Thames Television announce the third series of the popular children's programme, ACE OF WANDS.

Michael Mackenzie again plays Tarot the renowned illusionist who uses his skills to fight crime and corruption. He's an expert at sleight of hand and escapology, at hypnosis and telepathy.

His two assistants from the last series, Lulli and Sam have moved on to other things. Lulli has got married and Sam has gone into business. But Tarot has two new young helpers, Mikki (played by Petra Markham) and Chas (played by Roy Holder), a brother and sister who live in a London street market. Petra comes from an old theatrical family and Roy has appeared in several films; Virgin Soldiers, Virgin and the Gypsy and he co-starred with Hywel Bennett in Loot.

The other new star of the series is Tarot's pet Malay fishing owl, Ozymandias, who this year is played by Fred II, younger brother of the original Ossie who became rather bored with his television stardom.

The opening episodes of the new series were filmed in Shadwell Market in Watney Street, off the Commercial Road in Wapping which is due for demolition by the GLC.

ACE OF WANDS was created by Trevor Preston. Writers for this new series include

There was obviously supposed to be at least one further page of this press release, but I've only got a copy of the first one, so that's where it peters out. Does anyone out there have page two ..?