The Stage

BBC banks on Pottermania with new kids’ magic show

Published Thursday 25 January 2007 at 15:30 by Liz Thomas

CBBC is tapping into the popularity of Harry Potter and sorcery with a show that sees youngsters battle it out to become magicians.

Entitled The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, the series, which is set at a boarding school in the heart of the English countryside, will be auditioning for 14 “scholars” at events around the country.

Those that are shortlisted will be taken to the magic school to undergo 18 days of training by top professional magicians. The aspiring apprentices will be schooled in the history of magic and folklore, the Latin for casting spells, chemistry and card tricks, how to look after resident magic animals, and the art of illusion. At the end of each week, the children will compete, performing their magic in front of a live audience.

Anne Gilchrist, creative director at CBBC said: “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is going to be a great event for CBBC. Children of all ages are fascinated by magic and this show will inspire and amaze in equal measures.”

The show is fronted by Smile and Totally Doctor Who presenter Barney Harwood. Viewers will also get to test their sorcery skills and it is understood there will be an accompanying series which features the magic mentors giving away trade secrets in step by step guides so children can learn how to perform some of the tricks.

Tim Carter, head of factual at Twenty Twenty, the independent production house making the show, said: “Children’s programmes are an exciting new area for us. They’re creatively challenging and offer a real opportunity to innovate. It’s great to be making programmes for such a passionate and discerning audience.”