)
- The Secret World of Magic (2005)
- Dirty TricksDirty tricksDirty tricks are unethical, duplicitous, slanderous or illegal tactics employed to destroy or diminish the effectiveness of political or business opponents...
(2005) - Greatest Ever Comedy Movies (2006)
- Greatest Ever Disaster Movies (2007)
- Stake OutStake OutStake Out was a game show which originally aired on Challenge TV between 12 November and 21 December 2001. It was hosted by Anthony Davis.-Gameplay:...
(2008) - Wait For It..!Wait For It..!Wait For It..! is a children's game show produced by CBBC Scotland Productions. It is presented by Pete Firman with the voice of Tim Dann. It ran from 26 August 2009 - 7 October 2009.- The Main Rules :...
(2009)