About
Ali Cook is a historian of deception. He's a sleight of hand expert, a street magician, escapologist, stage illusionist and performer of thought control.
"As well as escapology, Cook does jaw-dropping Derren Brown-style mind-reading feats, fabulously dextrous close-up magic, gruesome gross-out pranks and magic tricks the like of which you've never seen before" Steve Bennett, Chortle.
Ali has written and starred in the television series Now You See It (BBC1),'Penn And Teller: Fool Us' (ITV1) 'Dirty Tricks' (Channel 4) and 'Monkey Magic '(Five), both nominated for the British Comedy Awards & the Golden Rose of Montreux. 'Psychic Secrets Revealed' with Derren Brown (Five), The Secret World of Magic (Sky 1), 'the Jerry @ Trick show' with Jerry Sadowitz (Five) & Greatest Magic Tricks in the Universe Ever (Channel 5). As well as guest slots on Le Plus Grand Cabaret du monde and The Slammer (CBBC).
Ali’s irreverent persona and respected sleight of hand have made him one of the pioneers of the alternative magic scene. His 2010 live show, 'Pieces of Strange', was in the top 2% of best reviewed shows according to The British Comedy Guide. 2011 saw his third sell-out Edinburgh show, 'Principles and Deceptions', which was nominated for a 6 star award by broad way baby.
Following these highly innovative live shows Ali has received the highest accolade by The Magic Circle with his promotion to Member of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star joining HRH Prince of Wales, David Copperfield, Paul Daniels, Lance Burton and other elite names of magic around the world.
Ali has taken a break from the Fringe to pursue his acting career. Acting credits include the BAFTA & BIFA award winning ‘Kajaki’, the BIFA award winning ‘Isolani’, ‘Emmerdale’ and ‘ABC Murders’. He wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed short film ‘The Cunning Man’, which was long listed for a BAFTA and has so far won over 30 awards. He starred alongside Katherine Parkinson in the political satire ‘How to Fake a War’. He has just finished filming series 1 of ‘Ragdoll’ (Sid Gentle Films, the production company behind ‘Killing Eve’) for AMC & Alibi in which he plays series regular DCI Simmons.
TV credits:
Penn & Teller:Fool us, 1 hour special, ITV1.
The Slammer, CBBC.
Le Plus Grand Cabaret du Monde, France2.
The Invincibles: 1 hour special, ITV1. Various sketch characters.
Dirty Tricks: 6 X 1 hour series, Channel 4. Lead performer and writer.
Secret World of magic: 6 x 1 hour series, Sky One. Lead performer and writer.
Monkey Magic Two: 7 x half hour series, Five. Lead performer and writer.
The Greatest Magic Tricks In The Universe Ever 6 x 1 hour series, Five. Lead performer and writer. A count down of the most awesome tricks of all time.
Psychic Secrets Revealed: a one-hour special and 6 x half hour series, Five. Lead presenter and writer. Investigated the psychology of deception and the Occult. Featured Derren Brown.
Monkey Magic Christmas special 1 hour, Five. Lead presenter and writer. Highlights from the first series.
Monkey Magic 7 x half hour series, Five. Lead presenter and writer. The ground breaking series that created the alternative magic scene.
TV acting credits:
DCI Simmons – Ragdoll, Sid Gentle Films, Dir: Toby MacDonald and Niall MacCormick
German Officer – The ABC Murders, Mammoth Screen, Dir: Alex Gabassi
Patrick – Emmerdale, ITV, Dir: Nickie Lister
Reporter – Mr Selfridge, ITV, Dir: Rob Evans
Film acting credits:
Cameron Jones - Prezidentka, Marlene Film Production, Dir: Rudolf Havlik
Josef- The Obscure Life of the Grand Duke of Corsica, Dir: Daniel Graham
The Knackerman - The Cunning Man, Dir. Zoe Dobson
Simon - How to Fake a War, F&ME, Dir: Rudolph Herzog
Harry - Muscle, Stigma Films, Dir: Gerard Johnson
Stuart - Love Type D, Midnight Circus Films, Dir: Sasha Collington
Odd-Legs - Once Upon A Time in London, Zebra Films, Dir: Simon Rumley
Rudy - Isolani, Lola Pictures, Dir: Paul Wilson
Edward - The Call Up, Stigma Films, Dir: Charles Barker
Sgt Paul "Spud" McMellon - Kajaki, Pukka Films & Bedlam, Dir: Paul Katis
Geoff - The Messenger, Gateway Films, Dir: David Blair
Agent Travis - The Anomaly, Universal Pictures, Dir: Noel Clarke
Constable Phillips - Peterman, Control Films, Dir: Mark Abraham
Daniel - Lost in Karastan, F&me, Dir: Ben Hopkins
Jonno - The Wedding, Dir: Peter Andrew/Ben Kelly
Kirby - Get Lucky, Universal, Dir: Sacha Bennett
Stevie - Outside Bet, Universal, Dir: Sacha Bennett
Yorkie - The Boy and The Bus, BBC Worldwide, Dir: Simon Pitts
Charlie - Circles- Spencer Hudson Films, Dir: Spencer Hudson
Harry Senior - The Turtle and the Nightingale, HBO, Dir: Gershon Hinkson
Soldier - Sahara, Paramount Pictures, Dir: Breck Eisner
Lead/Greg - Striklem, NFT, Dir: Stephen Frears/Andrew Saunders
Lead/Laurence - The Enchanter, ACP, Dir: Adrian Vitoria
Lead/Jack - The Bus Stop, MTV Europe, Dir: Mario Cavelli.
Lead/Giles - Missing Eunice, The Second City, LA, Dir: Mike Ross
GQ Magazine - None stars!
"Forget what you think you know about comedy magicians - Ali Cook is edgy, intelligent, self-referential, caustically hilarious and one of the most sought-after illusionists on the planet."
The Daily Telegraph - Four stars!
"Effortlessly funny, Jonathan Creek eat your heart out."
Chortle - Four stars!
"Witty and affable throughout, he might have an old craft but Cook has a modern pared down approach...Awe inspiring!"
Broadway Baby - Five stars!
"The show is Perfection"
The Herald, Scotland - Four stars!
"Like a bonsai David Blaine, but not so smug and irritating, Cook does big things in small places"
