TV magician’s prime suggestions for excellent Easter egg hunt to maintain your youngsters busy

Magician and comedian Pete Firman is helping parents find some better spots to stash their chocolates this year, given the average UK hunt lasts just 12 minutes

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A telly magician is conjuring up new Easter Egg hiding spots for parents to stash their chocolates – as research reveals the average UK hunt is over in just 12 minutes.

Award-winning magician and comedian Pete Firman is sprinkling some magical misdirection and playfulness into Brits’ Easter hunts to bamboozle hunters and eke out the family ritual.

Using his talents of illusion and misdirection Pete is partnering with Cadbury as the brand’s newly appointed Master of Hiding, creating the Golden Rules of Hiding.

Research commissioned by the confectionary giant revealed that Britain is a nation of predictable hiders, with 57% of adults admitting to using the same hiding spots each year.

Common locations such as behind furniture (44%), in plain sight (42%), and in cupboards and drawers (40%) are frequently overused, resulting in hunts that are over in an average of just 12 minutes.

It seems savvy seekers are onto the game, as 49% can predict where Easter eggs might be hidden, turning discovery into a routine instead of a thrilling surprise.

Of the 2,000 Brits quizzed, a whopping 65% are actively seeking fresh inspiration to reignite the magic and transform hunts into fun and memorable experiences.

To reignite excitement, Cadbury is bringing a fresh burst of magic to Easter with the launch of its brand-new campaign, Better the Hide, Better the Hunt.

The campaign celebrates the joy that comes from putting a little more thought, care and creativity into the classic Easter egg hunt.

Pete Firman said: “Let’s face it our Easter egg hunts have become predictable.

“I’m here to inject some playfulness and magical misdirection into this cherished family ritual.

“Prepare for some serious head scratching because with my Golden Rules of Hiding, I’m using the power of illusion and deception to outsmart even the savviest egg hunters.

“Those eggs won’t just be hidden, they’ll be practically invisible.”

Chloe Jean-Marie, Senior Brand Manager at Mondelez, said: “The true joy behind Easter egg hunts lies not just in the chocolate, but in the art of the hide.

“We understand that many families are looking for ways to elevate their Easter Egg hunts this year.

“Our research confirms that parents are actively seeking new inspiration and we’re confident that with some creativity, we can restore and enhance the magic of the hunt.”

PETE FIRMAN’S TOP EIGHT GOLDEN RULES OF HIDING

Eggy Decoy

For this illusion, we master the art of disguise and misdirection. Carefully unwrap a couple of Cadbury Easter eggs and save the purple foil. Wrap up a real egg in the foil and pop it in the fridge. Your hunter will think they’ve found the goods until they unwrap it and realise it’s an egg. Keep the real Easter egg hidden nearby for the quick ‘ta‑da!’ reveal.

Jar Vault

For my next trick, grab a glass jar and pop an Easter egg inside. Print off a photo of dried lentils, roll it up, and place it into the jar with the image facing outwards. At first glance it looks like a jar full of lentils, but you’ve actually got loads of space inside to hide a couple of tasty Easter eggs.

Floating Eggs

The trick here is camouflaging with nature and using unexpected elevations. When hiding eggs in the garden, don’t be limited to ground level. Hang some eggs from branches of trees. If you really want to disguise them, glue some of the tree’s leaves to the eggs for extra camouflage.

Up My Sleeve

Magicians are always accused of hiding things up their sleeves, so why not actually hide an egg there? This tip uses the classic magical technique of creating a hidden void within an ordinary object. Use a bulldog clip to close up the sleeve of a jacket hanging up on a hook or hatstand and drop an egg down the sleeve. The clip prevents it from dropping out too early.

All Tied Up

If someone has a ball of yarn and ribbon, you could wrap the egg up in that to conceal it from view. It also makes for an exciting reveal when the ball is unravelled to reveal an Easter egg. This technique employs the art of layered deception.

Potter Magic

Let’s play with perception. Gather a stack of empty plant pots. Now, here’s the misdirection: Don’t just stick the egg in the top one (that’s far too obvious), nor the second one either. Stash your Easter egg in the bottom pot, where no one expects to look. It’s all about outsmarting the hunter.

Caught on Tape

Time to ditch the predictable hiding spots. Under the table? Overdone. Instead, channel your inner magician and carefully tape that Easter egg to the underside of a chair or table – where no one would think to look. Trust me, they’ll probably miss it at first glance. A little extra effort for a chocolatey reward never hurt anyone.

Bless You

Here’s a clever twist on a household staple. Carefully cut the bottom out of a tissue box and remove all the tissues. Now, you’ve got plenty of room to hide a couple of Easter eggs underneath. Push just one discarded tissue through the top hole, so everything looks normal. Crafty, right? They’ll be sniffing around everywhere else.