The Britain’s Got Talent semi-finals have been brutal for the talent show’s magical acts, with over half a dozen magicians, escapologists, and mentalists getting buzzed or voted off thus far.

Last night, early favorite Marc Spelmann was eliminated after his performance, an extended feat of mentalism with sappy underpinnings, tied up the judges but failed to impress the audience at home. One suspects Spelmann might be a little bit critical of the result. 

Mr Uekusa‘s exposed all in another hilarious magical stripping act. Alas, threatened by his raw sexual magnetism, Amanda Holden gave the Asian sex god the buzzer. At least he managed to depart the stage in style, his dignity preserved by a tiny silk towel. 

On the 30th, tribal magical troupe, Magus Utopia, was eliminated after an exciting performance that didn’t resonate with the judges.

This leaves comic magician, Mandy Muden, as magic’s last hope in the competition.

The countdown is officially on for the Edinburgh International Magic Festival. The event will take place at venues around the Scotland capital on May 11-19, and there’s a little something for every flavor of magic fan. The gala performance shows, hosted by the science-inspired Kevin Quantum, will have acts including Magus Utopia of the Netherlands, James Freedman of the UK, and Card Ninja (better known as Javier Jarquin) of New Zealand.

The event will also feature some solo shows. Expect to see a high-octane act that may or may not include archery by Chris Cook or explore the unexpected combination of magic and poetry from Renz.

There’s even something for the Harry Potter crew. Wizard World Gathering will delight fans with a complete transformation of the venue, including the moving staircases, color-changing drinks, and lots of other fan service.

The Edinburgh International Magic Festival website has more information about all of the events, tickets, dates, and venues for the week-long extravaganza.