He describes himself as a mind reader and psychological magician and admits that his is a "strange" business because there's no product to sell. Yet Kennedy's performances, which include corporate entertainment and team-building sessions, as well as entertaining the general public, keep him occupied full-time-his clients include the NHS, the BBC and De Vere Hotels.

Kennedy, who won't reveal his full name, used to try all his new ideas out at his local pub "where you swim or die". He knew he was getting somewhere when he was asked to perform for RJP Entertainment, which provides entertainment for most of the major hotels in the Spanish resort of Salou. "It was my first break onto the international scene. I thought: 'I must be doing something right'."

He says he has to adopt different styles to appeal to his mixed audience, but says: "It's not too serious. It's theatrically structured and provides a fun journey."

He says he's "really interested" in corporate training and motivating people and will expand on that side of his business: "I like the variety," he says. "I could be working at a cocktail reception or consulting on a marketing plan. There's a lot more emotion to it than the 'wow' factor of someone like Paul Daniels."