Joel Mawhinney, a former presenter on the children’s program Blue Peter, performed an illusion on America’s Got Talent in which he appeared to destroy prized possessions belonging to three judges. The magician collected items from the judges’ dressing rooms, including a mobile phone, a framed photograph of a dog, and a bracelet, before seemingly smashing them with a hammer.
Despite the apparent destruction, all items were recovered intact through the course of the performance. The phone was located inside a locked box that sat in front of the judges throughout the audition, and subsequently received text messages from Mawhinney indicating the locations of the other missing items. One judge’s photograph was hidden within her seat cushion, while another’s bracelet was concealed inside one of the show’s signature red buzzers.
Judges Mel B and Sofía Vergara voted affirmatively, with both praising the magic itself. Howie Mandel declined to advance Mawhinney, citing concerns about the performance’s length. Simon Cowell similarly noted the duration was unsuitable for a live show format but ultimately cast a yes vote, citing audience interest in magic performances. With three yes votes, Mawhinney progressed to the next stage of competition.
Mawhinney, who began appearing on Blue Peter in 2018 and subsequently became the show’s 41st presenter, departed this year to refocus on magic. He noted that producers had been inviting him to audition for America’s Got Talent since 2020, though he had previously considered the opportunity too risky. He described the audition as the most challenging performance of his career, crediting his experience in live television from his time on Blue Peter as instrumental to navigating the multiple simultaneous elements of the act.