Former Blue Peter presenter Joel M stuns America's Got Talent judges with risky magic trick

Joel Mawhinney, known as Joel M, a former Blue Peter presenter from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland, appeared on America's Got Talent and performed a daring magic trick. He entered the judges' dressing rooms and took prized possessions from Mel B, Sofía Vergara, and Howie Mandel—including a bracelet, a framed picture of a dog, and a mobile phone—and appeared to smash them with a hammer. The items later reappeared intact: Mandel's phone was found inside a locked box that had been on the judges' table, Vergara's picture was hidden in her seat cushion, and Mel B's bracelet was concealed in one of the show's red buzzers. Mawhinney received three yes votes (Mel B, Vergara, and Simon Cowell) and one no (Mandel), advancing to the next stage. He described the trick as 'the scariest experience' of his life and said he decided to take the risk after leaving Blue Peter to focus on magic. He had been invited to audition since 2020 but declined until now. Mawhinney became Blue Peter's 41st presenter in 2018 and left the show in July 2024 after three and a half years.