Episode 1 Dynamo: Magician Impossible

There's a man walking on water.

I saw the guy walking in the water, I saw it.

I saw him do it for a pretty long distance too.

Like a modern-day Houdini or something like that.

'Over this series, I'm going to take you on a journey into my world.'

It makes me feel giddy, I feel like a little girl.

Oh, that is nuts!

'From the streets of the UK...'

That is crazy!

'..to the beaches of Miami.'

-It's so insane.

-How'd he do that?

-'Watch as I shock...'

-Wow!

-Oh, my God!

He's scaring me today.

'..thrill...

'and amaze everyone I meet along the way.'

You ain't getting better than that.

'And in this episode, I head down to London

'and attempt the most dangerous walk of my life.'

'My name is Steven Frayne, but most people call me Dynamo.'

For as long as I can remember, all I wanted to do was amaze people -

to take away the stress of everyday life, if only just for a minute,

and show them something truly astonishing.

I've been looking up to travel all over the world.

But there's one place that really stands out for me.

-Welcome to Miami! I'm Tiffany Fantasia.

-Nice to meet you, Tiffany.

-So is this your town?

-This is my town forever.

-Can I try something with this bottle?

-Sure.

In fact, do me a favour.

I want you to blow as hard as you can into the top.

What happened.

-Nothing.

-Nothing.

Let me try.

Watch.

Wow!

Man!

Unbelievable!

How did you do that?

HE COUGHS

Are you OK?

I'm all right.

I'm going to call my girlfriend to give you mouth-to-mouth.

Is she good-looking?

Yeah, very beautiful.

-Call her up, man.

-OK.

The guy was blowing like, you know... Ggrrr! Very strong.

And then, blow up!

Look at it!

This is amazing for a skinny guy,

so very skinny guy.

I can't even blow up a balloon, you know.

Who's wearing a watch? A lady's...

This one. Can you take that off?

-I better get that back.

-Yeah, yeah.

Can I have a look?

Actually, you've got...you can see a tan line there, yeah?

Can you see a tan line?

Let me try this. I'll give you this back this in a second. Watch.

Wait, wait, you took my watch, though!

-I'll give it back in one second. Watch this.

-I want it back!

See the tan line, yes? Watch.

What is he doing?

THEY ALL SCREAM

From there to there.

He took it away from there. Oh, yeah!

-He moved her tan line.

-How did he do that?

He moved her tan line.

She had that right there.

I usually wear a watch when I come to the beach

and I had a tan line here which disappeared.

And he just moved it up to my arm.

And it doesn't come off,

so how do I take this off?

Sometimes I feel like the luckiest guy in the world.

Amazing people on the beaches of Miami isn't bad for a kid from Bradford.

But it wasn't always like this. Let's go back to where it all began.

I grew up on Delph Hill Estate in Bradford, the eldest of four kids.

When I was 15, I went to live with my grandparents.

My grandpa was an ex-soldier

and he performed magic in bars across Bradford after the war ended.

I used to get bullied by these two guys from my estate.

Every day, they would throw me into a wheelie bin

and push me down that hill.

I eventually asked my grandpa what to do and he taught me

an amazing technique to take away their strength.

'I still use the technique to this day.'

And just lift me up. I don't weigh that much, yeah.

-I weigh like eight stone. Yeah, so he can lift me, right?

-Yeah.

-He can lift me, yeah?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

Just get ready to lift me, but don't lift me yet, all right.

Just look at me.

You can get that, you can get that.

Just lift me again.

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

Just lift me again.

That's not human, bruv.

It's such a powerful technique, I even used it on heavyweight boxer David Haye.

So you didn't struggle that much there. Look at me.

Just lift me again.

By rights, I should be able to toss him over a...over a wall.

Not like that.

Strange.

The more my grandpa showed me, the more I wanted to learn.

I read every book I could get my hands on

and practised and practised day after day, and night after night.

It literally became my world.

In 2004, I received a loan from the Prince's Trust.

