It is surely only a matter of time before the bulging Edinburgh Fringe programme boasts a special section for all the magicians appearing there. And when it does pride of place should go to Pete Firman, who is one of the best and most entertaining illusionists to appear in recent years. I first remember him cropping up on Five’s Monkey Magic, where his cheeky grin and subversive cruise ship patter helped to misdirect viewers as he performed miraculous stunts. More recently he has been on The Sarah Millican Television Programme, Channel 4's Comedy Mash-Up and BBC1's The Magicians. But nothing beats watching magic in the flesh. It is devilishly hard to put a new spin on old tricks but the Middlesbrough marvel works wonders with interlocking hoops and vanishing fivers. He can crack a good joke too. He is at the Grey Horse in Kingston tonight, alongside Rhys James. 

Pete Firman is at The Pleasance Courtyard from July 30 - August 24. Details and tickets here.