He may only be 17, but magician Luke Lenihan is dealing out card tricks faster than you can say Dynamo.
The Birchencliffe teen has been practising magic since he was 11, and says his talents have helped him beat the bullies.
Luke came into the Examiner office to show the team what he can do, and wowed us with his impossible illusions.
The Huddersfield New College student said he had got into magic through growing up watching David Blaine.
“I would watch people like him and look up to them. Then Dynamo came along and he inspired me, because he is young and local.”
Luke began performing tricks for classmates in high school, but struggled with bullies.
“People teased me for my weight and the fact I was a teenage boy interested in magic.
“Some of it was friendly banter, but it did affect me and I would get my homework torn up in my face.”
The former rugby player was also left devastated last month when his friend Ronan Costello, 17, who played for the Giants, passed away after being injured in a game.
“He always supported me and loved watching my tricks”, said Luke.
“So whatever I do in the future, it will be in his memory.”
Luke, a member of Huddersfield Magic Circle, currently does magic at events while studying theatre at New College, with hopes to do it full time.
“I love magic, so I decided to do theatre at college as a foundation and an opportunity to perform.”
Now Luke is holding out to audition for juggernaut TV show Britain’s Got Talent after seeing it won by magician Richard Jones.
“I have auditioned before and got a call back, but my second pitch just wasn’t good enough.
“I watched Richard Jones’ tricks and some of them are tricks I’m already doing, so I will definitely give it another shot.”