I bought myself a camera

and started to film my adventures.

There you go.

See that. Right through the window.

Oh!

Oh, my God!

When I first started performing,

it was right at the beginning of the YouTube craze.

No-one could have predicted how big it was going to get.

But it just seemed like a great way to get myself out there.

Then came social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter,

and it all seemed to fit together.

Before I knew it, I was getting hundreds of views,

then thousands, then hundreds of thousands.

Suddenly, I had millions of people from all around the world watching my videos,

from magic on the streets to meeting artists backstage.

-Hello!

-All right?

-Mister D, how are you doing?

Yes, sir, you made it down. What's going on? Come in, come in.

This is the best, listen,

the best magician.

Forget the UK, forget London, Bradford.

This is the best magician in the world. Yeah, I'm saying it.

I am a...I believe.

Whenever I see you, I never get my CD cover signed.

-So, you know, I know you've signed thousands of them.

-Yeah.

-But I want to get mine done, so...

-Cool, let's do it.

-Only, mine a bit special.

-Yeah.

-You're wearing your glasses there, yeah?

-Yeah.

I want to see your eyes.

Put your glasses on your head.

Yeah.

Do you see his eyes?

Watch, watch.

THEY ALL SCREAM

Oh, my God!

How did he do...? That photo doesn't even exist!

He changed my album cover.

He took the glasses off of my eyes in the album cover.

He moved them up, and you can see my eyes. That photo doesn't even exist.

-I don't want to see that.

-Look, look!

You are the best magician in the world. Crazy.

After receiving my loan from the Prince's Trust, I moved down to London.

My grandpa always told me, "If you have a gift, you should share it."

And London was the perfect place to reach a wider audience.

In 2011, the Prince's Trust invited me to present at the Celebrate Success Awards.

It's like my life had come full circle.

So here we are on the red carpet

of the Prince's Trust's Celebrate Success Awards 2011

with magician to the stars Mr Dynamo. How is it going?

-I'm now joined by street magician extraordinaire. Hello, Dynamo.

-Hello.

I want to hear some stories, you know, of the kids inside here, see what they've been doing.

Better, right?

Tonight, it's quite an honour to be here giving an award out.

So... Here, let's do it this way. Watch.

And the winner is Naomi Berridge.

As all the guests headed to the after party,

these two guys stopped me and asked me to show them something.

-Do me a favour by just thinking of any playing card, yeah?

-Yeah.

-Got a card in mind?

-Yeah.

-Put your hands like this.

Just look at me.

Watch.

-Can you do that again?

-Wow!

-Can you do that again?

Wow!

Oh, wow! Wow!

Wow!

-Is that your card?

-That was my card first and foremost.

-Wow!

-I want to see that trick again.

I want to see it again. Where did he go? He disappeared.

He's just disappeared as well!

I've performed at lots of different events over the years

and met loads of interesting people.

That's the thing I love about magic.

It doesn't matter if you are a kid in Bradford or a big shot celebrity,

it puts everyone on the same level.

Two pound coin, right? Watch.

Oh, no way!

-That's ridiculous!

-Do it again!

That is amazing.

Check this out. Take one out, take one.

Show your friends,

show these guys, show everyone.

Don't let me see it. Keep your eye on it, yeah?

I'll put it about halfway down.

Will you just do me a favour? Will you put your hands like this?

Perfect. Just look at me.

That was good. Check out Dynamo!

He's my accountant.

Performing on the streets of London has allowed me to take things to the next level.

And with an unsuspecting audience, nobody is safe.

Do you think it's possible to steal other people's identities?

Well, depends on what way, but I'll say no.

-So I want to try something with you.

-OK.

I'm going to use my bank card as well.

You're going to use your bank card. All right.

My bank card.

That's my name on there, Mr S Frayne.

-Steven Frayne, yeah?

-OK.

You can see that, right?

Yeah? And then, my signature on the back.

-See that, right?

-Yeah.

-We've literally just met.

-Yeah.

So what is your full name?

