A magician should never reveal too much but the secrets of world famous illusionist David Copperfield’s show have been exposed in a long-running legal battle.

The Mail on Sunday reports how London-born chef Gavin Cox is suing the world’s most famous magician, claiming he was left with permanent brain damage as a result of an illusion that went wrong at his Las Vegas show.

Mr Cox, 55, was called on stage by Copperfield at the MGM Hotel and Casino to take part in a disappearing audience illusion in November 2013, only to fall backstage mid-way through the trick.

Now the details of the famous ‘vanishing crowd’ trick have been revealed in extraordinary detail, court documents in the three-year legal battle show.