Peter Mehtab’s mother, Maidie de la Mare, is from Guernsey and met his father, Piara Singh Mehtab, who believes he was one of the island’s first ever Sikhs.
He now travels the world doing magic shows on luxury yachts, cruises and the Orient Express.
‘When I was younger I used to race home from school to watch David Nixon on the telly who, at the height of his career, was the best-known magician in the UK.
‘My father used to show me a few little tricks and I went on to study magic books, then joined the Magic Circle, which they call the most exclusive club in the world, and now I am a member of the inner Magic Circle, of which there are only 200 to 250 members at any one time.’
One of the cruise companies Mr Mehtab works for is Seabourn Cruise Line, whose ships sometimes stop off in the Little Russel and bring passengers ashore by tenders.
‘I always get excited to see Guernsey on the destination list,’ he said.
‘I’m very proud of my Guernsey roots and I have a very strong connection to the island because of my large family, I always try to mention it in interviews.’
After working out his Guernsey family tree a few years ago, Mr Mehtab realised he had a family member living in at least one of the squares on every page of the local Perry’s Guide.
Although he has performed close-up magic and mind reading in front of the likes of Sir Richard Branson, Sting, Sir Paul McCartney, Tom Cruise, Robert De Niro, Prince Charles and The Queen, he returns to the Peninsula every December for the New Year’s Eve entertainment and was even part of the hand-over contract when new owners took on the hotel in 2018.
‘I always honour a contract. If The Queen called me up on 30 December and asked me to perform the next day, I’d have to turn her down. The Peninsula has been good to me and I don’t back out of anything I’ve committed to.’
As well as celebrity parties, Mr Mehtab has entertained at The Queen’s birthday party at The Ritz, the biggest children’s party at Buckingham Palace and the Harry Potter wrap parties.
He was also cast in the James Bond film, The World is Not Enough, EastEnders and The Bill.
‘It’s amazing where magic has taken me and I am very fortunate for it, but it’s amazing to return to the same hotel each year, I’ve seen children grow up here.’
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