Billy Tempest, Circus Hassani, Chessington Zoo, 1982.
Billy began learning escapology before he left school in 1977, and by 1979 he had started his own escapology and illusion act. Billy also performs a comedy car act with Michael Austin and has toured most of Europe, Africa and the Far East. During one of his escapology acts, known as the 'Milk-churn escape', Billy had to release himself from handcuffs and struggle out of a wet-suit in two-and-a-half minutes while underwater. On one occasion the wet suit split from head to toe, he finished his act embarrassingly quickly, and had to make a hasty retreat. Unfortunately, this act is unlikely to be seen in Britain as Billy says that this country is far too cold for underwater escapology.
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