Magician Dynamo gave us the lowdown on tricks, illusions and impressing Snoop Dogg…

What made you want to be a magician?

I suppose it was a way to use my uniqueness to my advantage. People always thought I was an odd little kid, but it made my oddness cool.

Did you ever think you’d make a career out of magic?

I was always determined to, but there were a lot of setbacks. I had my mum and my grandma telling me to get a proper job. My grandpa was the only one who was supportive. I was in hospital with Crohn’s disease (an inflammatory bowel disease) and I had to have an operation. I was there for six months and, while I was there, I was thinking a lot. If I had died then, which was possible, what would people have remembered me for? For doing what my mum wanted me to do? I was being the good son but then, while I was there, I made a business plan. When I got out of hospital I went to the Prince’s Trust and they gave me a start-up loan and that was it. 

Did you use magic to make you popular at school?

I don’t think it was to make me popular. It was more just to deflect attention away from me being unpopular. I was the smallest kid so I was quite an easy target. The magic gave me an edge over the bigger kids.

Your TV series Magician Impossible is out now on DVD. What was that like to make and did you get very involved?

Definitely. Everything from the concept to even the name came from us. The whole thing was pretty much me and the team that work with me. My manager Dan made it all possible – he even taught me how to swim, just in case I fell into the Thames. It was quite stressful making it and there were times when I didn’t think it would work. I think a lot of people don’t realise what goes into making TV: you are literally filming 18 hour days at times. And, because it’s magic, you never really know if it will work. You can get everything set up, you can go to a location and then, when you get there, it doesn’t work. There were a lot of setbacks, but the DVD has 40 minutes of extras that shows all of that.

Do you have a favourite trick or illusion for the show?

One of my favourites was with Natalie Imbruglia and it involved butterflies. She asked me to go to a hotel in LA and I saw there were butterflies all over the wall. I thought to myself: “If I can pull this off, maybe I can woo her!” 

Do you watch yourself back?

When it first comes out I can’t watch it with other people. I’ll have friends over and they’ll watch it in one room and I’ll watch it in my bedroom on my own. The first time I see an episode I like to watch it on my own. After that, I don’t mind.

Are you already thinking up things to do in case there’s another series?

We don’t really test tricks half of the time, we just wing it. That is magic: sometimes things are going to go wrong, but I’ve been lucky, so far, in that most things have gone right.

Do you ever worry that things won’t work?

Nah, no-one is going to get hurt from my tricks apart from me. At the end of the day, if one little thing goes wrong, I’ll blow them away with something else. I improvise most of the time so even I don’t know how things are gonna end up! If I realise halfway through that something isn’t going to plan, I’ll rework it into something else! 

Who do you practise your tricks on?

Mainly my close friends. It’s funny because they’re the only ones who are sick of me sticking a pack of cards in their face when I have an idea. If I come in at 3am and wake them up to show them a new trick, they aren’t very happy!

Who is your favourite magician ever?

To be honest, I didn’t really watch any magicians growing up. It was only when I started getting into it that I got the DVDs and went to shows, and studied what they did. I think some of the most inspiring people who have achieved greatness in magic are people like David Copperfield and David Blaine. The way they approach magic is different but they have all achieved that goal of mystifying and astounding the world on numerous occasions.

You’ve done a lot of magic for lots of famous people. Who has had the best reaction?

I get different reactions from everyone. I think the coolest thing for me was after performing for Snoop Dogg. He turned around, switched on his laptop and then did a rap about my magic. Just freestyle. I mean, Snoop Dogg did a rap about me!

Is there one big trick you’d like to do?

I have a few big ideas that I am working on but you’ll have to wait to see! 

What is the best thing about your job?

I get to meet new people every day. And, most of the time, get to put a smile on their face, which is priceless in this day and age.

What’s next for you?

The DVD’s out, so hopefully everyone will buy it for Christmas! And then I’m up for a National TV Award, which is exciting. I’m hoping I get to go on stage and make a silly speech. And, maybe, do a trick. It’s a public vote and it means so much to be nominated for my first series against such great shows.

Dynamo: Magician Impossible is out now on Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of Universal Pictures (UK) Ltd.