Reading botanist becomes magician's assistant

Tuesday, 07 May 2013

Dr Jonathan Mitchley

Dr Jonathan Mitchley, lecturer in botany from the School of Biological Sciences, will feature on Channel 4's new high profile magic and illusion series, ‘Ben Earl: Trick Artist'.

In each episode illusionist Ben Earl explores a different theme through magic and illusions, including crime, art and money. The University was approached to help with the science and nature episode as a number of the illusions involved plants - the team were looking for expert botanists and relevant people to be involved in the programme.

Dr Mitchley, who teaches botany on the MSc Plant Diversity and MSc Species Identification and Survey Skills courses, volunteered to take part and travelled to a disused London warehouse in April for filming of the episode.

He said: "Taking part in the programme was a great experience - it was a fun day and Ben's stunts were clever and baffling. Of course we were sworn to secrecy, but what I can say is that where Ben Earl is concerned, you can definitely expect the unexpected. The episode included a botanical trick with a Venus Flytrap! I am always delighted to see botany on the TV, even in this very unconventional guise. Ben Earl's approach is novel and very different from the run of the mill magic shows; he uses sleight of hand and has an ingenious approach to ‘trickstering'." 

The episode will be screened on Friday 10th May at 9pm on Channel 4.