Chris North - The Original King Of TV Talent Shows Talks Illusions, Career & More | Talk Magic Podcast With Craig Petty #138
Episode 138, Jan 28, 2022, 01:00 PM
In this interview Chris looks back at his career. He looks at the highs and lows and talks through some of the things that happened during his long career. Chris is a legend of the UK Magic Community and this is a truly fascinating interview that will literally blow your mind.
Chris North was born in 1948 and moved to East Anglia at a young age. While working at a holiday camp as a photographer in 1966 Chris started watching the magicians who were performing shows for the children.
He believed he could do a better job so started work on a semi-professional basis, initially performing for children but later doing shows for the adult audience too.
In the early 1970s he was joined by assistant Lynn and, under the guidance of Anglia Agent Chic Applin, they worked the holiday centres of the East Coast performing their very slick illusion act, with good magic and lots of audience participation.
In 1973 Jill Cullum replaced Lynn in the act and a year later they turned professional, and continued to work around the East Coast area. Jill also had a local background, was born in Norwich in 1958, and before joining the act worked in a boutique and as a model.
In December 1975 the duo appointed, Ipswich based, Barry Dye as their personal manager and began to pick up more bookings around the country.
Their initial break came through the WheelTappers and Shunters Club, and a recording date for the show was all set when Chris and Jill were accepted to appear on New Faces. With the New Faces show recording scheduled before the forthcoming WheelTappers and Shunters Club, they were cleared to confirm both shows.
The magic pair were runners-up on their New Faces show, in April 1976, with 114 marks out of 120, a fantastic achievement for a speciality act. When Pat Tansey, the New Faces show winner, was disqualified after it was revealed he had previously appeared on Opportunity Knocks, Chris and Jill were announced as the show winners and booked their place in the All Winners Final on 15 May 1976.
Since then Chris has performed at a very high level supporting huge celebrities throughout the UK. One thing that has defined Chris's career is his ability to adapt his act and change things up. It's this skill that has not only kept him relevant but also kept him performing well into his 70's.
He believed he could do a better job so started work on a semi-professional basis, initially performing for children but later doing shows for the adult audience too.
In the early 1970s he was joined by assistant Lynn and, under the guidance of Anglia Agent Chic Applin, they worked the holiday centres of the East Coast performing their very slick illusion act, with good magic and lots of audience participation.
In 1973 Jill Cullum replaced Lynn in the act and a year later they turned professional, and continued to work around the East Coast area. Jill also had a local background, was born in Norwich in 1958, and before joining the act worked in a boutique and as a model.
In December 1975 the duo appointed, Ipswich based, Barry Dye as their personal manager and began to pick up more bookings around the country.
Their initial break came through the WheelTappers and Shunters Club, and a recording date for the show was all set when Chris and Jill were accepted to appear on New Faces. With the New Faces show recording scheduled before the forthcoming WheelTappers and Shunters Club, they were cleared to confirm both shows.
The magic pair were runners-up on their New Faces show, in April 1976, with 114 marks out of 120, a fantastic achievement for a speciality act. When Pat Tansey, the New Faces show winner, was disqualified after it was revealed he had previously appeared on Opportunity Knocks, Chris and Jill were announced as the show winners and booked their place in the All Winners Final on 15 May 1976.
Since then Chris has performed at a very high level supporting huge celebrities throughout the UK. One thing that has defined Chris's career is his ability to adapt his act and change things up. It's this skill that has not only kept him relevant but also kept him performing well into his 70's.