# David Nixon (magician)
**David Porter Nixon** (29 December 1919 – 1 December 1978) was an English magician and television personality who became one of the best-known magicians in Britain during the 1960s and 1970s, first as a panellist on *What's My Line?* and later as the host of his own variety shows.[1](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/david_nixon/) • [2](https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp134145/david-nixon) He was also the first partner of the fox puppet [Basil Brush](https://www.edgepedia.org/basil-brush), whom he helped turn into an independent television star.[3](https://themagiccircle.co.uk/object/david-nixon-annual/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 29 December 1919, Muswell Hill, London; 1 December 1978, Surrey, aged 58[1](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/david_nixon/) |
| Breakthrough | Invited to join the BBC program *What's My Line?* in 1954, which made him a household name[2](https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp134145/david-nixon) |
| Peak audience | Over 11 million viewers at his peak[4](https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1960s/heres-david-nixon/) |
| Own series | *Now For Nixon* (1967), *David Nixon's Magic Box* (1970–1971), *The David Nixon Show* (1972–1977)[4](https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1960s/heres-david-nixon/) |
| Basil Brush | First partner of the aristocratic fox puppet, helping make him a celebrity[3](https://themagiccircle.co.uk/object/david-nixon-annual/) • [4](https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1960s/heres-david-nixon/) |
| Merchandise | His annuals were a prized Christmas present in the UK, along with a magic set bearing his name[3](https://themagiccircle.co.uk/object/david-nixon-annual/) |
| Death | Lung cancer, Surrey, 1978; died just short of his 59th birthday[4](https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1960s/heres-david-nixon/) |
## Early life and start in magic
The conjuring itself began by accident: after breaking his leg as a Boy Scout and losing his part in a Scout concert, his father bought him billiard balls and suggested he mock up a bit of conjuring, remarking that he could stand still while doing it.[5](https://my1950s.com/david-nixon)
He worked in a cable factory until 19 and in a legal office until 21, learned show business in concert parties and Army shows during the war, and as a young entertainer toured with ENSA (Entertainments National Service Association).[6](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-International-Television-Almanac/1979/International-Television-Almanac-Who%27s-Who-1979.pdf) • [2](https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp134145/david-nixon) He played West End cabaret spots as a comedy magician, appeared on radio in *My Wildest Dream*, performed in the stage show *Cinderella* from 1955 to 1959, and started his own domestic television show in January 1955.[6](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-International-Television-Almanac/1979/International-Television-Almanac-Who%27s-Who-1979.pdf)
## Television career
**The panel-show breakthrough.** In 1954 Nixon was invited to join the BBC program *What's My Line?*, which made him a household name.[2](https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp134145/david-nixon) The path there ran through [Shepherd's Bush](https://www.edgepedia.org/shepherds-bush): every other Sunday, would-be panellists auditioned in front of producer Dicky Leeman, and Nixon, with what a 1955 profile called charming persistence, talked his way into a test, made the reserve list near the top, and replaced Jerry Desmonde when Desmonde left the panel.[5](https://my1950s.com/david-nixon) The position bolstered his stage conjuring career and made him, in the same profile's words, an ace in the coming shuffle for TV fame.[5](https://my1950s.com/david-nixon) The Guinness Television Encyclopedia describes him as a popular British conjuror and game show panellist of the 1950s and 1960s, a former stage partner of [Norman Wisdom](https://www.edgepedia.org/norman-wisdom), and one of UK television's earliest celebrities.[7](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/History/Guiness-Television-Encyclopedia-Evans-1995-22-06-06.pdf)
**From guest slots to headline series.** In the late 1950s Nixon starred in *It's Magic* and went on to host *Showtime* and *Comedy Bandbox*.[7](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/History/Guiness-Television-Encyclopedia-Evans-1995-22-06-06.pdf) In the autumn of 1963 he appeared in *Here's David Nixon*, a series of 13 five-minute late-night segments produced by ABC before a studio audience, which showcased his close-up work: card tricks and illusions with handkerchiefs, cutlery and other everyday objects, punctuated by the groan-worthy gags for which he became famous.[4](https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1960s/heres-david-nixon/) In the late 1960s and 1970s he was given his own shows, including *Nixon at Nine-Five*, *Now for Nixon*, *The Nixon Line*, *Tonight with David Nixon*, *The David Nixon Show* and *David Nixon's Magic Box*.[7](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/History/Guiness-Television-Encyclopedia-Evans-1995-22-06-06.pdf) At his peak he drew audiences of over 11 million.[4](https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1960s/heres-david-nixon/)
**Basil Brush.** Nixon is credited with introducing the aristocratic fox puppet Basil Brush to television audiences, and he was the puppet's first partner before Basil Brush went on to solo fame with *The Basil Brush Show*.