Pasadena, California, USA, July 14, 2026 — Magician Joel Mawhinney, known professionally as Joel M, staged a high-risk audition on America’s Got Talent Season 21 that involved destroying the judges’ own belongings with a hammer, before revealing each item unharmed.
Mawhinney, 28, is from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. He discovered magic at age 5 and was performing tricks for tips in restaurants by age 11. He served as the 41st presenter of the BBC children’s program Blue Peter for three and a half years before stepping down in 2026 to return to magic full time. He has built an online following of more than 20 million across Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, with his videos and television programs drawing more than three billion views since 2020. He has performed for Jared Leto, Jason Derulo, Tom Fletcher, and King Charles III, was named Northern Ireland’s Celebrity of the Year in 2022, and holds honorary membership in the Irish Magic Circle.
Everything That Disappears Must Reappear
For his audition, Mawhinney began by pointing out a box hanging above the stage. He then approached Simon and handed him a wallet with a clear window. Next he displayed a key and caused it to vanish and reappear in the wallet. He moved on and borrowed Howie Mandel’s phone at the judges’ table, then went backstage to the judge’s dressing rooms where he found a framed photo of Sofía Vergara’s dog and a bracelet Mel B had received from her Spice Girls bandmates for her 50th birthday. He placed all the items in a bag. along with Howie’s phone, and struck it repeatedly with a hammer. Finally he threw the bag of pieces into a trash can. After returning to the main stage the box was lowered and handed to Cowell who opened it with the key he had been holding. Inside was Howie’s phone.
Then Howie received a text telling Sophia to stand up. Mawhinney cut open her seat cushion to reveal the framed photo inside. Moving on to Mel B, Howie received another text telling the judges to stand back. Mawhinney smashed Mel B’s buzzer with the hammer to reveal her bracelet safely inside.
The presentation ran long, which Mandel criticized, but Cowell, Vergara, and Mel B voted yes, advancing Mawhinney to the next round.
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