MAGIC Martin has been named the UK’s top ‘Family Entertainer of The Year 2017’ — said to be one of the most coveted awards in the magic industry.

Martin Gardiner, from Lifton, known as Magic Martin, won the South West heat of the competition late last year, and travelled up to the finals on Saturday, February 19 at Blackpool Magic Convention.

The competition was attended by Europe’s finest performers in magic, and Martin told the Post how he was waiting backstage to receive his award alongside TV magician Paul Zenon, Ken Dodd and Fred Van Buren, who won a lifetime achievement award, and who Martin described as ‘a legend in magic’.

Up against six other top magicians from the length and breadth of the UK, Martin performed his best tricks within a 15-minute time limit to impress the judges. His audience consisted of hundreds of local children and some of the 5,000 magicians who attended the four-day event at the Blackpool Winter Gardens.

Martin was judged on his showmanship, originality, skill, magical content and entertainment value.

This was not Martin’s first foray on to the big stage as in 2012 Martin took part in Britain’s Got Talent performing on stage at the Apollo Theatre in front of an audience of 4,000, including judges Simon Cowell, David Walliams and Alicia Dixon.

He was given a ‘yes’ and made it down to the last 80 contestants at boot camp before having to bow out of the competition due to contractual agreements, performing his show at sea.

The 32-year-old is on cloud nine after winning first place. He said: “It was a real honour to be chosen to take part this year. I felt it was a great achievement as I have been working as a magician and entertainer for 15 years and have always dreamt of taking part in the Blackpool competition.

“The competition was said to be very strong this year with each act being diverse, original and at the top of their game. This has to be the highlight of my career to have my name called out as the winner on stage was a moment I will never forget.”

Martin lives with his wife and ‘boss’ Kerry, and their two young children. Martin and Kerry used to tour as an illusion act before moving to the area several years ago.

He joked: “I’m just waiting for the children to be a bit older so we can get them in boxes in the garage! It would be great if one day the children get the bug and we could put a family act together!

“Although I’ve been doing magic for many years it was my first visit to the Blackpool Magic Convention. To be able to perform on the big stage and then take the prize away at the end was pretty special.”

It is back to reality now for Martin — at 10pm on Sunday night he was receiving his award on stage and Monday morning he was on the school run. He added: “It’s been a whirlwind of fun and magic. Standing backstage to collect my award I was amongst some of the greatest talents in magic, Ken Dodd, Paul Zenon and Fred Van Buren were beside me waiting to go out to collect their own awards, I had to pinch myself! My next goal is to put together an act that I can hopefully take forward to the European championships which takes place every three years.”