In the late 19th Century, a young Hungarian immigrant called Eric Weisz chose magic as the means to provide for his ageing mother. He found inspiration in the form of a memoir, and his identity morphed: young Eric became Harry Houdini, and a legend was born.
But legendary status only came later. And it required persistence to achieve it. Because cutting through the cutthroat magic scene of the time proved tricky. Alongside a rotating cast of magical sidekicks, Houdini tried his hand at card tricks, comedy and even became a fraudulent spirit medium for a short while.
With these acts, he scraped by in dime museums, circuses, and medicine shows. But it was his bigger stunts that finally got the attention he craved, though. One trick he pioneered during his teenage years would go on to form part of his act for the rest of his life.
Join Derren Brown as he explores the ups and downs of a performer dead set on finding his voice and making it big as he first dabbles with the idea of escape.
Presenter: Derren Brown
Writer/Producer: Calum McCrae
Additional research: Alice Homewood
Sound designer: David Crackles
Executive producer: Sophie Ellis
Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams
Commissioning Editor: Daniel Clarke
Original music: The Inner Me - Epilogue (Rosie, sweet Rosabel)
A Strawberry Blond production for BBC Sounds and Radio 4
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