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“Ace of Wands” to be celebrated with one-day convention

By John Freeman on February 24, 2025

Fans of the 1970s children’s telefantasy thriller series Ace Of Wands will be celebrating the show with a one-day convention in Derby next month, and its star Michael Mackenzie is to headline – his first ever convention appearance.

“An Audience With Tarot” will take place at the Quad Derby on Saturday 29th March 2025, organised by P.A.S.T. Projects.

Ace Of Wands, from the twin golden ages of children’s TV and telefantasy, held children and young adults spellbound – a magic time which is being celebrating at QUAD.

Created by Trevor Preston and Pamela Lonsdale and produced by Thames Television, the series starred Michael MacKenzie as Tarot and ran for two seasons of thirteen episodes, and a third season of twenty. Sadly, the first two series of the show were wiped, but the final series is intact and available on DVD, released by Network in 2007.

Screen Online notes Trevor Preston’s original treatment for Ace of Wands described the show as a children’s crime drama that featured “an antithesis to the technocratic detective” in the charismatic form of Tarot, a ‘super-sleuth’ magician with natty dress sense and a wide range of quasi-magical powers. Preston devised the show alongside producer Pamela Lonsdale, with whom he had previously worked on the ITV 1967 adaptation of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and the two of them were keen to create a children’s drama that was much more in tune with the interests and fashions of its target audience. They also assembled an appealing group of companions to assist Tarot with his adventures, including his cockney stage manager Sam, telepathic assistant Lulli, antiquarian bookseller Mr Sweet, and the sagacious owl Ozymandias.

Star of the 1970 – ‘72 ITV thriller series and guest of honour is Michael Mackenzie – master magician Tarot – who will be making his first ever appearance at a convention.

Join Michael as he revisits this classic series and guides us through this classic show via two stories, The Meddlers and Peacock Pie.

Co-star Petra Markham (Get Carter, EastEnders) will also be at the event; and there will be photo signings and autographs; plus a commemorative brochure.

An extra exciting exclusive is being presented in the form of a small clip, from one of the missing early episodes, which has been tracked down by P.A.S.T. Projects, the team organising the celebration day.

• An Ace Of Wands Event – An Audience With Tarot from 12 noon Saturday 29th March 2025 QUAD, Market Place, Cathedral Quarter, Derby, DE1 3AS | Tickets are £25 (£20 – concessions £10 – under 16s) | Further details and booking information available on QUAD’s website at derbyquad.co.uk/events/aceofwands | Facebook Event Page

• Ace of Wands Fan Site (Preserved on Wayback Machine)

• Read an archive interview with Michael Mackenzie

• Buy Ace of Wands on DVD (AmazonUK Affiliate Link)

The DVD features all surviving episodes, comprising the entire third and final season, of the 1970s ITV family drama series following the exploits of Tarot the Magician (Michael MacKenzie) and his assistant Lulli (Judy Loe), as they solve a series of mysteries, both natural and supernatural. Assisting them is Mr. Sweet, an antiquarian bookseller with a remarkable store of scientific knowledge.

Episodes are: ‘The Meddlers (Part 1)’, ‘The Meddlers (Part 2)’, ‘The Meddlers (Part 3)’, ‘The Power of Atep (Part 1)’, ‘The Power of Atep (Part 2)’, ‘The Power of Atep (Part 3)’, ‘The Power of Atep (Part 4)’, ‘Peacock Pie (Part 1)’, ‘Peacock Pie (Part 2)’, ‘Peacock Pie (Part 3)’, ‘Mama Doc (Part 1)’, ‘Mama Doc (Part 2)’, ‘Mama Doc (Part 3)’, ‘Sisters Deadly (Part 1)’, ‘Sisters Deadly (Part 2)’, ‘Sisters Deadly (Part 3)’, ‘The Beautiful People (Part 1)’, ‘The Beautiful People (Part 2)’, ‘The Beautiful People (Part 3)’ and ‘The Beautiful People (Part 4)’

• Variable quality audio recordings exist of nine episodes of Ace of Wands Series Two

About the Author
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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.