But when her teacher talked about using another pupil for a rematch with the Amazing Randi, the Amazing Natalia regained her gift.

The only one who could, he said, was a prankster magician, James the Amazing Randi, who came along for the ride.

Mr. Randi, often billed as the Amazing Randi, has succeeded where scientists have not in exposing those claiming supernatural powers.

Initially he presented himself under his real name, Randall Zwinge, which he later dropped in favor of "The Amazing Randi".

As "The Amazing Randi" he appeared regularly on the New York-based children's television series Wonderama from 1959 to 1967.

Randi also wrote a children's book in 1989 titled The Magic World of the Amazing Randi, which introduced children to magic tricks.

The Magic World of the Amazing Randi.

James "Amazing" Randi (Magician, founder of the James Randi Educational Foundation)

Shortly after this, the Amazing Randi appeared on the The Tonight Show with Uri Geller and proclaimed Geller to be a fraud.

"Unbelievable bull," said James Randi, who performed magic as the Amazing Randi and has since turned to debunking psychics.