Latest news with #illusionist
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Project stars are left utterly shocked as magician repeatedly reads their minds live on air: 'I feel sick!'
The stars of The Project were utterly dumbfounded when an illusionist repeatedly read their minds during Wednesday night's episode. Waleed Aly, Sam Taunton, Sarah Harris and Georgie Tunny were joined by Scottish magician Scott Silven, who tasked them with thinking of an object that would take them back to their childhood. They were then asked to name the age they experienced the object they were thinking of, or that was a significant year in their lives, and each age the hosts gave was written down. Silven asked Georgie to then reveal her memory - and she said it was of a lamington cake she had at her seventh birthday party. Throughout the trick, a gift box sat on the table, and when Silven opened it, the box contained a lamington, shocking the group. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Sam was asked what object he had thought of, he said a lotto ticket - and Silven pulled one out of the centre of the cake. When he presented the ticket, it featured the exact numbers the group had chosen. 'I feel sick!' Sam cried out, while Sarah chimed in, 'We need an old priest and a young priest in here, right now!' Silven did not reveal how he pulled the trick off, but the cast were absolutely shocked by the results. There was another show on the show when Peter Helliar was back on The Project on Tuesday night. The comedian, who sensationally quit the current affairs series in 2022, appeared alongside series regulars Waleed Aly, Sam Taunton, Sarah Harris and guest star Kate Langbroek. While fans of the show were happy to see Peter back behind the desk, he was just dropping by to promote his new children's book, Detective Galileo. Peter admitted he felt a little unusual sitting in a spot on the desk normally reserved for guests. Throughout the trick, a gift box sat on the table, and when Silven opened it, the box contained a lamington, shocking the group as Georgie Tunny admitted it was the item she had in mind Sam (right) was asked what object he had thought of, and he said a lotto ticket - Silven then pulled one out of the centre of the cake 'I used to be on this side of the desk, and then the last few times on that side, and now back on this side. I'm playing tennis with myself!' he joked. Peter explained that his three sons Liam, Oscar and Aiden 'are 22, 20 and 16' so no longer the target audience for his kid's books. 'I still sit at the edge of their bed and read to them' he joked. 'They are less interested to hear my ideas, but they love it and they are supportive. I try to get in touch with my own inner child rather than talk to my kids about it'. It's not the first time Peter has returned to the show since his departure. Last year, he appeared on the desk alongside Michael Hing, Max Rushden and Sarah Harris. The Project was rocked by two other high-profile exits in late 2022. Lisa Wilkinson announced she was quitting effective immediately, and long-time anchor Carrie confirmed her departure a month prior.
USA Today
30-04-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Two of a Kind: The Property Brothers on their meteoric rise to television royalty status
Two of a Kind: The Property Brothers on their meteoric rise to television royalty status Drew and Jonathan Scott are household names, known for their playful banter, attention to detail and commitment to quality on the home renovation projects they film for television shows such as Property Brothers , Celebrity IOU and Brother vs. Brother . The 47-year-old identical twins — Jonathan, a licensed contractor, and Drew, a real estate agent — didn't set out to become the most famous siblings in the home improvement industry. Still, they have embraced the journey and sit at the helm of what could easily be termed an empire, with a production company, multiple lines of home furnishings and décor and even a children's book series called Builder Brothers . Firm Foundations The twins got their start in Calgary, Alberta. 'We grew up on a ranch, and we were always handy. So, we decided right out of high school to start renovating houses to make money to go after our creative endeavors,' says Drew, who set his sights on being an actor and director. 'We bought a $500 infomercial course that promised you to 'make millions with no money down.' They got our money; however, we did learn a couple of things that allowed us to buy our first house for only $250 out of pocket,' says Jonathan, who had aspirations of becoming an illusionist à la David Copperfield. 'That's how we launched into it. Lo and behold, we were good at real estate.' After about 10 years of flipping homes, Drew felt the pull of acting once again. 