Olawale Ogunye.

OK. So Olawale Ogunye.

-So on your bank card, it would say Mr O Ogunye, yeah?

-That's right.

So if I could take my bank card,

rub over the name...

LAUGHTER

Whoa, wait, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on a second.

Is that your name right there?

What the...?!

That is my name, yes.

The next thing I'll need to really take your identity...

Is my signature.

..your signature, so if I take my signature and just shake it.

Is that your signature right there?

HE LAUGHS

Yes, that is my signature, but how the hell did you...?

So I've got your name on my card, I've got your signature.

The only thing missing is the PIN number, right?

-Tell you what, think of your PIN number.

-I know my PIN number.

Look at me.

4.

-4...

-(BLEEP) (BLEEP)

-4...

-(BLEEP) (BLEEP)

-..0.

How did you know that?

I just... I don't know, I just did it.

All I'm saying is, I've got his card, I've got his PIN number

and I've got his signature. I'm out.

Whoa, whoa, whoa - come back here!

Listen! Come here! You've got my card!

Finally he caught up with me.

That is identity fraud.

Don't worry, man. I'm not going to spend your money.

After giving him back his identity, I decided to mess with him a little more.

Can you do me a favour, yeah? Can you finish off the drink?

-It's empty.

-All done.

-There you go.

-I've got the bottle there.

And I want to try something with your mobile phone.

So I've got his phone and the bottle. Watch.

-Oh

-(BLEEP)!

Sorry, man.

Amazing.

-Hold on a second.

-Where has that guy gone?

How the...?

Yo, dude, call my number.

PHONE RINGS

Oh...!

Look at this, look at this. It's ringing.

-Oh,

-(BLEEP)!

Oh, pardon my French.

Can you put my phone in as well?

If you break it, it's going to break the phone.

I'm not breaking it.

Sorry, mate. You asked for it.

You just got jacked.

It's only worth £20, man. It's not worth it!

I...I'm confused.

It's amazing, but I'm just confused. How did he do that?

The last 10 years have been a real adventure,

and I've made a lot of friends along the way,

like legendary recording artist Ian Brown, lead singer of the Stone Roses.

He's like an uncle to me and a real inspiration.

I recently hooked up with him and his mates at his studio in Manchester.

-Are you in a studio a lot now?

-No, I'm just writing at the moment.

-Bits and bobs.

-A new album, yeah?

-Yeah, yeah.

-And it's all new, no-one's seen it?

-All brand-new, only I know it so far, yeah.

Have you got, in your head, like, have you got a lot of the lyrics?

I've got all the lyrics.

I've got about 30 different lyrics, tunes, songs.

What I want you to do is I want you to think of, let's say,

like, a lyric to one of the new songs, that nobody else knows.

Your fans don't know about it,

I don't think any of you guys have heard the new stuff yet.

-Literally something that only you know, yeah?

-Mm-hm.

-Almost, like, say it over and over in your mind.

-OK.

I need everyone to be really quiet for this.

Getting something to do with love. I know you kind of...

you love your fans or...

your love of people.

-Does that ring any bells?

-Yeah, you're saying it.

Now I'm getting I think you think I'm a fool or summat. Um...

This might be wrong, but...

"Just because I'm in love with the...people

"doesn't make me a fool."

How are you doing that?

LAUGHTER

-Is that what you're thinking of, yeah?

-Oh, mate.

Just because I'm in love with the people don't make me a fool.

He's just gone...clean read my mind.

Wow.

Is that a Dynamo exclusive?

Flipping not half.

That's far out, that, mate.

You could write my next one for me without me knowing.

Can you pass me the guitar? That guitar, yeah?

I don't really play, so don't expect owt good to come from me.

Tell you what, just grab hold of the plectrum.

Yeah. Let me... This is a bit weird, but I want to try something.

Can you stand up and just put your chair opposite mine?

Back-to-back?

Not too closely, just back up a little bit.

That should be great if you just stand back here a little bit.

And then...

