Latest news with #MagicCircle
Scotsman
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Fringe young magician shares inspirational story of how magic saved his life, in new book
'Naughty or Neurodiverse: An Aspie's Road To Magic' follows Angus Baskerville's journey from misunderstood child to professional magician, thanks to a new passion he discovered while holidaying with family as a teenager. Bullied, excluded, expelled from three schools, Angus grew up feeling like he didn't belong. Diagnosed with Asperger's and ADHD at 15, he finally had a name for the chaos he had always felt. Now aged 29, he is enjoying huge national success with a magic career that includes a return to The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August, on the back of a sell-out summer one-man show, Hidden Powers, and series of big ticket event performances. Last year Angus was awarded The Derek Award which honours standout acts at The Fringe. Despite a packed schedule, Angus, from Warwickshire, is still finding time to stay true to his pledge to 'pay it forward' by helping others overcome the challenges of neurodiversity through workshops, holiday camps, mentoring and public speaking. He recalls: 'School was a major challenge for me. Teachers didn't understand me because I was behaving very differently to the other students, and I was always known by everyone as the 'naughty one.' I spent so much time in the naughty corner, at one school the teacher even named it after me! 'Lack of understanding of Asperger's Syndrome, when everyone thinks you're being odd or naughty when in actual fact it's something you can't help, can be a first-class ticket to serious mental health problems and it's why I urge people to fight to get their diagnosis as soon as possible.' 'It wasn't until I found magic that I was able to make friends for the very first time. My social skills improved a lot.' As a Christmas gift in 2014 Angus' parents Neil and Kate enrolled him on a magic course at the famous Davenport's in London, bolstered by which he went on to compete in – and win - his sixth form talent contest. He earned money through his talent for the first time, performing tricks for tips in his local pub. At 19, Angus joined Leamington and Warwick Magic Society and, in 2020 he was accepted as a member of the prestigious Magic Circle. Today, he is in high demand among the magic and public speaking circuits, performing to a who's who list of rich and famous at prestigious venues across the country, including Windsor Castle, The Grosvenor Hotel Park Lane and Greenwich Theatre in London. He's now looking forward to mesmerising Edinburgh audiences once again throughout August with his all-new show on the famous Royal Mile. He said: 'Edinburgh Fringe has been a massive highlight of my career that created a lot of opportunities for me. It is known to be the third biggest ticketed event in the world behind The Olympics and The World Cup so I feel extremely privileged.' Angus is also a regular keynote speaker at autism conferences, conventions and workshops around the country, and a proud neurodiversity ambassador for numerous charities and bodies. 'I think if I had been diagnosed earlier things would have been different,' he said. 'I just felt like I was a bad person and the whole world was against me. I just didn't want to be here,' he said. His mental health battles suffered another setback in 2022 when, while waiting for a train at Warwick Parkway Station, he was witness to a suicide. This traumatic incident eventually led him to train in mental health first aid and suicide and self-harm awareness and prevention and, for the past two years, Angus has found solace in his volunteer work on Stamp Out Suicide's charity helpline. 'I've learned so much about mental health and other people and about autism and how you can achieve anything if you set your mind to it. There's always hope.' After 13 years in the making, Angus now hopes his book will help others not only come to terms with, but embrace their diagnosis. He said: 'I have written this book to show people what it's like to grow up with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). I want to share what helped me and what didn't. I also want people to understand how being different isn't bad – it's powerful. I believe the people with autism have amazing gifts to offer the world. 'I've always been different. Not naughty. Not worse, not broken. Just different. Some people see autism as a disability, others see it as a gift. There are challenges – lots of them – but there are also strengths. 'This book is my way of giving back. I want to help people find out what autism looks like from the inside. I want to help parents, teachers and kids find hope and practical ideas. I want neurodivergent people of all ages to know they're not alone. He added: 'This book is such a proud moment for me. There were countless times when I thought about giving up and considered just deleting the whole thing! But it's always been my dream to share my story with the world and the feedback so far has been positive. 'Life on the spectrum can be tough but with support, self-awareness and the right environment, it can also be joyful, meaningful and full of magic. If even one person reads it and feels seen, understood or inspired, then it's all been worth it.' 'Naughty Or Neurodiverse: An Aspie's Road To Magic' is available as a Kindle edition for £6.99 or in paperback for £17.99 from Amazon at: 2 . Contributed Angus with his Derek Award at last year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Photo: Submitted Photo Sales 3 . Contributed Angus with his new book which will be available to purchase at his shows. Photo: Submitted Photo Sales Related topics: ADHDTeachers