'I started getting host auditions as a real estate expert,' Drew says. At first, he dismissed the idea, hoping to be a film actor. But after talking with Jonathan, he reconsidered. 'We thought we could probably build a brand around this. We know how to design houses. What if we do what we were doing with clients locally for a larger national or global audience?' Soon after, Property Brothers launched in 2011 and became a top-rated HGTV staple. Other hit shows including Backed by the Bros and Buying and Selling followed. Ever entrepreneurial, the pair, who both now reside in Los Angeles, has become the largest home show producers in the country. Building New Things While the duo's audience may be most familiar with their on-air work, the Scott brothers are increasingly making a name for themselves in the world of retail products. Ten years ago, they launched their Scott Living and Drew & Jonathan Home brands, featuring an ever-growing collection of wallpaper, rugs, lighting, textiles, furniture and more. Since 2015, they've collaborated with licensing partners to create more than 12,000 unique SKUs for retailers from Amazon and Wayfair to Macy's and Rooms To Go. The term 'empire' isn't a stretch: as of early 2025, their products had netted more than $3 billion in retail sales. It may be natural to assume that the more successful the Scotts become, the less they're getting their hands dirty. While they do have a capable team to assist, they're still in the thick of the real work that goes into transforming properties — the work that catapulted them to stardom in the first place. (On the day of our interview, Jonathan came in brushing sawdust off his shoulders, having raced over from a renovation project.) It's also personal for them: They recently completed a project for their parents, who moved from their dream home in Banff, Canadato Los Angeles to be closer to the grandkids (Drew shares two kids with his wife, Linda, and Jonathan has two stepchildren with his fiancée, actress Zooey Deschanel). 'We had to make sure the house was everything they could ever want — that it was comfortable and that there were elements that made them feel the nostalgia of the mountains and the beauty of the rustic lifestyle,' Drew explains. 'It was a gut renovation of an 80-year-old Spanish style home in Santa Monica,' Jonathan says, finishing his brother's thought — a common occurrence. 'Nothing had ever been updated in the house, and it was in dire need of everything.' The project was documented for HGTV and the brothers shared behind-the-scenes insights on their YouTube channel. The result is a light-filled, functional house that has become a treasured home for the senior Scotts. Good Work Some made-for-television home renovation shows are plagued by rumors of shoddy craftsmanship and productions carting away décor and furniture when the filming stops. 'That would never work for a family in real life,' Drew says. 'I'm like, 'No, let's actually help families.' We've done 650 episodes or more of our shows (combined) now, and that's always been our philosophy. It's got to be done right whether a camera is there or not.' That ethos of improving lives and giving back to the community flows through into their philanthropic endeavors as well. In 2017, the brothers were named Habitat Humanitarians, the highest recognition by Habitat for Humanity, and have led fundraisers and home builds across the country. Additionally, Jonathan sits on the board of electrification nonprofit Rewiring America and Drew sits on the board of The Environmental Media Association, an organization dedicated to encouraging more sustainable production. They also help in less public ways: During the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, Jonathan Deschanel offered their home to firefighters to use as a basecamp. They feel like they're just getting started. In 2024, the Scott brothers partnered on a first-of-its-kind partnership called The Healthy Home Innovation Fund to invest in innovations that can help tackle the most pressing issues facing homeowners, renters, builders and others. The organization will help fund new ideas in smart home technologies, energy efficiency, digitization, safety and more. No matter what new endeavor they dream up or project they tackle, the brothers are committed to working together, a lifetime habit. 'We've naturally fallen into this routine where we divide and conquer,' Jonathan says. 'Drew will run with one project. I'll run with another. It's almost seamless now. We don't even have to think about it. We call it twin telepathy.' Follow along at and at the newly launched Drew & Jonathan YouTube channel for behind-the-scenes show recaps, news about their product launches and tips for at-home DIY projects.
