Mark Waddington (born 4 June 1989 in Keighley, West Yorkshire, England), is a British comedy magician who currently resides in Skipton, North Yorkshire, England. Mark was voted "Best in the UK" for 2008.[1][2][3][4] Mark specialises in close up magic, and primarily performs at weddings and corporate events in the UK and across Europe.
Career
editMark has worked as a comedy magician since the age of 12 when he made his professional debut at The City Varieties Music Hall in Leeds.[1] He performs internationally as a close up magician, and is a regular feature on the corporate entertainment scene.
Mark has performed alongside many well-known names, including supporting Channel 4 magician Paul Zenon during his Stand-up show, as well as performing his own comedy magic act with Jimmy Cricket, Johnnie Casson, Bobby Knutt, Gorden Kaye, and others.[1] Mark has appeared in the media many times and TV appearances include Channel 4, ITV and BBC.[1][5] He has also made many appearances on the radio as a magician, including Fresh Radio, BCB Radio, BBC Radio Leeds, BBC Radio York, BBC Radio Sheffield and BBC Radio 1.
Mark also works as a specialised magic consultant for TV production. Notably Mark has acted as a magic consultant for ITV's Emmerdale, assisting recurring character Rodney to perform magic within the soap.
Mark is regularly called upon as an expert for Radio broadcasts. Notably Mark has been brought in as a magic expert for BBC Radio 5 Live, and is often heard on BBC Radio York as a talking head discussing a wide range of subjects on the Beth McCarthy show, from entertainment, to single parenthood, and many other subjects.
Awards
editMark was crowned the First Place winner of Starnow UK talent search in [2008].[1][2][3][4][6]
Mark became a member of The Magic Circle in May 2009, and was awarded the MMC membership level.
In April 2019, Mark's membership to The Magic Circle was reviewed, and he was unanimously promoted to an Associate of the Inner Magic Circle (AIMC),[7] and was also additionally awarded the silver star for exceptional performance abilities. Mark is one of less than 350 magicians in the world to be awarded such a title.
Mark has been awarded the ‘Best Entertainment’ at the North of England Wedding Awards, in 2014, 2016 and 2017.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e uk-magic.co.uk, Mark Waddington bio, Retrieved 10-10-2008
- ^ a b cravenherald.co.uk, Craven Herald & Pioneer, September 27, 2008, "Magic Mark is judges' favourite", retrieved 10-110-2008
- ^ a b by Clive White, m6live.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk[permanent dead link], Telegraph & Argus, September 25, 2008, "Mark plays his cards right!", Retrieved 10-10-2008
- ^ a b starnow.co.uk, interview: "Mark Waddington - UK Talent Search Winner", Retrieved 10-10-2008
- ^ realitydigital.com, "Magical Yorkshire: Mark Waddington at the Leeds Ice Cube, Retrieved 10-10-2008
- ^ starnow.co.uk Archived 2008-10-15 at the Wayback Machine, UK Talent Search 2008, Retrieved 10-10-2008
- ^ "Skipton magician Mark Waddington gains 'silver star' in the Magic Circle".