Scotsman
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Fringe young magician shares inspirational story of how magic saved his life, in new book
'Naughty or Neurodiverse: An Aspie's Road To Magic' follows Angus Baskerville's journey from misunderstood child to professional magician, thanks to a new passion he discovered while holidaying with family as a teenager. It marks a return to The Fringe for Angus who was last year awarded The Derek Award for standout acts at the festival. Bullied, excluded, expelled from three schools, Angus grew up feeling like he didn't belong. Diagnosed with Asperger's and ADHD at 15, he finally had a name for the chaos he had always felt. Now aged 29, he is enjoying huge national success with a magic career that includes a return to The Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August, on the back of a sell-out summer one-man show, Hidden Powers, and series of big ticket event performances. Despite a packed schedule, Angus, from Warwickshire, is still finding time to stay true to his pledge to 'pay it forward' by helping others overcome the challenges of neurodiversity through workshops, holiday camps, mentoring and public speaking. He recalls: 'School was a major challenge for me. Teachers didn't understand me because I was behaving very differently to the other students, and I was always known by everyone as the 'naughty one.' I spent so much time in the naughty corner, at one school the teacher even named it after me! 'Lack of understanding of Asperger's Syndrome, when everyone thinks you're being odd or naughty when in actual fact it's something you can't help, can be a first-class ticket to serious mental health problems and it's why I urge people to fight to get their diagnosis as soon as possible.' 'It wasn't until I found magic that I was able to make friends for the very first time. My social skills improved a lot.' As a Christmas gift in 2014 Angus' parents Neil and Kate enrolled him on a magic course at the famous Davenport's in London, bolstered by which he went on to compete in – and win - his sixth form talent contest. He earned money through his talent for the first time, performing tricks for tips in his local pub. At 19, Angus joined Leamington and Warwick Magic Society and, in 2020 he was accepted as a member of the prestigious Magic Circle. Today, he is in high demand among the magic and public speaking circuits, performing to a who's who list of rich and famous at prestigious venues across the country, including Windsor Castle, The Grosvenor Hotel Park Lane and Greenwich Theatre in London. He's now looking forward to mesmerising Edinburgh audiences once again throughout August with his all-new show on the famous Royal Mile. He said: 'Edinburgh Fringe has been a massive highlight of my career that created a lot of opportunities for me. It is known to be the third biggest ticketed event in the world behind The Olympics and The World Cup so I feel extremely privileged.' Angus is also a regular keynote speaker at autism conferences, conventions and workshops around the country, and a proud neurodiversity ambassador for numerous charities and bodies. 'I think if I had been diagnosed earlier things would have been different,' he said. 'I just felt like I was a bad person and the whole world was against me. I just didn't want to be here,' he said. His mental health battles suffered another setback in 2022 when, while waiting for a train at Warwick Parkway Station, he was witness to a suicide. This traumatic incident eventually led him to train in mental health first aid and suicide and self-harm awareness and prevention and, for the past two years, Angus has found solace in his volunteer work on Stamp Out Suicide's charity helpline. 'I've learned so much about mental health and other people and about autism and how you can achieve anything if you set your mind to it. There's always hope.' After 13 years in the making, Angus now hopes his book will help others not only come to terms with, but embrace their diagnosis. He said: 'I have written this book to show people what it's like to grow up with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). I want to share what helped me and what didn't. I also want people to understand how being different isn't bad – it's powerful. I believe the people with autism have amazing gifts to offer the world. 'I've always been different. Not naughty. Not worse, not broken. Just different. Some people see autism as a disability, others see it as a gift. There are challenges – lots of them – but there are also strengths. 'This book is my way of giving back. I want to help people find out what autism looks like from the inside. I want to help parents, teachers and kids find hope and practical ideas. I want neurodivergent people of all ages to know they're not alone. He added: 'This book is such a proud moment for me. There were countless times when I thought about giving up and considered just deleting the whole thing! But it's always been my dream to share my story with the world and the feedback so far has been positive. 'Life on the spectrum can be tough but with support, self-awareness and the right environment, it can also be joyful, meaningful and full of magic. If even one person reads it and feels seen, understood or inspired, then it's all been worth it.' 'Naughty Or Neurodiverse: An Aspie's Road To Magic' is available as a Kindle edition for £6.99 or in paperback for £17.99 from Amazon at: 2 . Contributed Angus has just published the book of his life. Photo: Submitted Photo Sales Related topics: ADHDTeachers
