Britain’s Got Talent star Magical Bones is returning to our screens, and to the talent show stage, for The Ultimate Magician.
The illusionist – real name Richard Essien – took part on the show in 2020, during the pandemic, where he soared through to the finals, stunning judges Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, David Walliams and Ashley Banjo.
And now the magician is returning to the stage, but has admitted things are quite different this time around.
In an exclusive chat with Metro.co.uk, he told us: ‘This time was different because I went on Britain’s Got Talent during the pandemic the first time, so I didn’t have a live audience.
‘I had a virtual audience for halfway through and having a real audience reacting to your magic is completely different, and it felt amazing actually.’
He continued: ‘I think a live audience in the room helps people react. Sometimes people are afraid to react.
‘In a comedy show you don’t know if you’re meant to laugh, but it’s contagious, laughter reactions are contagious.
‘I think virtually you don’t feel the rapport with the audience that you do when you’re live, the experience you feel when something is live is a lot different to when you’re remotely.
‘So I think the feeling, the experience is different.’
Magical Bones will be going up against the likes of Richard Jones, became the first and only magician to ever win Britain’s Got Talent in 2016, and The Witch, a performer who stunned audiences this year.
Amanda, Alesha and David will be back on the judging panel, while American magician Penn Jillete (half of magic duo Penn and Teller) will stand in for Simon Cowell.
Meanwhile, Stephen Mulhern stepped in for Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly after the pair were struck down by Covid.
A statement sent at the time read: ‘Ant and Dec are both unwell and have postponed all work commitments until they recover.
‘Sadly, this means they were unable to film Britain’s Got Talent: The Ultimate Magician. Whilst we wish them a speedy recovery, we are thrilled to confirm that BGT’s favourite magician, Stephen Mulhern has stepped in.’
Britain’s Got Talent: The Ultimate Magician airs tonight, Sunday December 18, at 8pm on ITV.
