SHOWBIZ couple Mark and Joan Raffles are celebrating a magical half century of marriage this year.

The couple who have performed their magic act all over the country recently celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at their home in Normandie Avenue, Bispham.

The great double act started during rehearsals for a variety show in Staffordshire and they married soon afterwards on September 8, 1949.

Mark explained: "We met each other at the first day of rehearsals for a show called Happy Days. And we have been happily together ever since!"

"Joan is a genuine all-round showgirl. She can sing, she can dance, she can do everything. Although she is called my assistant we are really a double act."

A popular feature of the show is Mark's brilliant pickpocket routine while he mingles with audience.

He often brings the house down by inviting bemused audience members on to the stage to return articles he had earlier stolen from them.

The couple have performed their act at all major venues over the years as well as on countless television shows.

A minor illness has kept them from working recently but the two will soon be back on the stage and hope to carry on performing well into the next millennium.

The couple have three children, Jacqui, Tim and Wendy who followed their parents into show business and have appeared throughout the world as the vocal harmony act Golden Brandy.

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