Magic Numbers (game show)

Magic Numbers is a British television game show which aired for one series of seven episodes in July and August 2010.[1]

Magic Numbers
Created byPaul Brassey
Presented byStephen Mulhern
Voices ofPeter Dickson
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes7
Production
Production locationThe London Studios
Running time60 minutes (inc. adverts)
Production companyCPL Productions
Release
Original networkITV, STV, UTV
Picture format16:9 1080i
Audio formatStereo
Original release17 July (2010-07-17) –
28 August 2010 (2010-08-28)

Show format

The show is hosted by magician Stephen Mulhern, who was joined each week by a number of celebrity guests.[2][3] In the first part of each episode, the celebrity guests answered questions or took part in challenges to generate a sequence of 6 numbers. Members of the public then called a Premium-rate telephone number if their home or mobile phone number contained two or more of these digits. Callers were entered into a prize draw, the winner of which would compete in the final round for a prize of up to £350,000. Throughout the show, Mulhern would also perform a number of magic tricks or illusions, assisted by some of that week's celebrity guests. While the initial public phone-in was taking place, Mulhern would also perform a featured grand illusion, again assisted by one or more of that week's celebrity guests.

The highest prize won by a contestant was £290,000, won by Pamela Mullins from Sheffield, Yorkshire.

Similarity to previous ITV game shows

The show was very similar to a previous ITV game show, Talking Telephone Numbers, the key difference being that viewers of Magic Numbers could call in if two of the numbers matched their phone number, rather than five as on the previous show. This was a technique employed by ITV to generate more calls, and hence higher revenues from the show.

The show was created by CPL Productions and Paul Brassey and commissioned by John Kaye Cooper at ITV.

Episode guide
ShowAir dateGuestsFeatured illusion
117 July 2010Holly Willoughby, JLS & Twist and PulseClearly Impossible sawing in half of Holly Willoughby
224 July 2010Diana Vickers, Alistair McGowan, Amanda Holden & The Baseballs"Sawing in thirds" - Diana Vickers being sawed in three
331 July 2010Louie Spence, Paddy McGuinness, The Magnets & Scouting for GirlsLouie Spence being guillotined
47 August 2010Emma Bunton, Ruth Langsford, Eamonn Holmes, Peridot & The Saturdays"Compressed" - Vanessa from The Saturdays being crushed until she's just 18 inches tall
514 August 2010Kym Marsh, Alex Reid & McFly"The Head Mover" - Kym Marsh having her head cut off and placed on a table on the other side of the stage
621 August 2010Alexandra Burke, Pamela Anderson, Flawless, Stevie Starr & Bjorn Again"Light as a feather" - Pamela Anderson being levitated
728 August 2010Denise van Outen, Katherine Jenkins & Olly Murs"The Crystal Sawing" - Katherine Jenkins being sawed in half by Mulhern and Murs in the UK premiere of the Les Arnold-designed clear sawing in half illusion

References
  1. TV ratings: Tonight's the Night returns to beat Magic Numbers The Guardian, 19 July 2010.
  2. Stephen Mulhern is busiest man on TV as he hosts Catchphrase, Britain's Got More Talent AND Big Star's Little Star, Daily Record, 17 March 2014.
  3. Simon Cowell, BGT and babies: Mirrorgirl plays Catchphrase and gets goss from Stephen Mulhern, Mirror, 17 March 2014.
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