How Houdini Made Magic: 1. Find your motivation

About this episode

One hundred years after his death, how did an ordinary immigrant child transform himself into the most famous magician in history? In episode one of How Houdini Made Magic, psychological illusionist Derren Brown traces the early life of Eric Weisz. In 1878, Eric’s family voyaged from Budapest to the American promised land of Appleton, Wisconsin. What awaited him was the unforgiving Gilded Age America. But Eric turned hardship and personal tragedy into a motivation that would become the driving force of his life: to keep his ageing mother comfortable. Presenter: Derren Brown Writer/Producer: Calum McCrae Additional research: Alice Homewood Sound designer: David Crackles Executive producer: Sophie Ellis Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams Commissioning Editor: Daniel Clarke A Strawberry Blond production for BBC Sounds and Radio 4