Four series of Dynamo: Magician Impossible were commissioned and broadcast on Watch between 2011 and 2014. The series reached over 30 million viewers in the UK[4] and over 250 million viewers worldwide across 193 territories.[5] After being broadcast on Watch, it was confirmed on 19 December 2013 that three episodes from the show's first series would air on BBC One the following year.[6] Repeats are now regularly broadcast on UKTV's channel Dave.
Background
In 2003, before Frayne created and filmed Dynamo: Magician Impossible, the Prince's Trust gave him a loan which allowed him to start his business and invest in camera equipment.[7] Frayne left his hometown of Bradford, Yorkshire, to move to London in 2004 to begin developing his career in magic.[8][9] His plan was to create the first ever 'magic mix-tape',[10] where he set out with a small team to film his performances on the streets of London and backstage at events. In a year, Frayne had performed magic to talent including Coldplay, Gwyneth Paltrow, Snoop Dogg and more,[11] and quickly developed a fan-base after posting the clips on YouTube.[8]
Frayne first appeared on TV as Dynamo on Channel 4’s Richard & Judy, where the general public and television executives quickly noticed his kind-hearted and loveable attitude.[12]
Series overview
Series 1
The four-episode first series aired from 7 July 2011 until 28 July 2011.[13] To launch the show, Frayne walked on water across the River Thames outside the Houses of Parliament, in front of a crowd who had gathered on Westminster Bridge.[14] The first series was filmed in London, Miami and Los Angeles, and racked up 6.69 million viewers in the UK, leading to UKTV renewing the show for a second and third series in February 2012.[15]
Series 2 of Dynamo: Magician Impossible premiered on 5 July 2012,[17] and was again four-episodes in duration. Episode 2 of this series saw Dynamo visit Rio de Janeiro, where he appeared to levitate in front of the Christ the Redeemer statue.[18]
The series generated 7.67 million viewers in the UK and won the award for Best Entertainment Programme at the Broadcast Awards,[19] show of the year at the Virgin Media awards[20] and was shortlisted for Best Entertainment Programme at the 17th National Television Awards.[21] This series also received a BAFTA nomination for Best Entertainment Programme.[22]
A fourth and final series of the show was commissioned by UKTV in 2014, which aired in the September of the same year.[24] In this series, Dynamo performed street magic in California, India, Paris, London, Manchester and Bradford. For the third year running, Dynamo: Magician Impossible was nominated by BAFTA for the Best Entertainment Programme award.[25]
