Danny Hunt & Phil Jay | Close-Up Magic, Friendship & Wedding Magic UK

Discover the friendship between Wedding Magic UK magician Danny Hunt and world-class close-up magician Phil Jay — from meeting in Lisbon to Phil becoming Danny and Stephanie’s own wedding magician, mentor and close friend.

Danny Hunt

9/19/20264 min read

Danny Hunt & Phil Jay: A Friendship Built Through the Art of Magic

At Wedding Magic UK, magic has always been about far more than tricks. It is about people, friendships, shared experiences and creating unforgettable moments.

For professional wedding magician Danny Hunt, one of the most important friendships he has made through magic is with the incredible Phil Jay, a magician Danny regards as one of the world’s finest close-up performers and one of the most creative thinkers in the magic industry.

Today, Phil is a close friend of Danny and his wife, Stephanie, as well as someone Danny considers a mentor, adviser and trusted voice when it comes to magic and performance. So much so that when Danny and Stephanie got married themselves, they chose Phil Jay to be their own wedding magician.

Their friendship, however, began around ten years ago with a handful of coins and a piece of magic neither Danny nor Stephanie has ever forgotten.

How Danny Hunt First Met Close-Up Magician Phil Jay

Around ten years ago, Danny and Stephanie had the pleasure of working alongside Phil at a corporate event in Lisbon, Portugal. They already knew of Phil and his reputation, but seeing him perform close-up magic in person was something completely different. During the event, Phil showed them an incredible coin routine.

It absolutely blew them away.

Danny has spent his professional life around magic. He understands sleight of hand, magical principles and how routines are constructed, and has watched and worked alongside some exceptional performers.

Yet Phil’s coin magic created one of those rare moments where Danny simply became a spectator again.

It was clever, beautifully constructed and performed with the confidence that comes from thousands of performances in front of real audiences. Danny and Stephanie never forgot it.

From Fellow Magicians to Great Friends

Fast-forward around a decade and Phil has become far more than another magician Danny and Stephanie once shared a corporate event with. He has become a genuine friend. Danny also regards Phil as one of his mentors and advisers — someone he can talk to about close-up magic, routines, creativity, performance and the entertainment industry.

But perhaps one of the nicest things about Phil has nothing to do with his impressive career. He is simply a genuinely lovely man. For Danny and Stephanie, that is every bit as important as the magic.

Who Is Phil Jay?

Phil Jay has enjoyed an extraordinary career as a professional close-up magician. He has performed more than 6,000 shows worldwide, entertaining audiences at weddings, corporate events, private celebrations, celebrity engagements and Royal events.

His career has included 18 Royal performances and 32 Command Performances at the Academy of Magical Arts in Hollywood, USA, home of the world-famous Magic Castle. Phil was also praised by The Stage and Television Today, which highlighted both his skill and qualities as a top-class close-up performer.

One of the things Danny particularly admires about Phil is his creativity. He isn’t simply a performer — he is a magical creator and thinker, developing original routines and ideas built on decades of experience.

Why Experience Matters When Choosing a Wedding Magician

Being a professional wedding magician isn’t simply about knowing tricks. A great close-up wedding magician needs to understand people. They need to know when to approach a group, when to give guests space and how to entertain different generations. They also need to work professionally alongside photographers, caterers, wedding coordinators and venue staff.

Most importantly, they need to make guests feel comfortable. After thousands of performances, Phil has developed an extraordinary instinct for audiences, and it is one of the qualities Danny particularly admires about him.

Phil Jay – Danny and Stephanie’s Own Wedding Magician

Perhaps the most special chapter in their friendship came when Danny Hunt and Stephanie Clarke got married themselves. When two professional magicians get married, choosing someone to perform magic for their family and friends sets a fairly high bar!

For their special day, Danny and Stephanie chose Phil Jay as their own wedding magician, entertaining their guests with the same incredible close-up magic that had amazed them when they first met him in Lisbon.

Years earlier, Danny and Stephanie had stood watching Phil perform that unforgettable coin routine in Lisbon. Now Phil was performing close-up magic for the people closest to them on their wedding day.

By then, Phil wasn’t simply a magician they admired. He had become a friend, mentor and trusted adviser.

Having Phil as their wedding magician made an already special day even more memorable.

It also reinforced something Danny believes strongly: choosing the right wedding magician isn't simply about booking someone to perform tricks. You're trusting them to entertain your closest family and friends and become part of the memories of one of the biggest days of your life.

For Danny and Stephanie, Phil Jay was that magician.

Why Close-Up Magic Works So Well at Weddings

At Wedding Magic UK, we believe great close-up magic is ultimately about creating memories.

Guests may not remember exactly which card they selected or which hand a coin disappeared from, but they'll remember laughing together and the reactions when something impossible happened right in front of them.

Close-up magic can also help bring together guests who may never have met before, making it perfect for drinks receptions, wedding breakfasts and evening celebrations.

And sometimes, as Danny and Stephanie discovered in Lisbon, you remember one particular piece of magic for more than a decade. That’s the power of great close-up magic.

And it’s why Danny is proud to call Phil Jay a mentor, adviser and, most importantly, a very good friend.

Wedding Magician in County Durham, Newcastle, Northumberland and the North East

If you’re looking for an experienced wedding magician in the North East, Wedding Magic UK provides professional close-up wedding entertainment throughout County Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Durham City, Teesside, North Yorkshire and surrounding areas.

Danny Hunt is a professional close-up magician and wedding magician with decades of performance experience and is a Member and Ambassador of The Magic Circle.

Wedding Magic UK can provide magic during your drinks reception, wedding breakfast, room turnaround or evening reception, creating natural opportunities to bring guests together and get people talking.

Book a North East Wedding Magician with Wedding Magic UK

If you’re searching for a wedding magician in County Durham, Newcastle, Northumberland or across the North East, Wedding Magic UK can help make your wedding entertainment genuinely memorable.

With decades of professional performance experience, Danny Hunt combines close-up magic, humour and audience interaction to create unforgettable moments for you and your guests.