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Former Blue Peter star Joel Mawhinney has auditioned for America's Got Talent. The TV star became the 41st presenter on the long-running children's programme in 2022 but now, in showcasing his act as a musician, appeared on the US version of the variety show.
Joel, known professionally for his magic act as Joel M, told the cameras of the "risky" trick that lay ahead and noted that it was "the scariest experience" of his life.
He then set about smashing up items that belonged to judges Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Howie Mandel, and Mel B, but reminded them that "everything that disappears must reappear."
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Joel walked into the star dressing room and took a bracelet Mel B received from her fellow Spice Girls, and a picture of Sofie's dog in a cushion as well as Howie's phone, before taking a hammer to each of them.
When Howie's phone resurfaced, still in working order, it received a series of text messages telling the judges where their possessions had ended up. It transpired that Mel B's gift had been concealed in a red buzzer, whilst he also stored Howie's phone in a box. A stunned Mel B said: "I don't know how you do it. I believe in magic but I loved it!"
Sofie laughed as she said Joel's "magic was very impressive," as both women said yes to sending him through to the next round, although it was a no from Howie who thought the act was "too slow" to go any further. Simon agreed, and warned him that he couldn't do that on a live show."
But the X Factor mogul then noted that the "audience love magic, which is exactly the reason I'm going to say yes," meaning that Joel had a majority and went sailing through to the next round.
When asked about his act after it had aired, Joel told BBC BBC Good Morning Ulster: "I knew the plan was to take prized possessions, or whatever I could find, but it just so happened that the jewellery was there
"It's a hard and set rule that if I'm performing magic, I don't borrow possessions of people. I don't like taking phones. I don't like borrowing rings because I've just heard so many horror stories.
But I thought, it's America's Got Talent, I have to do something. So I sort of went for." Joel also claimed that bosses of America's Got Talent had been asking him to audition for several years, but it was only now that he decided the time was right, especially after his departure from Blue Peter.
He added: " I left Blue Peter this year and wanted to establish myself as a magician again, because that's what I'm doing now. And I thought, you might as well kick the whole thing off with something a bit extreme, so I'll fly to the States and do that."
In the UK, winners of Britain's Got Talent are given the opportunity to perform at the Royal Variety Show and has seen stars such as Paul Potts, Diversity and Sydnie Christmas take to the stage at the prestigious event in London.
In the US, those who are crowned champion of American's Got Talent, which has discovered stars such as impressionist Terry Fator, singer Bianca Ryan and musician/actress Grace VanderWaal, receives a $1 million grand prize.
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