A Scottish physicist who appeared as a magician on Channel Four's Faking It and fooled Paul Daniels has become so convincing he has given up his day job.
Kevin McMahon, 28, from Rosyth in Fife, told the BBC Scotland news website he was "excited and nervous" about his Edinburgh Fringe show.
He was half way through a PhD working on a research project at Heriot Watt for a forensic company when he quit.
He is performing at the Pleasance Zoo from 17-25 August at 2100 BST.
Mr McMahon said: "When I went back to my job after appearing on the show I just couldn't get my head round it so I handed in my notice.
"I fully intended throughout making the programme that I would go back to work but when I did I just couldn't focus on the job as I had experienced such a different way of living, so I packed my job in.
"I've never regretted it, even when I worked in McDonald's after that for 18 months.
"I am really excited about my show, as I have modified some classic effects to make them my own.
"The festival is a different beast to anything else, it's more personal as it's about me, so there is a lot more invested in it, I'm nervous and excited all at the same time."
Kevin McMahon appeared on a 90-minute Easter Day special of Faking It on 31 March 2005.
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