After receiving a standing ovation at the Royal Variety Show in December last year where he read the mind of Prince Charles, the winner of Britain’s Got Talent 2016 will return with a new show and UK tour.

Lance Corporal Richard Jones will launch the tour with an hour-long special for ITV entitled Operation Magic, to be broadcast on the Easter weekend, followed by a tour of the UK with an exclusive preview show at St Albans’ Trestle Theatre on April 18.

Richard’s new TV Special sees him to give back to his army colleagues by performing morale-boosting military magic for the troops, from new recruits to decorated veterans.

He says: “I can’t wait to present my new TV special, I’ve been working on it for the past six months, and it’s been amazing working with the army, entertaining the troops with a range of brand new illusions which combine my experiences as a soldier with my passion for Magic.” 

Richard was the first magician to win Britain’s Got Talent after performing mind-reading skills centred around Amanda’s biography caused Simon Cowell to call him a “wizard” and Amanda herself proclaiming it “the best magic trick in 10 years that we’ve seen on this show”. More than 2.5million people voted in the final, Richard was crowned the winner of the 10th series.

At the age of 19 Richard signed up to become a Bandsman in the British Army before undergoing four months combat training and then 12 months studying at the Royal Military School of Music.

He was then posted to the Parachute Regiment in Colchester, Essex. In September 2014 he transferred to The Household Cavalry, where he had to complete six months of the Army Mounted Dutyman Training. The musicians of The Band of The Household Cavalry are considered specialists as the Cavalry have the only band in the British Army that performs on horseback.

Richard has since performed at some of the UK’s biggest parades and functions, including the Queen’s 90th Birthday Parade and Garden Parties at both Buckingham and Holyrood Palace.

Despite his success and the multitude of media appearances and interviews following his win, Richard continues to be in the army alongside performing full time as a magician. 

Trestle Theatre and Arts Base, Russet Drive, St Albans, AL4 0JQ, Tuesday, April 18. Details: ticketsource.co.uk/trestletheatrecompany