Joel Mawhinney was born in 1997 in Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. His parents’ names are not publicly confirmed, though he credits his father with teaching him that “being kind is the greatest magic there is.” His interest in magic started when he was five, when his grandfather bought him two illusions in a magic emporium at a theme park.

He began performing at the age of 11 and is best known for his tricks on TikTok, where he has amassed millions of followers. By age eleven he began performing in restaurants, walking from table to table and captivating audiences with his tricks for tips. Joel launched his BBC Northern Ireland series Life Is Magic in 2020, a fresh and youthful approach to magic-based storytelling, which earned him national attention.

Mawhinney first appeared on Blue Peter in 2018 as a guest, and also guest presented the show over summer 2022 when he taught some of his co-presenters magic tricks. It was his rapport with both the audience and his fellow presenters that led to his appointment as the 41st Blue Peter presenter, with his first live show airing on 11 November 2022 on CBBC and BBC iPlayer.

In 2023, Joel entertained audiences across Northern Ireland on his first live tour, Joel M: Impossible. In 2024, he expanded his stage presence with his first pantomime appearance at The Atkinson in Southport. In 2025, Joel joined the presenting team for BBC’s Comic Relief campaign, fronting it alongside other well-known BBC talent.