'Dynamo' explains why he nearly gave up magic for good before killing off character
The last time we saw Steven Frayne - formerly known as Dynamo - he was burying himself alive under five tonnes of soil, live on TV.
After a difficult few years struggling with a chronic health battle - as well as the death of his beloved nana - the magician's message was simple: 'Dynamo is dead'.
One year on from what was arguably his most dangerous stunt yet and LADbible sat down to chat with Steven, the man behind the 'Dynamo' alter ego.
Reflecting on the last few years, while telling us all about his new Sky show, Miracles, Steven explained why he nearly gave up magic for good.
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"There were times when I didn’t know how it would be possible for me to keep doing magic," says Steven. "My Crohn’s disease had spread to a different part of my stomach and that caused arthritis to hit every joint of my body. I couldn’t even hold a pack of cards never mind do some of the stuff I do now.
"When I was faced with that as a reality, it made me think, 'what's the point in my existence?' If I can’t do magic then why am I even here? I felt worthless."
While struggling with his chronic health condition, Steven was dealt another devastating blow - his nana passed away, leaving him 'lost'.
"I was in a dark place, I got to the point where I wanted to end my life because I didn’t see a point in my existence without magic, I was just lost," he recalls.
"And then my grandma and my dogs all died in the same weekend. My grandma was the one who would take me to magic competitions and my first gigs, she championed me massively and when [my grandparents] passed I couldn’t imagine doing magic without them."
Despite Steven's deep grief, he realised that he had to continue his nana's legacy, but instead of the 'untouchable' Dynamo, he needed to be Steven, who he describes as 'honest, vulnerable [and] a million miles from perfect'.
"Dynamo as a character is way cooler than Steven. He was a myth, the alter ego that gave me a false confidence and a false sense of security," he says.
"I felt if I wasn’t Dynamo I wasn’t good enough, I didn’t want people to see I had vulnerabilities and flaws.
"As Dynamo, it was perceived that I could do anything, but as Steven there were times that I couldn’t get out of bed in the morning because my joints and body wouldn’t work.
"I needed to get out there and do [magic] like I used to, but the internal battle between me vs my alter ego as Dynamo was killing me."
He continued: "So I thought, maybe it’s time to lay Dynamo to rest and I don’t think I'd have got to that point without [my nana] passing away.
"Suddenly I was like, 'now I have to do magic because my nana’s not around anymore and I have to continue the legacy that she started'. I haven’t looked back since then.
"From that point I decided to face all my demons head on and the same day I decided to bury myself alive."
One year later and Steven has made his return to telly, with his new show, Miracles, airing on Sky Max and NOW.
The 90-minute special sees Steven travel up and down the country, taking his talents to the streets and delivering mind-blowing magic to everyday heroes who have made a difference in their communities.
He describes it as the 'best magic [he's] ever made', adding: "I’m rediscovering magic again for the first time and seeing it through new eyes.
"I genuinely feel this is the best magic show I’ve ever made, it’s the thing I’m the most proud of, it means so much more to me than my older stuff."
Miracles airs on Sky Max and streaming service, NOW, on Thursday 19 December.
Topics: TV and Film, Celebrity, Entertainment
Lucy Devine