Tom Lyon
Encyclopedia
Tom Lyon is a British
escapologist and magician who has appeared a number times on Blue Peter
and Richard & Judy
amongst other television shows.
in the 1990s, where he met fellow magician Drummond Money-Coutts
with whom he reformed the Eton College Magic Society, hosting such performers as Uri Geller
. Whilst at Eton, he performed on many TV programs, such as Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, Richard & Judy
, MAGIC, Revolver, Blue Peter
(five times), Innovation Nation, Xchange
and several international television programs. On one episode of Richard & Judy he got out of a straitjacket and undid his handcuffs in 1 minute and 53 seconds, and then, in under 3 seconds, got out of handcuffs he was wearing and tied Richard and Judy together. He has also been featured in several newspaper articles, including The Daily Telegraph, The Independent, the Daily Mail
, Tatler Magazine and the Mail on Sunday. He made front page news in America in 2004 when he escaped from a vault. He also performed for private audiences, including The Queen, The Countess of Rosebery, The Countess of Chichester, The Lady Chadlington and Sir Eric Anderson.
He was reviewed as being "an amazing talent" (Mail on Sunday), proclaimed "astounding" (Express) and it was said that his "future is golden" (Daily Mail).
Lyon became the youngest member of The Magic Circle
while still at school, being accepted into the society without having to audition. On leaving school in 2004 he travelled to Italy and France where he focussed on close up sleight-of-hand magic. In 2006 he matriculated into Oriel College, Oxford. To concentrate on his studies, he has left the public eye for the present, although continues to perform at private engagements. Along with Drummond Money-Coutts
, he toured Kenya performing magic in 2007, and a DVD, Kenyan Conjurations
, was produced about their exploits. The advertising copy reads: "In August 2007, two English magicians travelled to Kenya and performed their mini-miracles wherever they went. They were chased by prostitutes, bribed to cheat in a casino and gave one man a seizure. This is their story." The profits from the DVD will fund the building of a new school in Kenya.
In August 2008, Lyon toured China with Money-Coutts to film a second DVD, this time raising money for a Chinese Children's charity. This film is currently in post-production. While in Asia, they also performed for the Olympic Handover Party at London House, Beijing and Lyon performed for the British Ambassador to China at his residence.
Lyon is currently collaborating with artist Ed Hawkins on a number of projects for future release.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
escapologist and magician who has appeared a number times on Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
and Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy was a British magazine/chat show which was presented by married couple Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. It originally aired on Channel 4 from 2001 to 2008 but later moved to digital channel Watch in October 2008. It featured the world's most famous stars, along with their Book Club...
amongst other television shows.
Background
Lyon wanted to be an escapologist from a very early age, picking toy handcuffs with a toothpick. He attended Eton CollegeEton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
in the 1990s, where he met fellow magician Drummond Money-Coutts
Drummond Money-Coutts
Drummond William Thomas Money-Coutts , also nicknamed "DMC", is an English magician and specialist card sharp. Money-Coutts is the heir apparent to the Latymer Barony.-Biography:...
with whom he reformed the Eton College Magic Society, hosting such performers as Uri Geller
Uri Geller
Uri Geller is a self-proclaimed psychic known for his trademark television performances of spoon bending and other supposed psychic effects. Throughout the years, Geller has been accused of using simple conjuring tricks to achieve the effects of psychokinesis and telepathy...
. Whilst at Eton, he performed on many TV programs, such as Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy was a British magazine/chat show which was presented by married couple Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. It originally aired on Channel 4 from 2001 to 2008 but later moved to digital channel Watch in October 2008. It featured the world's most famous stars, along with their Book Club...
, MAGIC, Revolver, Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
(five times), Innovation Nation, Xchange
Xchange (TV series)
Xchange was a factual entertainment BBC television programme for children. It was broadcast initially on BBC Two and later the CBBC Channel. The programme was transmitted live from studio TC2 at BBC Television Centre...
and several international television programs. On one episode of Richard & Judy he got out of a straitjacket and undid his handcuffs in 1 minute and 53 seconds, and then, in under 3 seconds, got out of handcuffs he was wearing and tied Richard and Judy together. He has also been featured in several newspaper articles, including The Daily Telegraph, The Independent, the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
, Tatler Magazine and the Mail on Sunday. He made front page news in America in 2004 when he escaped from a vault. He also performed for private audiences, including The Queen, The Countess of Rosebery, The Countess of Chichester, The Lady Chadlington and Sir Eric Anderson.
He was reviewed as being "an amazing talent" (Mail on Sunday), proclaimed "astounding" (Express) and it was said that his "future is golden" (Daily Mail).
Lyon became the youngest member of The Magic Circle
The Magic Circle
The Magic Circle is a British organisation, founded in London in 1905, dedicated to promoting and advancing the art of magic.- History :The Magic Circle was founded in 1905 after a meeting of 23 amateur and professional magicians at London's Pinoli's Restaurant...
while still at school, being accepted into the society without having to audition. On leaving school in 2004 he travelled to Italy and France where he focussed on close up sleight-of-hand magic. In 2006 he matriculated into Oriel College, Oxford. To concentrate on his studies, he has left the public eye for the present, although continues to perform at private engagements. Along with Drummond Money-Coutts
Drummond Money-Coutts
Drummond William Thomas Money-Coutts , also nicknamed "DMC", is an English magician and specialist card sharp. Money-Coutts is the heir apparent to the Latymer Barony.-Biography:...
, he toured Kenya performing magic in 2007, and a DVD, Kenyan Conjurations
Kenyan Conjurations
Kenyan Conjurations is a film made by English magicians Drummond Money-Coutts and Tom Lyon. It is a charity project raising money to build a school in Africa.-Background:...
, was produced about their exploits. The advertising copy reads: "In August 2007, two English magicians travelled to Kenya and performed their mini-miracles wherever they went. They were chased by prostitutes, bribed to cheat in a casino and gave one man a seizure. This is their story." The profits from the DVD will fund the building of a new school in Kenya.
In August 2008, Lyon toured China with Money-Coutts to film a second DVD, this time raising money for a Chinese Children's charity. This film is currently in post-production. While in Asia, they also performed for the Olympic Handover Party at London House, Beijing and Lyon performed for the British Ambassador to China at his residence.
Lyon is currently collaborating with artist Ed Hawkins on a number of projects for future release.
External links
- Tom Lyon: Official Website
- Kenyan Conjurations: Official Website
- Daily Telegraph Feature
- Daily Mail Article
See also
- EscapologyEscapologyFor the Jessica Mauboy song, see Inescapable.Escapology is the practice of escaping from restraints or other traps. Escapologists escape from handcuffs, straitjackets, cages, coffins, steel boxes, barrels, bags, burning buildings, fish-tanks and other perils, often in combination.-History:The art...
- Drummond Money-CouttsDrummond Money-CouttsDrummond William Thomas Money-Coutts , also nicknamed "DMC", is an English magician and specialist card sharp. Money-Coutts is the heir apparent to the Latymer Barony.-Biography:...
- Eton CollegeEton CollegeEton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....