Britain’s Got Talent winner to perform new tricks in St Albans

Lance Corporal Richard Jones, winner of Britain’s Got Talent 2016, will be performing a taster of his The Power of Imagination show at a one-off date at the Trestle Arts Base in Russet Drive on Tuesday, April 18.

The illusionist will be showcasing breathtaking new tricks never seen before.

The military magic man’s full tour later this month follows an hour-long TV special Operation Magic, which airs on ITV1 on Saturday, April 15, at 6pm.

After receiving a standing ovation at the Royal Variety Show in December last year, where he read the mind of HRH Prince Charles, Richard’s debut TV special allows him to give back to his Army colleagues, by performing morale-boosting military magic for the troops, entertaining and amazing everyone from new recruits to decorated veterans.

2016 Britain's Got Talent winner Richard Jones is heading out on tour (Image: Archant)

“I can’t wait to present my new TV special,” said Richard.

“I’ve been working on it for the past six months, and it’s been amazing working with the Army, entertaining the troops with a range of brand new illusions which combine my experiences as a soldier with my passion for magic.”

Richard starts his full UK tour at MK11 in Milton Keynes on April 23, with the final date at Haverhill on May 5.

East End-born Richard, who grew up in Essex, stole the hearts of the nation with his captivating performances on Britain’s Got Talent.

He was the first magician to ever win the show.

Richard wowed the judges – Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, David Walliams and Amanda Holden – and left viewers spellbound with his mind-reading skills that involved a David Beckham cut-out and turning a can of fizzy orange into hot tea.

He also performed a trick that gave Amanda Holden and David Walliams electric shocks.

Another centred around Amanda’s biography caused Simon Cowell to call him a “wizard” and Amanda herself proclaiming it “the best magic trick in 10 years that we’ve seen on this show”.

After more than 2.5million people voted in the final, Richard was crowned the winner of BGT’s 10th series.

At the age of 19, Richard signed up to become a bandsman in the British Army before undergoing four months combat training and then 12 months studying at the Royal Military School of Music. He was then posted to the Parachute Regiment in Colchester, Essex.

In September 2014 he transferred to The Household Cavalry, where he had to complete six months of the Army Mounted Dutyman Training.

The musicians of The Band of The Household Cavalry are considered specialists as the Cavalry have the only band in the British Army that performs on horseback.

Richard has since performed at some of the UK’s biggest parades and functions, including the Queen’s 90th Birthday Parade and garden parties at both Buckingham and Holyrood Palace.

Despite his success, and the multitude of media appearances and interviews following his BGT win, Richard continues to be in the army alongside performing full time as a magician.

One of the proudest moment in Richard’s military career came when he performed at the D-Day Memorial Ceremony in Normandy, Northern France, in June 2014 in front of the Queen, French President Francois Hollande, then US president Barack Obama and Russian president Vladimir Putin.

• Tickets for Richard Jones’ preview show at Trestle Theatre, in St Albans, on Tuesday, April 18 at 7.30pm are extremely limited and cost just £5.

Visit www.trestle.org.uk for more details and to book tickets.