TV:
I thought the email was meant for somebody else;

'Dear Jay, We would like to invite you to appear in our new film...'

After confirmation that it was genuine, I spent a day on the set for Magicians (Universal Pictures 2007). If you own a copy, watch out for my superb performance, lasting approx 0.97 seconds. I pass the main character as he walks up the stairs and I run down them (quite an incredible run it was too). I'll leave you to scout that particular bit out. I think you'll agree it is something quite astonishing to behold.

The thing about TV is that it doesn't happen over night. I create and co-create television proposals and one of the longest running developments to date was an idea of mine called AbracadASBO (working title). Basically we would take ASBO teenagers and through the use of magic teach other disciplines connected with the art. And we would have visited several places around the world. I say 'would have', as after two years or development and tasters, including bringing in top TV talent to front the show, Paul Zenon, we received a 'no' from terrestrial TV. The show was exec. produced and developed by a guy called Andy Batten-Foster (he's the brains behind formats such as Top Gear and 999). Andy and I first worked together on a 6 part series which was broadcast on BBC2 back in 2001 called the History of Magic. I continue to develop concepts with Andy to this day.

'Magicians' was written by some of the top chaps at Objective Productions, who produce most of the magic on telly these days. Through their head of magic, a knowledgeable and swell guy called Anthony Owen, I've had the opportunity to write for some of their programmes and continue to develop ideas for broadcast through their magic department. Barry and Stuart are dark performers (that's not racist – they perform magic with an edge) and it's been great fun working on ideas for their particular brand of TV magic shows.

And not all of the ideas are tailored towards magic and comedy. I work with writing partners and have pitched to independent companies and have had a few take the proposals into development. It's hard-work with little financial reward, but a good laugh!

It's not all just writing for TV though. I've hosted a chatshow for Showcase TV (one of the many never-heard-of satellite channels) and Overload TV (see previous!) and spoof sketches for Sky.

An American magician made quite a lot of hype by levitating in the street. Once he'd done it and secured a TV series, others thought that it would work for them too. Knowing that it wouldn't, but keen to cash in, I was asked to record an instructional DVD for magicians on how to go about this floating-on-the-spot miracle. This was released through a magic company in the UK and subsequently I recorded another instructional DVD teaching how to use a gaffed pack of cards and also recorded a video catalogue for the business.