TONY MIDDLETON

Hatty Ashdown    Hatty Ashdown joins us to discuss working as a stand-up comedian, running a comedy show for new mums and her Next Up Comedy special.  She chats about her 2022 Edinburgh Fringe show, napping audience members, guilt over the hot weather, grief and whether she can get her commemorative bench before she dies so she can enjoy it.    Plus, find out which of the following three stories is a lie as we play Would Me Lie To Thee.    Hatty was a house cleaner for Joan Collins, she was nearly Sophie Ellis-Bextor or she once got a photo with Jimmy Saville.   *check out the Funny Mummies podcast for more Hatty!       

Cameron Gibson    Cameron Gibson joins us to discuss his brand new magic shop and venue Wonder & Co, Edinburgh Fringe 2023 and working at Jamie Allan’s Illusionarium in Canada. Plus, find out which of the following three stories is a lie as we play Would Me Lie To Thee.    He has an estranged twin brother living in Australia, he used to be in the military and he once snuck Harry Styles out of a window. 

Arron Jones quit his jobs as an unsatisfied clone close-up magician to work for the Government.    He joins us to chat about now quitting that Government role to become a full-time Rockstar magician.    Also, in Would Me Lie To Thee, find out which of these three facts about Arron is the lie and which are the hilarious truth:    He hid a teabag in every ceiling at his school; joined a troupe of Morris dancers and in an attempt to woo is now-wife performed a magic trick that went horribly wrong. Oh, and we mean horribly wrong. 

After a lengthy hiatus, Talking Tricks returns with an Absurd new outlook. Meet our new co-host Ava Beaux and hear all about the new show Absurd that Kane & Abel and Ava Beaux will be performing at the Edinburgh Fringe. We also introduce a brand new feature. Would Me Lie To Thee when guests will share three facts but we warned one is a filthy lie.  

We preview the Blackpool Magic Convention with our hot take on which lectures, shows and performers you cannot afford to miss.  Listen to our exclusive interviews with Max Maven, Ben Hart and Magic Sam to find out what you can expect from their performances at the convention. All this and much more on this week's Talking Tricks.  

Tony Middleton joins us to discuss his journey to producing and performing two weekly West End shows in London and launching a magic bar Maskelyne & Cooke in the capital.  He tells us how stopping for a coffee in a hotel in St Pancras led to gaining a gig as the resident magician, producing shows for David Stone, Chris Dugdale and Mahdi Gilbert and the London Festival of Close-up Magic. He also chats about his Secret Cellar project, TV aspirations and much more.  

Richard Filby joins us to discuss the London opening of his full evening variety show The Richard Filby Spectacule. Richard talks about what led to him finally getting his show off and running above a vintage clothes shop in London, breaking his foot the night before he was last set to open a show and his life and career as a full time street performer in Covent Garden. We also chat about his early beginnings in Australia, juggling, card throwing, magic, comedy and all the other amazing circus skills he posses.   

We gear up for Christmas by talking the miracles of Jesus with Christian magician Mark Watson. Mark gives us the full story behind Jesus's iconic miracles and his lesser known ones, plus how they have inspired magicians from Paul Daniels and Penn & Teller to Barry & Stewart and Criss Angel and Dynamo.  Find out the true meaning of Christmas and learn about these miracles. 

Tiernan Douieb joins us to talk being a political comedian and preview the upcoming British General Election.  Tiernan tells us what led to him becoming a political comedian, discusses touring as the support act for Frankie Boyle and gives his predictions for this week's General Election. He also tells us everything we need to know about the GE and the party leaders.   

Tom Brace joins us to discuss embarking on a 30-day UK headline tour, finding the perfect blend of magic show to be fun for all the family but not 'too kiddy' and getting his start in magic with a sell out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. We also talk close-up magic gigs in London, disastrous opening nights, the best and worst way to hand out flyers and how to fail your Magic Circle entrance exam. Also, after the conversation takes a turn towards football, we reveal our starting eleven football teams made up of magicians.