Geoffrey Durham MIMC
Top English Television magician and presenter
Geoffrey Durham
GEOFFREY DURHAM is best known today for his regular appearances on the cult Channel 4 word game Countdown, where his combination of charm, wit and skilful sleight-of-hand have made him one of the programme's most popular celebrities.
He also appears frequently as a panellist on Through The Keyhole and Call My Bluff, as well as Radio 4's Guess What, Who Goes There? and Puzzle Panel.
He is
currently to be seen on The Writing House, for Channel 4 Schools.
As a magician, he first captured the public imagination as the outrageous Spanish conjuror "The Great Soprendo", performing in scores of stage shows and making innumerable television appearances on everything from Crackerjack to Russell Harty.
After fifteen highly successful years in that role, he decided to take off the disguise for good. Since 1989 he has presented his magic entirely as himself, and he has never regretted the decision.
He has hosted two series of Thames Television's The Best Of Magic, and was recently featured on The Fifty Greatest Magic Tricks Of All Time on Channel 4 (where his expert performance of the Newspaper Trick came in at number 31!). He tours regularly with his own stage shows, and has performed in cabaret all over the world.
He frequently works as an illusion adviser for stage and television, most recently devising effects in the West End for Oliver! (London Palladium), Jesus Christ Superstar (Lyceum Theatre), the Reeves and Mortimer/Fast Show double bill (Labatt's Apollo), The League Of Gentlemen (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), Peter Pan (Royal Festival Hall) and Privates on Parade (Donmar Warehouse). He is currently Magic Director of the new West End show about Tommy Cooper, Jus' Like That!. In his work as a magic consultant for corporate events, he has created a large number of illusions and "one-offs" for companies such as Sony, I.B.M. and American Express.
Geoffrey is also an experienced stage and film actor, with numerous theatre performances over the years from Macheath in The Threepenny Opera to the title role in Dracula. He appeared in the award-winning feature film Wish You Were Here. He has performed in over a dozen pantomimes, playing everything from Dame Trott to the Sultan of Morocco.
Geoffrey toured all over Britain for seven years with his one man show, One Man's Intrepid Journey Up His Own Sleeve. He has recently starting touring his latest show, Geoffrey Durham's Little Miracles, to sell-out audiences.
Geoffrey is a Member of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star. In 2002 he was presented with The Maskelyne, the Magic Circle's highest award, and in 2003, he received The David Berglas Award, for outstanding contribution to magic.