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Kapil Sharma makes car insurance smarter, not harder in Policybazaar's new ad
When it comes to buying car insurance, there are only two kinds of people - the ones who compare and save, and the ones who don't. In Policybazaar 's latest tongue-in-cheek ad campaign, Kapil Sharma makes sure you know exactly which one you are. The brand rolled out two new ad films that are packed with Sharma's signature wit and an important message. In one of them, the actor-comedian takes a playful dig at a Zebra buying a car from the showroom, 'Na na… galat samajh rahe hain aap. Ye Zebra nahin hai.' And just when you wonder why, he drops the bomb - anyone who skips comparing on Policybazaar and ends up paying extra at the showroom is no Zebra, but a Gadha. The similar storyline unfolds in the other one where the Zebra gets his car insurance without comparing on Policybazaar and realises he's a Gadha. Samir Sethi, head, brand marketing at Policybazaar, said, 'The ads are humorous but the pain of overpaying for something like your car insurance is very real. Whether your car is fresh out of the showroom or a few years old, buying without comparing your best options means you are paying more than you need to. The ads deliver a serious message in a relatable way - look before you leap and make smarter choices.' Dheeraj Renganath and Natwar Singh, co-founders, MagicCircle (creative agency), said, 'So, for this campaign, we just had to imagine how Kapil Sharma would choose to say this in his trademark and inimitable style. This is how the 'Zebra nahi Gadha' idea was born. Of course, with such an interesting visual, we could be sure that the campaign would break the clutter as well.' Watch the videos here:
Edinburgh Reporter
07-07-2025
- Edinburgh Reporter
Domestic abuse conviction ends legal career dreams for Luxford Burgers boss Alexander Galpin
Edinburgh 'burger king' Alexander Galpin's dreams of a high-flying legal career are in tatters after one of the world's top law firms confirmed his trainee solicitor position has been axed following a conviction for domestic abuse. Galpin boasted on social media that he had secured a coveted post and was due to start a full-time trainee role in August with Magic Circle firm Clifford Chance – one of the UK's most prestigious legal firms which has an annual £2 billion turnover. But following his conviction for domestic abuse and aggressive behaviour against his former partner and mother of his 19-month-old daughter, Clifford Chance has confirmed Galpin's traineeship offer has been withdrawn. The Edinburgh Reporter revealed Galpin, 24, owner of two Luxford Burgers restaurants in Edinburgh and a 'dark kitchen' Deliveroo operation, was convicted under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on 23 June. Galpin repeatedly pressurised his pregnant partner to have an abortion against her wishes, leading to confrontation and furious arguments. Shamed Alexander Galpin leaves Edinburgh Sheriff Court after being convicted of domestic abuse – Pic by Stephen Rafferty In one text message – seen by The Edinburgh Reporter – Galpin told the stressed woman: 'You've had no right to hold this over me every day and watch me squirm, you had no right to force me to look at pictures of a scan of kid that I view as a cancer, nothing more nothing less.' The court heard that following one row over the pregnancy the would-be lawyer drove his car at speed with his pregnant partner in the passenger seat while the door was open. The vehicle struck a post and Galpin later tried to pull her from the car, causing bruising to her arm. During a campaign of abuse, which included him sending hundreds of text messages, Procurator Fiscal Peter Finnon told the court that one offensive message stood out. The woman, who suffered mental health issues, was on the phone to her doctor seeking help, when Galpin messaged: 'Ask if you can get medication for malicious parent syndrome'. In court Galpin admitted that he did repeatedly act in an aggressive manner, and encourage his victim to make representations to the court in support of removal of bail conditions. He admitted that on one occasion, he seized her by the body, pulled her and caused her to fall on a bed, and that he repeatedly contacted her and made offensive remarks. Following the final break up of the relationship in July 2024, Galpin is said to have engaged in an 'extreme form' of behaviour which included repeatedly phoning and messaging his ex-partner at all hours of the day. Galpin has been championed by Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce as an exemplary businessman – winning the Chamber's 2024 'Rising Star' award and being nominated for the 2025 High Growth Business Award – despite the Edinburgh Reporter making the organisation aware of a business failure which left debts of almost £120,000. Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce's Rising Star, Alexander Galpin, (centre) has crashed and burned. We revealed in February how Galpin put Luxford Burgers' parent company, Secure Kitchens Ltd, into liquidation, leaving a trail of debts due to small local businesses, while UK tax payers were left to pick up an £80,000 bill in unpaid VAT, PAYE and corporation tax. Galpin then 'phoenixed' the failed business, setting up a new company Got Buns Ltd in June 2024, and continues to operate the Luxford Burgers restaurants in St Leonard's Street and Brandon Terrace. On his LinkedIn profile, Galpin claims he is 'Executive Director of Galpin Group, a hospitality management business that owns and operates a portfolio of restaurants across the UK, with a combined gross turnover of £6m+ per annum.' He previously stated on his profile: 'I am an incoming trainee solicitor at Clifford Chance, one of the world's leading law firms, where I will start me legal career in August 2025', but that has now been deleted. Galpin has deleted his LinkedIn post boasting about joining law firm Clifford Chance The Edinburgh Reporter contacted Clifford Chance on 28 February and 4 March informing the firm of Galpin's business failure and questioned if it was appropriate that he should be offered a trainee solicitor position. It was only after his conviction for domestic abuse last month that Clifford Chance confirmed the traineeship had been axed. A spokeswoman said: 'As a policy we do not comment on individual applicants to the firm, but I can confirm this individual will not be a future trainee or join Clifford Chance.' Galpin, of Salvesen Crescent, Edinburgh, did not respond to a request for comment. He will be sentenced at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on 1 August. Galpin enjoying La Dolce Vita in Florence but he is in the frame for domestic abuse and due to be sentenced on 1 August. Like this: Like Related
Scottish Sun
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Watch the moment Celebrity Catchphrase star misses out on whopping £25k prize – but would you have known it?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS is the moment a Celebrity Catchphrase star missed out on a whopping £25,000 prize - but would you have known it? The hit ITV show has always lead with the 'say what you say' mantra, but as members of the public - and more recently celebrities - have found out, it isn't as easy as it sounds. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Luke Kempner missed out on £25k on a recent episode of Celebrity Catchphrase 4 Luke had been flying through the catchphrases before he got stuck on this one 4 It showed Mr Chips working out next to an apple core During the latest series of the show - hosted by Stephen Mulhern - impressionist and comedian Luke Kempner made it all the way to the Super Catchphrase. After whizzing through the first couple of catchphrases, Luke took on the starred number 11, in the hope of doubling the money of his co-stars Charlie Hedges and Jeremy Vine. He secured that relatively easily as well, but things unravelled when he got to the £25,000 catchphrase. The scene revealed Mr Chips doing sit ups next to an apple core with muscular arms lifting weights. Luke guessed 'working on his guns' before struggling to think of anything else. He said pass and moved onto the only other option on that level, but he sadly ran out of time when he was unable to get that one right too. It meant he left the show with a respectable £10,000 for his charity, as well as doubling Charlie and Jeremy's earnings from earlier in the show for their respective charities. It was then Stephen's job to reveal what the missing catchphrases had been. He explained that the gym scene was actually "core strength" as it was an apple core working out. Did you get it right? Watch the moment Stephen Mulhern is left red-faced as he makes HUGE blunder on Catchphrase puzzle The final clip that he missed was "under study", which Luke was kicking himself about. Earlier in the episode, Stephen was left red-faced after giving away an answer. As the clip showed a man going into a coffee shop with rapidly increasing price tags until they burst through the ceiling, Stephen declared: "Literally, the prices have gone through the roof!" The contestants then stood in silence for a second as an embarrassed Stephen clocked what he had said. Stephen Mulhern's career so far The presenter is a mainstay on various ITV shows, but how did he become one of Britain's most well-known faces? Stephen first gained an interest in magic and tricks from his father who taught him as a kid. After performing at Butlins, he became the youngest member of the Magic Circle and even made an appearance on Blue Peter in a piece about Harry Houdini. His career started in Children's TV when he presenter the show Finger Tips in 2001. After four years, he launched Tricky TV on CITV in 2005, which he presented until 2010. During this time, he was handpicked by bosses to front the ITV2 spin-off for Britain's Got Talent. He presented Britain's Got More Talent until the cancelation of the companion in 2019. But it's not all bad news for Stephen who is known for his duties on a number of quiz shows. In for a Penny, a format originally launched on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway was launched the same year. Before, he was chosen by bosses to host Catchphrase in 2013 and has been fronting the show ever since. Other huge shows he presented for ITV included Big Star's Little Star, Rolling In It and the reboot of Deal Or No Deal. He also made regular appearances on This Morning in 'The Hub' segment between 2011 and 2014. After the Philip Schofield scandal rocked ITV, he was chosen to reunite with his former CITV co-star Holly Willoughby as the host of Dancing on Ice. Jeremy eventually broke the silence, pressing his buzzer and asking: "Sorry, what? Was that the answer?" Stephen then embarrassingly nodded and burst into fits of laughter alongside the cast and studio audience. "I have never in my life done that. In 10 years!" he admitted. 4 He also failed to get a catchphrase illustrating 'under study' meaning he left with a respectable £10k Celebrity Catchphrase is available on ITVX.
