Dynamo has said that “now more than ever” people need magic in their lives, after recovering from coronavirus.
The TV magician revealed last week that he had tested positive after developing a persistent cough and “lots of aches and pains”.
The 37-year-old was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in his teens, and was at a higher risk due to the underlying health condition.
Dynamo said he hoped magic offered “a little bit of escapism” for people self-isolating during the outbreak.
He told The Big Issue: “Magic was the thing that kept me going when I was younger, and whilst I was in hospital this time as well…
“In some ways, I think a lot of people will be able to relate to my situation more now with what everyone’s going through at the moment.
“Hopefully it will give a little bit of escapism for people who are definitely going to be sick and tired of being stuck indoors.
“Now more than ever, we need a little bit of magic in our lives.”
Dynamo also praised NHS staff working on the frontline of the pandemic.
He said: “They are changing lives, saving lives and making the world a better place. I was on my balcony clapping for the NHS like everyone else. And it was an amazing moment.
“The whole country is appreciating all the hard work they are doing and now more than ever is a sign of just how important the NHS is in our country and how lucky we are to have a system like that.”
Dynamo, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, told the magazine he was used to staying indoors.
Addressing self-isolation, he said: “In some ways, it’s kind of what I’ve been doing most of my life…
“The area I grew up in wasn’t the sort of place where you could go and play outside. It was a bit too dangerous.
“So I spent a lot of time in my bedroom with nothing but my imagination trying to create magic. I find that I’m the most creative when left to my own devices.”
The full interview is in The Big Issue, out now. Vendors are unable to sell on the streets because of the coronavirus pandemic. The publication can be purchased in shops or supported via subscription, at www.bigissue.com.