[7](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/History/Guiness-Television-Encyclopedia-Evans-1995-22-06-06.pdf) • [3](https://themagiccircle.co.uk/object/david-nixon-annual/) In January 1970, preparing the new series of *David Nixon's Magic Box* at the [Thames Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/thames-television) headquarters in London, he even held auditions for glove puppets to join the program.[8](https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/english-magician-and-television-personality-david-nixon-news-photo/992105680)
## Style and other activities
Contemporary descriptions portray an urbane, suave performer, balding, with a twinkle in his eye, an unlikely looking star by his own account of the era.[3](https://themagiccircle.co.uk/object/david-nixon-annual/) His onscreen persona was affable and friendly, and his style grew out of the gentlemanly tradition of Stanley Collins.[4](https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1960s/heres-david-nixon/) He built his own tricks at home, and his series sometimes included special television effects.[9](https://www.turnipnet.com/whirligig/tv/children/other/nixon.htm)
His interests extended beyond magic. A keen chess player, he hosted a television series on the pastime, and he was an accomplished double bass player.[3](https://themagiccircle.co.uk/object/david-nixon-annual/) His annual books and a David Nixon-branded magic set carried his name into British homes, and his television series ran for over 20 years, often transmitted live.[3](https://themagiccircle.co.uk/object/david-nixon-annual/) He was also a past King Rat of the show-business charity the [Grand Order of Water Rats](https://www.edgepedia.org/grand-order-of-water-rats).[10](https://www.londonremembers.com/subjects/david-nixon)
## Private life
Later the same year he married his second wife, [Paula Marshall](https://www.edgepedia.org/paula-marshall) (Pauline E. Youngs), an actress and singer who worked with him in his act and with whom he played in pantomime; her death in a car crash in 1956, at age 28 and the year after the birth of their son, shook the nation.[5](https://my1950s.com/david-nixon) • [11](https://www.bigredbook.info/david_nixon.html)
## Illness and death
A heavy smoker, Nixon was diagnosed with cancer in 1973 by one account and was first found to have cancer in 1976 by another; he continued working through treatment, but the disease returned and he died of lung cancer in Surrey on 1 December 1978, just short of his 59th birthday.[4](https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1960s/heres-david-nixon/) He had been the subject of *This Is Your Life* on 21 November 1973, surprised by [Eamonn Andrews](https://www.edgepedia.org/eamonn-andrews) while demonstrating a magic trick at the London headquarters of [The Magic Circle](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-magic-circle-organisation).[11](https://www.bigredbook.info/david_nixon.html)
A Comic Heritage plaque at Teddington Studios commemorates him.[10](https://www.londonremembers.com/subjects/david-nixon)
## Legacy
Nixon was among the first entertainers to grasp what television could do for magic, and a later history of magic on television counts him, alongside Robert Harbin, Tommy Cooper, Paul Daniels and [David Copperfield](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-copperfield), among the acts that shaped how magic adapted to the medium.[3](https://themagiccircle.co.uk/object/david-nixon-annual/) • [12](https://mertonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/bull189X.pdf) His television magic consultant was Ali Bongo, the flamboyant performer and inventor who later served [Paul Daniels](https://www.edgepedia.org/paul-daniels) in the same role.[13](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/mar/12/ali-bongo-magician-obituary) Surviving examples of his memorabilia, including his own magic tricks, have appeared at specialist auction.[14](https://www.potterauctions.com/pdf/catalog_86_web.pdf)
## References
1. [David Nixon, British Comedy Guide](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/david_nixon/)
2. [David Nixon, National Portrait Gallery](https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp134145/david-nixon)
3. [David Nixon Annual, The Magic Circle](https://themagiccircle.co.uk/object/david-nixon-annual/)
4. [Here's David Nixon, Nostalgia Central](https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1960s/heres-david-nixon/)
5. [David Nixon, THIS IS MY 1950s, Transdiffusion](https://my1950s.com/david-nixon)
6. [NIXON, DAVID, International Television Almanac, Who's Who 1979](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-International-Television-Almanac/1979/International-Television-Almanac-Who%27s-Who-1979.pdf)
7. [NIXON, DAVID, Guinness Television Encyclopedia (Evans, 1995)](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/History/Guiness-Television-Encyclopedia-Evans-1995-22-06-06.pdf)
8. [David Nixon auditions glove puppets for David Nixon's Magic Box, Getty Images (20 January 1970)](https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/english-magician-and-television-personality-david-nixon-news-photo/992105680)
9. [David Nixon: Entertainer with the Magic Touch, Whirligig](https://www.turnipnet.com/whirligig/tv/children/other/nixon.htm)
10. [David Nixon, London Remembers](https://www.londonremembers.com/subjects/david-nixon)
11. [This Is Your Life: David Nixon, Big Red Book](https://www.bigredbook.info/david_nixon.html)
12. [A History of Magic, Merton Historical Society](https://mertonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/bull189X.pdf)
13. [Ali Bongo obituary, The Guardian (11 March 2009)](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/mar/12/ali-bongo-magician-obituary)
14. [Potter & Potter Auctions catalog, May 2, 2020](https://www.potterauctions.com/pdf/catalog_86_web.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Television presenters and hosts › Comedy and variety hosts*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license