When is Operation Magic on ITV tonight, who’s the host Richard Jones and what is it about?
Britain's Got Talent winner Richard Jones will be joined by Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins
LAST year's Britain's Got Talent winner Richard Jones returns to ITV this weekend with an hour-long special Operation Magic.
The show, which will also feature Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins, will show Richard entertaining troops with some stunning tricks as well as following him in his day-to-day life.
Here's what you need to know about Richard, the show and where you can see it.
What is Operation Magic about?
Operation Magic is an hour-long special centred on Britain's Got Talent winner Richard Jones, an army lance corporal and magician whose tricks astonished the judges and made him the first magician to win the TV talent show.
The TV programme will show Richard entertaining his fellow troops, as well as following throughout his daily life as he combines a busy schedule of magic shows with his duties in the Household Cavalry Band.
One trick will see Richard make himself disappear following a new recruits' lesson in camouflage.
Singer Katherine Jenkins will join him to entertain the troops.
Who is Operation Magic host Richard Jones?
Richard Jones was the first magician to win Britain's Got Talent.
He is a military man, having joined the army in 2010 and studied to play in army bands at the Royal Military School of Music. He spent three years with the band of the Parachute Regiment before becoming a member of the Household Cavalry in 2014.
Richard wowed Britain's Got Talent audiences with magic tricks that referenced his passion for the armed forces.
In the final of the competition, Richard had left Alesha Dixon and viewers at home in tears as he told the story of a 97-year-old war veteran with a card trick.
Mixing both his passions – the army and magic – he described Fergus Anckorn’s life, revealing he was a survivor of the Thai-Burma Death Railway and also a magician.
When the trick reached its culmination the curtain on stage lifted to reveal the 97-year-old war hero and Richard’s army band.
Since Britain's Got Talent, Richard has embarked on a national tour but is still fulfilling his duties in the Household Cavalry Band. Operation Magic will showcase what he's been up to.
An insider told The Sun's Bizarre Editor Dan Wootton: “There’s been a lot of interest to see what Richard has been up to since he was on BGT.
“The new programme is a one-off special before this year’s new series starts and will catch up with what he’s been up to.
“He’ll be performing some magic tricks to his mates and having a joke with recruits when he makes himself disappear after their lesson in camouflage.
“Richard’s a lovely guy and people generally like watching him so we could be seeing him on TV more regularly if it goes down well.”
When is Operation Magic on TV and what channel is it on?
The one-off show airs on ITV on Saturday April 15, at 18.00. It will be available on the ITV Hub after broadcast.
And it's probably no coincidence that the new series of Britain's Got Talent begins at 20.00 on ITV the same day - as Richard's success could excite audiences and remind them of what the talent show can do for winners.
