A MAN whose awe-inspiring sleight of hand saw him spurn a promising career as a pharmacist to be a magician is to appear on screen.

Keighley-born Adam Patel already has appearances booked in London’s West End on the back of his reputation as one of the UK’s top street magicians.

He has performed his magic and illusions all over the country, to people on the streets and celebrities.

Now he aims to take his career to the next level with his first TV special, Adam Patel: Real Magic, which will soon be released on Amazon Prime Video.

And he is launching a tour of cities which opens at the Leicester Square Theatre on March 28. He takes in Leeds City Varieties Music Hall on April 7 and will also travel to Newcastle.

Mr Patel moved with his family from Keighley to Allerton in Bradford and then Dewsbury, but he returned to Bradford to spend five years studying pharmacy at the university.

His interest in magic started after being given magic sets as a youngster, but he didn’t initially see it as a career option.

He said: “Being from an Asian background, performing arts wasn’t really encouraged. My parents were happy for me to do it, but only as a hobby. Any talk of becoming a professional was met with fierce resistance.

“Of course, with an older head on my shoulders now, I know it’s because they were worried. The arts, at that time, was not a well-trodden path by Asians so I can appreciate that they were worried I might not succeed. For the record, my parents are now very supportive of me.

“It has been a very exciting ride. I’m very glad I ultimately dared to give this a go three years ago and the show my team and I have produced is something I think we’re all really proud of. It’s a dream come true.”