Speaker: Ian Keable.

Ian started his working life as an accountant, having gained a degree from Oxford University, but felt the need to try something different...so he became a magician! His first professional job was a summer season in the Channel Islands, working twice nightly, seven days a week for six months...so he thought twice about going back into accountancy! But 20 years later he is established as a magician, speaker and author, specialising in comedy and is one of the top magic acts in the UK. He has made numerous appearances on TV, written several books and presented on Radio 4. His talks are divided into Satirical Prints & Cartoons, some performance of magic and others on 18th Century hoaxes. Ours is part of his talks on 18th Century hoaxes. 

In 1792 William Kent was accused of poisoning his partner with arsenic: the accusation was made by a ghost. Whether or not the Cock Lane Ghost was telling the truth became a media sensation, in graphic  print as well as journals and pamphlets. The Mayor of London set up a committee to investigate and the resulting report was written by Samuel Johnson. The Cock Lane Ghost became the forerunner to the Victorian fascination in communicating with the dead through seances. Ninety years later mediums were speaking to the spirits in the same manner. One vehement non-believer was Charles Dickens, who used his knowledge of the Cock Lane Ghost to mock the first ever Victorian spiritualist.