Magician inspired by mum hoping for Britain's Got Talent success

A magician from Slough is hoping he played his cards right in the Britain's Got Talent auditions.

Ryan Hicks is pursuing his magic dream because it is what his mum Julie, who died from cancer when he was 15, wanted.

The 21-year-old took part in auditions at the London Palladium on Tuesday last week in front of a crowd of 3,000 and a panel of judges including Simon Cowell.

He took along his girlfriend, his dad, his sister and one of his four brothers.

Ryan, who lives in the town centre, said: "That was my biggest ever audience, I was nervous, very nervous, especially with Simon Cowell there."

The apprentice electrician added: "It went so quickly in three or four minutes.

"That was only my second ever stage performance as I specialise in close up magic.

"It was the best performance of my life, showing 3,000 people my magic at once."

Knowing the close up tricks, which he has performed at a birthday party for Joey Essex from TOWIE and for other celebrities, would not work with such a big crowd he did a Russian roulette-style routine in the mentalist style of Derren Brown.

His passion for magic first developed at the age of eight when mum Julie brought him a magic box.

Ryan loved it and even showed off his talents on children's television when he was 12.

But after his mum died when he was 15, his magic fell by the wayside.

It wasn't until last year when he uploaded a video of his magic to the internet and received great feedback that he decided to really go for it again as it is 'what my mum wanted me to do'.

Ryan, who has performed at nightclubs in Windsor, went to school at Claycots and then Beechwood.

"Beechwood were really supportive with my magic, they put me on a magic course with a professional magician," he said.

While his mum is his inspiration, for magic Ryan looks up to David Blaine and Derren Brown.

Find out how Ryan got on when the show returns later this year.