He recently admitted his greatest triumphs have come from dark places after being struck down with coronavirus COVID-19 symptoms.
And in an interview recorded just weeks before he fell ill with the potentially lethal virus, Dynamo reflected on the impact his separate struggle with Crohn’s Disease had on his childhood, and how it strengthened his resolve to become a better magician.
Speaking to Ferne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast in February, the married 37-year old – real name Steven Frayne – admitted his initial embarrassment regarding the illness affected his ability to maintain romantic relationships.
Reflective: Dynamo has reflected on the impact his struggle with Crohn’s Disease had on his childhood, and how it strengthened his resolve to become a better magician
He explained: ‘It definitely ruined my dating life; Crohn’s diseases and dating is not the best combination. I’ve been married for eight years now so I’ve missed out on the whole Tinder thing and online dating thing.
‘I’m grateful, my wife is my best friend and she’s amazing but when I was younger the typical thing was to meet at a restaurant, which involves eating food.
‘But with Crohn’s, I’m already nervous about the date and I’m doubly nervous about having to eat in case it potentially has a bad effect on me, and if you do have to go to the bathroom having Crohn’s you can be in there for 40 minutes and that date thinks you’ve done a runner! I’m glad my wife didn’t do a runner on our first date.’
Opening up: Speaking to Ferne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast in February, the married 37-year old admitted his initial embarrassment regarding the illness affected his ability to maintain romantic relationships
The fiercely private magician lives in an affluent north London suburb with his wife, who he met at a music festival.
But while his battle with the condition – an inflammatory bowel disease – no longer affects his social life, he admits he was cautious of straying too far from home following his diagnosis at the age of 17.
He said: ‘It definitely put a hindrance on me getting out of the house and doing things. I was always nervous getting out of the house for longer than 15 minutes or going that far afield and not knowing where the toilets might be.
Main man: His initial insecurities regarding the condition helped him focus on what would be a hugely successful career as one of the most highly regarding magicians in the magic circle
‘It’s quite a disgusting thing that happens in your body with Crohn’s disease, that’s why people don’t talk about it or feel embarrassed talking about it. I’ve never felt ashamed of it but I understand it’s not the easiest thing to talk about.’
However his initial insecurities regarding the condition helped him focus on what would be a hugely successful career as one of the most highly regarding magicians in the magic circle.
‘I think that’s partly why I became a bit of loner and stayed in reading books and magic books and learning magic,’ he reflected. ‘I was always scared or nervous of going out and being too far out and needing the toilet.’
Behind closed doors: ‘I think that’s partly why I became a bit of loner and stayed in reading books and magic books and learning magic,’ he said of his struggle with the inflammatory bowel disease
Dynamo also credited his team for helping his lowest ebb, and admits he might not have returned to magic without their constant, unwavering support.
‘The people who work with me, my team are amazing,’ he added. ‘That’s one of the things that made me get better. Initially when you get ill you think “my life’s over.” The doctor’s have told you that you can’t perform magic again, I’ve got arthritis in all the joints in my body, I’ve got Crohn’s.
‘But then the realisation hits you that it’s not even about me. I’ve got responsibilities, I’ve got a family, I’ve got 12 people who work in my company, mortgages and bills that have got to be paid and they’re going to rely on me to go out there and perform, once you have that realisation it kind of forces you to come up with a solution.’
On the mend: The magician has since been diagnosed with coronavirus COVID-19, but in a recent update admitted he was in the process of recovering from the airborne virus
The magician has since been diagnosed with coronavirus COVID-19, but in a recent update admitted he was in the process of recovering from the airborne virus.
In a clip posted to Twitter, Dynamo revealed he’s in ‘much better spirits’ as he thanked his fans for their support after suffering from ‘quite severe’ symptoms.
He said: ‘What’s happening people, hope you’re all doing well, I just wanted to make a video really just to say thank you so much for all the kind messages you’ve sent over the weekend.’
‘I’ve been resting up, and I woke up today definitely feeling in much better spirits. I’m looking forward to this week and I hope everybody has a happy Monday.’
The magician previously insisted his ‘tough start in life’ is helping him battle through his diagnosis, adding that he believes ‘greatness’ can come from ‘negative things’.
Speaking to The Mirror, he admitted: ‘Some of my greatest triumphs have come from dark places.’