LIFESTYLE
Tees
Lifestyle
PETE FIRMAN
Q&A
I N TERV IEW : JULIE BU R NISTON. P ICTU R ES: CH R IS BOOT H.
T HA N KS TO CA F ECENTR A LPA R K. COM
Boro-born comedian, illusionist and TV presenter Pete Firman began honing his
talent as a 17-year-old doing magic tricks for diners at Linthorpe’s Cafe Central Park.
Currently on a UK tour, Tees Life took him back to where it all began…
P
ete’s big break came with the series Monkey Magic which was shortlisted for a British Comedy Award.
Since then he has presented, co-hosted and appeared in a wealth of shows including The Magicians, Dirty
Tricks, Derren Brown Presents: 3D Magic Spectacular and Tommy Cooper Forever.
TEESSIDE LIFE
The Teesside restaurant I love to eat in is…Central Park. It
looks really different to when I worked here at 17. The bar is
bigger and there used to be a Statue of Liberty on the roof.
It was very American back in the day – musical instruments
and street signs on the walls. I was doing magic tricks as a
hobby and I heard there was a magician who used to work
at Central Park wandering around doing tricks. He’d given
up the gig and so I - being a little entrepreneur - asked my
dad to ring and get me an interview. I met with the then
managers, Vince and Peter, and they took me on two nights
a week. I did the early slot, 5 till 7pm.
The meal I order most of all is…When I’m at home it’s got
to be a parmo. It’s my go-to thing; my little treat.
My fave tipple is.. I’m a proper northern beer drinker. I’m
into my craft beers and lagers.
The Teesside store I love to shop in is…I used to love
Binns. It was a proper old-fashioned department store. I
remember as a kid going in the lifts. They had an attendant
so you would get in and they’d ask which floor you wanted.
“Oh, menswear? That’s the third floor.” It was brilliant, all
very Are You Being Served.
The thing I spend too much money on is… I’m obsessed
with comedy, in particular the comedy I loved as a kid –
Tommy Cooper, Morecambe and Wise, The Two Ronnies.
I spend far too much money on memorabilia – signed stuff
and posters. I’m running out of wall space!
For a day out I…Walk the dog, go to a country pub for a
boozy afternoon and have a nap at tea time. I’ve always been
old beyond my years.
One place on Teesside I’d like to visit is …The bars on Baker
and Bedford Streets. My sister keeps on about them and with
my love of craft beers I know I would love them.
In my downtime I like nothing better than… I’m house
proud and I’m quite handy so I like a bit of DIY and
gardening. God, I’m sounding so boring! I had so many
years in London having no outside space so now I enjoy my
garden. Not so much mowing the grass, more, “Let’s build a
barbeque” or “I fancy a pizza oven.”
My perfect night out involves…A good meal at a nice
restaurant, then maybe a show followed by a few late night
cocktails. My clubbing days are well behind me.
My perfect night in involves…Vegging on the sofa in my
joggers with my feet up and Netflix on.