2 h. ago Digested week: Magic Circle and life in the Vatican return to our psyche

Disappearances of a school and handbag of head of Homeland Security past the Secret Service remain unexplainedI did what a lot of people did on hearing news of the death of Pope Francis on Monday: I watched Conclave. The Oscar nominated movie, adapted from the Robert Harris novel, unpacks the process of electing a new pope and between Sunday and Monday, it enjoyed a 283% surge in streaming figures. I’d like to say it deepened my understanding of life in the Vatican, but the truth is it just made me wish we could have Ralph Fiennes for pope, while reminding me – I’m not alone in this – that we’ve seen quite enough of Stanley Tucci for the time being. Continue reading...

Politics

29 h. ago Woman kicked out of Magic Circle for ‘amusing’ male disguise trick gets back in

Sophie Lloyd is being honoured by the organisation at a ceremony on Thursday night, after being thrown out 30 years ago.

Politics

33 h. ago Magic Circle readmits magician who disguised herself as a man, 30 years later

Sophie Lloyd, who was expelled in 1991 when her deception was exposed, accepts belated apology from the society Deception has always been an integral part of magic. So when Sophie Lloyd set about attempting to gain access to the formerly male-only ranks of the Magic Circle, she concocted an elaborate disguise.To become the magician Raymond Lloyd, she wore a male bodysuit, wig, gloves to disguise her feminine hands – making sleight of hand even more difficult – and wore “plumpers” in her mouth to give herself a square jaw. Continue reading...

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38 h. ago Unmasked: The woman who tricked her way into the Magic Circle by disguising herself as a man...then was thrown out for being female and vanished for 34 years

A woman who vanished after masquerading as a schoolboy to gain entry to the Magic Circle has miraculously reappeared after 34 years and tells the Mail how delighted she is to be back

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3 w. ago How my dream job turned me into an alcoholic: DOROTHY HERSON

It was 2.30am when I realised I was indisputably not cut out to be a corporate lawyer. My hands hovered, trembling, over the keyboard.

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4 w. ago How my dream job turned me into an alcoholic addict: DOROTHY HERSON

It was 2.30am when I realised I was indisputably not cut out to be a corporate lawyer. My hands hovered, trembling, over the keyboard.

Politics