Paul Zenon

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Paul Zenon (born June 29, 1964 in Lancashire) is an English magician known for television shows featuring him performing in pubs and on the streets. He is regarded by some as a humorous English alternative to David Blaine. He is listed in some sources as Peter Zenon, which may be his real name.[1]

[edit] Early life

Zenon is sometimes been billed as "King Con" and "The Sultan of Swindle". He staged his first swindle at the age of eight when he sold fake raffle tickets for a phony prize. In his adolescence Zenon worked in a joke and magic shop, The House of Secrets, in Blackpool before travelling the Mediterranean as a street magician. He also worked in a casino, from which he was fired for (allegedly) cheating. It is fair to say that over the years Zenon has led a life of deceit and trickery but he now uses his knowledge to expose hustlers and scam/con artists.[2]

[edit] Performance career

After spells in comedy clubs, summer seasons and Forces entertainment, Zenon moved to children's television in the early 1990s, hosting the BBC shows Tricks 'n' Tracks and Tricky Business. He subsequently wrote and produced the Children's ITV game show Crazy Cottage. He has since made several hundred TV appearances on shows of almost every genre. He had a significant hit with one-man shows at the 1997, 1999 and 2003 Edinburgh Festivals, and is now one of the UK's most successful corporate performers, appearing at events and hosting awards ceremonies worldwide..[3]

Zenon was one of the pioneers of 'Street Magic', writing and presenting a series of one-off specials on Channel 4 and ITV including Paul Zenon Turning Tricks (1999), Paul Zenon's Tricky Christmas, Paul Zenon's Trick or Treat (shot in Prague in 2000) and White Magic with Paul Zenon (shot in Lapland). His last special 'Paul Zenon's Revenge Squad' on ITV1 was a kickback against the faceless bureaucracy and daily irritations that we all have to suffer in modern-day Britain. In a more relaxed mood, he now appears regularly as special guest in Countdown's Dictionary Corner. [4]

[edit] Other work

He is the founder of The Wonderbus, a not-for-profit organisation which takes older people on days out to see live entertainment - see www.thewonderbus.org.

He has also written three books, all published by Carlton:

  • 100 Ways to Win a Tenner (2003) - a compendium of bar bets and hustles.
  • Paul Zenon's Dirty Tricks (2004) - a guide to revenge-style practical jokes.
  • Street Magic (2005) - a 'how to' course for the budding magician.

Street Magic was re-published in 2008 in a smaller format, with illustrations rather than photographs, and 100 Ways to Win a Tenner was released in the States under the title 100 Ways to Win a Ten-Spot.

[edit] Blaine allegations

It has been alleged that David Blaine has used several of Zenon's tricks and routines without permission. [5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ British Film Institute online databse. Retrieved on 2007-03-06.
  2. ^ Profile dated 2002 at MagicWeek.co.uk. Retrieved on 2007-03-06.
  3. ^ ibid
  4. ^ Talk Management listing. Retrieved on 2007-03-06. See also Entry for Paul Zenon Turning Tricks at the BFI film & TV database. Retrieved on 2007-03-06.
  5. ^ Thread on the Genii forum about Blaine's appropriation of other people's material. Retrieved on 2007-03-06.

[edit] External links

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