Ian Keable

Ian Keable is not conventional though he did start his working life as an accountant. But Ian felt the need to try something different, so he became a full time magician. His first professional job was a summer season in the Channel Islands, working twice nightly, seven nights a week for six months. After that he thought seriously about going back to accountancy! He stuck with it though and twenty years later, he is now established as one of the top comedy magic acts in the UK.

Ian’s unique style was developed in the comedy clubs, one of the very few magicians working successfully in these venues. He has subsequently branched out into other arenas including cruise ships, hotels and the corporate market.

He has made numerous appearances on television, from New Faces to The Big Stage. These have included a complete series of ‘The Magic and Mystery Show’ for Anglia TV, presented by Eamonn Holmes. He has also written and presented a Radio 4 programme called ‘Men of Mystery’ about mind readers; as a follow up he co-wrote ‘Box Jumpers’, a two part programme about magician’s assistants.

He has written three books for the general public on magic; his latest book, ‘The Big Book of Magic Fun’, was published in 2005. In 2008 he wrote and published a specialist book on stand-up comedy magic, called ‘Stand-up, A Professional Guide to Comedy Magic’. This is now acknowledged as the primary textbook on this subject.

But it is as an entertainer that Ian really shines. He has won the ‘British Magical Champion of Comedy’ and has been given a ‘Variety Award for Best Magician’. Ian is a ‘Member of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star’, as well as a ‘Member of Equity’ and was awarded the prestigious ‘Carlton Comedy Award’ by The Magic Circle.

Ian is at home in front of a live audience. He loves the intimacy of live performance and touring in his own one man shows. After the success of his first show ‘Conjuring Up Comedy’, he has now hit the road again with the follow up show ‘Funny Tricks’.

• Entertainers