Alan Davies explores the extraordinary life of Harry Houdini, who against the odds was among the richest, most successful entertainers in the world, he was the ultimate showman and one of the first American celebrities. In order to understand why Houdini felt compelled to perform such terrifying death-defying stunts, Alan tries to hold his breath under ice cold water, lies on a bed of nails and is strung up upside down in a straitjacket, among other things.