Use BBC.com or the new BBC App to listen to BBC podcasts, Radio 4 and the World Service outside the UK.

Find out how to listen to other BBC stations

Episode details

Radio Leicester,10 mins

Magicians to mark 100 years of sawing people in half

Mid-morning on BBC Radio Leicester

Available for over a year

Now this is going to hurt! It's one of the most iconic magic tricks and this weekend it's 100 years since it was first performed, any ideas what we're talking about? It's sawing a person in half of course! I'm sure we can all visualise a magician placing his lovely assistant in a box and sawing her in half. Along with pulling a rabbit out of a hat it's become one of the most well-known magic tricks. It was invented by P. T. Selbit in 1921 and to celebrate the centenary, the Magic Circle are putting on an online event this weekend with names like Debbie McGee and Leicester's very own magician right-hand man to Sooty, Richard Cadell.

Programme Website
More episodes