The audience was not only complicit but vital in making the magic happen through a connection that felt almost childlike at times: they wanted to believe the impossible but were also eager to know how it was done.

An ardent Leaver, during the 2016 EU referendum campaign she faced accusations of untruths after claiming that the UK would not be able to stop Turkey joining the EU. It was not the only part of her record that faced scrutiny, with some Tory MPs accusing Ms Mordaunt of being “too woke” on issues of trans rights and self-identification. Elected in the Portsmouth North constituency in 2010, one of her first claims to fame was an appearance on reality TV diving show Splash in 2014. However, she has hardly been conspicuous in her loyalty, making it clear she believed benefits should rise in line with inflation at the Tory conference earlier this month, despite Ms Truss repeatedly refusing to guarantee the boost. Debra Ann McGee (born 31 October 1958) is an English television, radio and stage performer who is best known as the assistant and widow of magician Paul Daniels.On 1 April 2007, McGee appeared along with her husband, Vanessa Feltz, and her fiancé Ben Ofoedu in a celebrity edition of Channel 4's hit reality television show Wife Swap. In May 2006, she appeared on The X Factor: Battle of the Stars with her husband singing " Let Me Entertain You" by Robbie Williams.

Ms Debbonaire also challenged her about comments she was reported to have made at the Conservative Party conference, that "our policy is great but our comms is shit".Sometimes she needs the audience to notice her actions and at other times she absolutely needs them to ignore her. Long before she made a bid to replace Boris Johnson, let alone his successor, 49-year-old Ms Mordaunt had been tipped as a potential challenger for the Tory crown. Now that I work as a solo act, I know that my time as a magician’s assistant gave me the confidence to emerge on stage as not just a surprise or a novelty, but as a skilled performer capable of making the magic happen herself.

Strictly Come Dancing 2017 live final: Joe McFadden lifts glitterball trophy despite being outscored by Alexandra Burke". She eventually lost out to Mr Sunak and Liz Truss in the last round, before Conservative members had the final say.

Music is a shortcut to producing an emotional connection with audiences and shaping their expectations in many different ways. Ms Mordaunt said she had been "playing to the crowd as I was addressing a room full of communication professionals" - and added, to cheers from Tory MPs: "It is the anti-growth coalition whose policies are shhh . Underscoring (playing music quietly as a trick unfolds) helps to create rhythmic moments that build tension and mimic what might be done elsewhere with language – for example, the rule of three can apply to reveals timed to music cues to make them as successful as spoken comic punchlines.

Yet for all her confidence, some observers suggested that Ms Mordaunt came slightly unstuck in the televised debates, and she was unsuccessful in the first time round.The audience can’t see me but I catch glimpses of them through tiny cracks in the wood, the stage lights reflecting in their wide eyes.