Good Magic Awards: 2021 Winner!

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I am delighted to announce that the 'Magic at War' blog is this year's winner of The Good Magic Awards, for our research and writing about how magicians helped fight World War Two.

Read The Good Thinking Society's press release here.


The Good Magic Awards have been set up by psychologist and magician Professor Richard Wiseman in collaboration with The Good Thinking Society.

Professor Richard Wiseman

This year, the award was to provide funding to support a new and innovative project that promotes the art of magic. 

The award was open to performers and other individuals who aim to promote the art of magic to fellow magicians and/or to the public. A judging panel selected the winner on the basis of potential impact, innovation, and ability to deliver the proposed activity. 

I am thrilled to win this year's award and pass on my sincere to The Good Thinking Society for backing this project and for seeking to promote the art of magic.

The Good Magic Award will allow me to expand my work, and to ensure that these magical and inspirational stories about magicians in World War Two reach new audiences. 

With the funding, I will carry out additional and in-depth research into little-known stories of magicians who became POWs, including the dramatic events leading to their capture and their incredible attempts to escape confinement. These inspirational stories will illustrate how human resilience and ingenuity can overcome adversity, and how the underlying mindset is vital for dealing with negative life events. See my blogs on The Magician of Stalag Luft III for an example.

So, expect lots of POW and escape blogs over the next year! 

Plus, some other exciting projects I am working on.

Last year, the Award focused on performers who use magic tricks to improve the lives of others, including work with disadvantaged groups, charities, hospital patients, and schools. The winners were Megan Swann (who presents a magic show that promotes environmental issues, and is The Magic Circle's first female president) and Breathe Magic (who support children with hemiplegia by helping them to learn tricks that improve physical and psychological wellbeing).


The Good Thinking Society is a small charity set-up in 2012 by Simon Singh. It aims to encourage curious minds and promote rational enquiry. 

The charity relies on public support to carry on the great work it is doing. To donate to the Good Thinking Society click here.

*** AVAILABLE NOW ***


The Colditz Conjurer tells the amazing true story of Flight Lieutenant Vincent ‘Bush’ Parker, Battle of Britain pilot and prisoner-of-war magician.

Written by the Magic at War team, The Colditz Conjurer is a remarkable tale of perseverance, courage and cunning in the face of adversity. It features over 55 original photographs and maps. 126 pages.


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