Can I borrow that plectrum as well?

Nobody move.

-I can go a step further.

-You're going to stand on that?

Seriously, nobody move right now, yeah?

APPLAUSE

What's he doing? How's he doing...?

I'm seeing inanimate objects, guitars,

balancing on its own volition.

It's not humanly possible. It's not possible!

I saw a guitar balancing on its own with a drumstick stuck vertically

in the air and nothing to support it.

-Apart from his mind, I don't know.

-I'm scared of the guy.

I don't want to be close to him, I don't know what he's going to do to me!

It's amazing, amazing. Ridiculous.

God knows where you come from.

We've been pals a good few years, but he's scaring me today.

You're not supposed to be scared of your mates, are you?

Growing up in Bradford left me feeling isolated.

I wanted to find a way to bring my magic to the world

in the same way that music artists connect with a huge audience.

I went to hook up with R&B star Trey Songz

at his concert in Hammersmith.

But before I went backstage, I wanted to try something with his fans.

-Who's the biggest Trey Songz fan here?

-We all are.

-She is?

She's saying you.

-I have dreams about him.

-Yeah? Wow.

-What did you just say?

-Tell you what.

Do me a favour? I just want you to think of one of his songs right now.

-Yeah, I've got one.

-OK.

Look at me, look at me.

This is scary.

Bottoms Up?

# Bottoms up, bottoms up Every single cup

# Got a couple bottles but a couple ain't enough

# Bottoms up, bottoms up Throw your hands up. #

-You've worked with loads of artists, right?

-Mm-hm.

I want you just to think of an artist right now. Got one?

-Yeah.

-Cool.

Look at me.

Watch this. I'm going to stand back here. Can you see me over there?

Watch.

LAUGHTER

APPLAUSE

Do you know what these are? British coins.

I've got, like, two pence and £2.

I'm going to try and grab them on the count of three

and you've got to close it before I get there, yeah?

On three - one, two, three.

Don't think I got anything, but choose one again - £2 or two pence.

Two pence.

Two pence. Open your hand.

LAUGHTER

It's gone, right?

See that? Gone. Close your hand in a fist. Turn your hand over.

Watch.

-Look underneath your watch.

-Don't do that.

APPLAUSE

Over the years, I've met thousands of people form all walks of life.

Magic is a great way of bringing people together. It creates an immediate connection.

-How are you doing?

-Good. Nice to meet you.

-Your name is?

-Sean.

-Sean, and you are?

-I'm Jo.

-Jo.

-How long have you two known each other?

-Two years.

You've probably got quite a good connection, right?

-I'd say reasonable, yeah.

-Pretty good.

I want to try something and test that.

I'm just going to stand in the middle.

I want you both to close your eyes

and I want you to both think of a country.

On the count of three, I'd like you both to name that country out loud.

One, two, three.

-France.

-France.

-Oh, my God.

-That is crazy!

Hold on.

That is mad.

One, two, three.

-Spain.

-Spain.

One, two, three.

-Barbados.

-Barbados.

That's nuts.

-You guys have got a wicked connection. I'll try one last thing with you.

-OK.

Hold your hand out like this.

And then if you hold your hand out in a fist as well.

Just loosen your grip a little bit. Not so tight.

Oh! Oh...!

HE LAUGHS

Did you feel any heat?

-No heat.

-I felt the burn...

-No heat at all.

No heat at all.

-It's really weird.

-I felt nothing.

-I thought you were just messing around.

-No! It was getting hotter and hotter.

-That wasn't all in my head, was it?

-He's a genius.

-I felt nothing.

-Nothing?

-I'm confused that you... How did you know about France?

-How did you know about France?

-How long have you two been dating?

-Eight years.

Eight years, so in eight years,

you've probably got quite a good connection?

Yeah.

Just close your eyes, please.

If you felt me touch you, just nod your head.

-Can you say where I touched you?

-On the back.

-And how many times?

-Three.

Just open your eyes.

Tell her what just happened.

-He touched me three times on my back.

