Matt Grindley

Matt Grindley (born 1 July 1976) is an English magician, comedian and actor. He was born in Worsley, Salford, Greater Manchester. He resides in Didsbury, near Manchester.

He attended St. Georges R.C. High School in Walkden. Matt had a serious accident when he was nine years old which left his right leg badly damaged.

When he left school he had numerous jobs, including baker, office worker, and security guard. His last job before becoming a full-time entertainer was delivering produce.

Magic

Matt has been performing magic since he was 9 years old when his parents bought him a Paul Daniels Magic Set for Christmas. Matt has stated during his live stage performances that his main influence in magic was magician Wayne Dobson. Like most magicians, Grindley began performing at children's parties and took any work that he could. He always wanted to appear in Summer Season shows as he felt his act was very end of the pier. But by this time it was 2002 and this kind of entertainment was losing its appeal. Matt then self-funded his Beach Magic Laughter Show which has received positive reviews. He has worked with acts such as Cannon and Ball, Keith Harris and Orville, and the cast of Hi-de-Hi. Matt has also appeared in the pantomime Aladdin during Winter 2006. He was nominated UK Entertainer of the Year 2009. He is known for his comedic vent mask routine. In 2013 Matt's production company CannyMedia Announced an All New Illusion show featuring Matt would be touring the UK. Dates would also include the return of Matt Grindley's spooktacular Show. In 2015 Canny Media Productions confirmed the Launch of a New show Entitled "Magique" for the 2015 Season at Blackpools Philharmonic Venue. This should feature Matts Dancers the Diamonette Showgirls. Running alongside this show Matt also announced a resident show for 2015 at The Dalmeny Hotel and Spa again returning to Illusions and dance with his regular dancers "The Karen Hunter Dancers."

Mass media projects and acting

In 2004 Grindley appeared in Street Magic TV, performing streetmagic on the unsuspecting public around the streets of Blackpool.

Grindley began acting in Britain's Biggest Heists. He provided comedy narration on When Magic Tricks Go Wrong. He will be appearing in the TKMAXX TV campaign in aid of Cancer Research. Grindley has been cast in a Yellow Box, a science fiction movie, as a Nazi secret service agent. He will be in the BBC drama The Accused written by Jimmy McGovern filming begins early May 2010. In June 2010 Matt will reunite with Title Role Productions to film Crimes That Shook Britain in which he will play Detective Pete Basnett, the lead detective in the London Nail Bomb Investigations. In June 2010 Matt began filming a small part in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. Another recent project is The Con-Man Kid, part of the Con-case files series by Turn on TV Productions; filming began in the summer of 2010. In 2011 Grindley began filming a small part in the Manchester-based comedy Shameless playing a painter and decorator. In early December Grindley began working on the 2nd series of Jimmy McGoverns "The Accused" with Olivia Colman(Hot Fuzz) for the BBC. In June 2012 Grindley began work on "Homefront" starring Greg Wise and George Costigan for ITV.

Matt has also filmed a direct-to-DVD documentary, Music Hall Magic, about his love of music halls including George Formby and Old Mother Riley.

Charity work

Grindley has supported a number of charities and is actively involved in:

• The British Limbless Ex-servicemans association
• Age Concern
• Preston Neo natal baby care unit
• Hope Hospital Neo Natal baby care unit
• Ronald McDonald House Charities UK