Ace of Wands, a forgotten gem of 1970s British TV, thrilled audiences with its eerie villains and supernatural mystery. Now, fans are bringing it back with a special convention, writes DAVID SAUNDERSON
For fans of 1970s British television, Ace of Wands remains a unique and eerie treasure, blending stage magic with the supernatural.
Despite much of the series being lost, dedicated fans are ensuring its legacy lives on – with a special convention in 2025 marking its enduring appeal.
The Enigma of Ace of Wands
Premiering in 1970 and running for three seasons, Ace of Wands followed Tarot, a magician and escapologist played by Michael Mackenzie. More than just an illusionist, Tarot possessed mysterious powers, which he used to battle an array of sinister villains alongside his young assistants and pet owl, Ozymandias.
“It was very spooky at the time, quite eerie,” says lifelong fan and convention organiser Chris Gibbings. “It wasn’t quite Doctor Who, it wasn’t quite Timeslip, it wasn’t really Star Trek. It was something else – a sort of junior version of The Avengers, with odd, quirky happenings and odd, quirky villains.”
Among these villains was Ceribraun, a gaunt and menacing figure in a wheelchair who controlled deadly automated machines. “In a way, he was a bit like Davros in Doctor Who, several years later,” Chris notes.
Another was Mr Peacock, whose hypnotic powers created terrifying illusions. “He could make you think you were on solid ground when you were actually on the edge of a tall building,” Chris explains.
Perhaps the most infamous character was Mr Stabs, played by Russell Hunter with theatrical menace. A sinister magician with a macabre streak, Mr Stabs proved so memorable that he was revived twice after Ace of Wands ended – in Shadows (1975) and Dramarama (1984).
A Cult Classic Without a Fandom
Despite its originality, Ace of Wands never built the kind of lasting fanbase enjoyed by Doctor Who or The Avengers. It had no tie-in comics, novelisations, or merchandise to keep its memory alive.
“It’s a complete mystery to me,” Chris admits. “It was popular enough – it even made the cover of Look-in magazine once. But for some reason, there were no spin-offs, no books, nothing.”
A major reason for its memory fading away was the loss of its first two seasons. “It was all made in colour, so it was open to repeats in the colour TV era,” Chris explains. “But they still wiped them. The third season survived and was released on DVD in 2007. That was the first time I’d seen it in nearly 40 years.”
For fans of British telefantasy, the heartbreak of missing episodes is all too familiar. “With Ace of Wands, if you weren’t watching at the time, you probably never saw it at all,” Chris says.
But in 2025, there’s finally some good news.
“At the event, we’re presenting an exclusive clip from one of the missing episodes from the first season – in full resolution,” Chris reveals.
An Audience With Tarot: A Celebration of Lost Magic
On 29 March 2025, QUAD in Derby will host An Audience With Tarot, a ground-breaking event in TV fandom. The convention will feature:
- Michael Mackenzie (Tarot) in his first-ever convention appearance
- An interview with Ace of Wands co-star Petra Markham (Get Carter, EastEnders)
- Screenings of two classic stories: The Meddlers and Peacock Pie
- A clip from a lost first-season episode
- Autographs, a commemorative brochure, and memorabilia
For Chris and his fellow organisers, the event is about more than nostalgia – it’s about preserving a forgotten gem of British television.
“We’ve done conventions for Timeslip, Gerry Anderson’s UFO, even Village of the Damned,” he says. “Big franchises like Doctor Who and Star Wars already have huge followings. But we focus on the shows we loved just as much—the ones that have been wrongly overlooked.”
And for those who never saw Ace of Wands the first time around? Chris insists they’re in for a treat.
“It was a very quirky, original series. A lot of us have fond memories of it,” he says. “It was spooky, surreal, totally unique. And now, over 50 years later, it’s finally getting the celebration it deserves.”
You can find out more about attending by visiting An Audience with Tarot Facebook page or emailing info@derbyquad.co.uk.
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