A global pandemic can’t stop UK magician Noel Qualter from fooling Las Vegas legends Penn & Teller

“Fooling my magic idols was a dream come true after a year that started with lockdown, losing work and having to change to performing virtually”.

A British magician who saw his business vanish at the start of Covid has managed to fool the magic superstars Penn & Teller on their hit TV show in America - and he did it from the comfort of his own home.

Noel Qualter was invited to perform on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, where top magicians from around the world hope to perform magic effects which the duo cannot work out. Restrictions forced Noel to tape his performance at home in Leatherhead, Surrey rather than perform live - yet he stumped them when the show was seen across the US this weekend (Friday 26 February). As well as a trophy, Noel’s prize includes a trip to Las Vegas and a closing spot on the Penn & Teller show at the Rio hotel.

Penn Jillette said of Noel: “We loved the whole routine. It was just just great, really funny all the way through”.

Noel, 44, said: “Fooling my magic idols was a dream come true after a year that started with lockdown, causing me to lose thousands of pounds of work and having to completely change my business to performing virtually.”

The trick, in which Noel uses a “virtual time travel app” to call himself in the future and locate a signed card in a sealed deck is an original creation by the award-winning close-up magician. Noel is a three-time winner of the originality prize at The Magic Circle’s Close-up Magician of the Year competition and one of only 300 members of the coveted Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star.

As a digital and iPad magician Noel is used to working with technology, and has used his skills and experience to move his magic online. He has carved out a new niche with his Zoom magic show, “Virtually Impossible”. Since the first lockdown last year Noel has performed online for thousands of people and companies across the globe, from birthday parties in the UK to international corporate events. You can see Noel’s performance here.