-No, he didn't!

-He did.

-He did!

-No.

-You definitely felt it?

-Yeah.

-That's so weird.

-That's eight years of a happy relationship right there.

It is, yeah.

Welcome Dynamo: Magician Impossible.

I guess it's easy to take things for granted.

Once upon a time, the idea a man could walk on the moon

was just as crazy as the idea of a man walking on water.

That's why I love taking something physical

and transforming it right in front of someone's eyes.

I want to try something. Have any of you guys got any coins, any change?

Can I borrow one of these? I'll take just a 10p, yeah.

Just take that and then, on the tail side,

just write your initials on there.

You all see that, yeah?

On this side, I'm going to write "D", yeah?

I've got "D" for Dynamo, yeah.

Watch.

Hang on, where's the money?

Can you feel that? Does that feel cold?

-Oh, my God.

-It's cold, yeah?

Watch.

Shut up. Shut up.

It's ice, it's ice. Oh, my God. Stephen, feel it.

It's proper ice, it's proper melting.

Yeah, that's my initials right there - KS.

That's bizarre. That's all I can say. That's crazy.

He just turned it to ice right in front of me

in his bare hands. Wow.

Besides performing on the street, I get invited to a lot

of events. This has helped to bring my magic to a whole new audience.

Very nice to meet you, Lucy. Got some change in there?

-Yeah, I've got a bit of change.

-Can I borrow a coin?

I don't want lip-gloss. This will be perfect. This will be perfect.

Perfect. 20p, right? Just put your bag down.

See this, yeah? Lucy's 20p, right. Watch.

Watch.

Hold your hand out.

You bent my 20p.

LAUGHTER How did you do that?

It's, like, really bent!

-That's amazing. I really can't...

-I'll do the glass.

-There.

-Oh, my God!

-No way!

-No way.

Can I use this, can I empty it? If there's only a tiny bit.

Pour that in there.

Can I...can I borrow that ring?

Can you hold it up and show these guys your ring, yeah?

Can you give it back, please?

So we've got your glass, your ring - watch.

-No!

-What!

-Hold it up for the camera.

MUSIC DROWNS SPEECH

-Can you get it back?

-I'll have to smash it later.

'On my way out, I bumped into American actress Jessica Lowndes and presenter Katie Larmour.'

-How you doing, what's your name?

-Jessica.

-Jessica, Dynamo.

-Very nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you, you have pretty eyes.

-You too.

-And your name is?

-Hi, Katie, nice to meet you. How are you?

Let me just... touch my hands like this. Now watch.

I hope you washed your hands when you were in the toilet!

That is so crazy.

That's so insane.

That was incredible.

Let's disappear.

So many people told me it would be impossible,

that a boy from Delph Hill could come this far.

To be honest, without my grandpa, I might have believed them.

I guess that was his gift to me -

the belief that I could do anything or be anything that I wanted.

As he always said, if you have a gift, you should share it.

I think back to all the people I've met along the way

and the looks of astonishment on their faces.

For me, magic isn't about tricking people.

It's about creating a moment of wonder, where for a short while,

anything is possible.

There's a man walking on water!

-What's going on?

-A guy walking on the water.

Sometimes I wonder if my life has all been an illusion,

but if there's one thing I've learned, it's that reality is only what you make it.

# There's something inside me that pulls beneath the surface

# Consuming, confusing

# This lack of self-control I fear is never-ending

# Controlling, I can't seem

# To find myself again My walls are closing in

# Without a sense of confidence

# I'm convinced that there's just too much pressure to take

# I've felt this way before

# So insecure

# Without a sense of confidence Confidence

# Without a sense of confidence

# I'm convinced that there's just too much pressure to take

# To find myself again My walls are closing in

# Without a sense of confidence

# I'm convinced that there's just too much pressure to take

# I've felt this way before

# So insecure

# Crawling in my skin

# These wounds, they will not heal

# Fear is how I fall

# Confusing what is real

# Crawling in my skin... #