Merlin shows he still has talent

Shoppers and drivers in Wolverhampton had to look twice yesterday after spotting some daring stunts and spectacles courtesy of a Britain's Got Talent semi-finalist.

Escapologist and juggler Merlin Cadogan, aged 36, was in the city performing some of his TV tricks, which made traffic stop and saw children and adults alike mob him for photos and autographs.

Merlin posed in a straightjacket and showed off his bulging muscles before doing a spot of fire juggling, to the delight of starstruck fans and some besotted women.

Passers-by and passengers in cars and buses looked on with a mixture of bewilderment and excitement as he carried out some dangerous- looking stunts.

Merlin got knocked out of Britain's Got Talent on Monday but says he has been inundated with offers of work.

The semi-final saw him escape from a straight jacket while hanging upside down from a burning rope. He also escaped from 10m of water bound in chains.

Merlin was in the city to launch the new Ladbrokes shop in Darlington Street.

The Devon resident said: "I was gutted when I got knocked out but my phone is ringing all the time.

"I was walking around Wolverhampton the other day and signed lots of autographs, so it was really cool.

"I also went swimming at Central Baths to get some training in. The lifeguard said I wasn't allowed to wear any diving helmets, which was really funny."

Merlin is rooting for juggler Luke Clements to win and is also a fan of dancer Aidan Davis.

But he has a feeling that the top prize will be fought out by singer Susan Boyle and dance acts Flawless and Diversity.

Merlin continued: "I think Susan's really lovely. She's such a nice lady, so sweet. I get some attention but I can't imagine what it must be like for her, she's in the papers everyday."