Ali Cook (also credited as Alistair Cook) is an English magician and actor originating from Yorkshire.
Cook is known best for writing and starring in seven British television magic shows for Channel 4, Five, and Sky One, produced by Objective Productions. He began as a sketch actor on Jerry Sadowitz's television sketch show Jerry@Trick Show before moving on to perform as lead magician and writer in the ground-breaking comedy magic shows: Monkey Magic, Psychic Secrets Revealed, Greatest Magic Tricks in the Universe...Ever, Secret World of Magic , and Dirty Tricks.
Television shows
Monkey Magic
Two seasons of seven half hour shows and a Christmas special.
Monkey Magic was the groundbreaking comedy magic show that reinvented the genre. It has been said it was the first alternative magic show, and featured four magicians performing amazing tricks, with the strangest stuff in the weirdest places. It reinvented the image of the magician and attracted a younger audience back to magic.
Commissioned by Andrew Newman for the Five network, it was nominated for the Golden Rose D’Or comedy award.
Dirty Tricks
A six-part series for Channel 4, it was described as "magic meets Natural Born Killers". Hosted by Barry and Stuart, the show had regular spots from Cook, and the Monkey Magic boys Pete Firman and Jonathan’s Escapes.
There were also appearances from international variety acts and celebrities- including Penn and Teller and Kevin James.
It was nominated for a Rose D’Or Comedy award in Montreaux.
Psychic Secrets Revealed
A one-hour special and six half hour episodes on the Five network.
Cook demonstrated a range of psychic feats from bending keys, walking on fire to contacting the dead, spirit guides and clairvoyancy. Psychological illusionist Derren Brown and psychologist Dr. Richard Wiseman then explained how these feats could be being more psychological than paranormal.
Greatest Magic Tricks in the Universe Ever
Six one-hour episodes on the Channel Five network.
Cook and his Monkey Magic co-stars hosted this series where they counted down the most amazing tricks of all time from Horace Goldin's sawing a woman in half to David Copperfield vanishing the Statue of Liberty.
Secret World of Magic
Six one-hour episodes on the Sky One network.
Cook travelled the world with Pete Firman, interviewing the notable magicians while performing their own brand of sleight of hand on the streets of Paris, Madrid, New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Bueno Aires.
The series included some of magic’s legendary performers including Mac King, Juan Tamariz and Max Maven.
