What is all the more disturbing is that it appears to be a uniquely British
reaction. “I’m truly amazed by this abuse. David never gets this in the
States,” says his friend Ben, a London-based American who turns up regularly to give moral support from a deckchair beneath the box.

Blaine certainly endured none of this last year when he stood unharnessed on a tiny platform 90 ft above a New York park for 35 hours. The response of the American public ranged from admiration to indifference, but never downright nastiness.

“I’ve never seen this before,” admits Blaine’s girlfriend, model Manon von Gerkan, 30, who was so incensed by one egg-thrower last week that, when the guards caught up with the man, she urged them to hold him down while she reciprocated with an egg herself.

An estimated 30,000 people-a decent Premiership crowd – have already made the effort to see a lethargic man do nothing much in a box. Staff at Tower Bridge Underground Station have even erected a sign giving directions to “David Blaine” as well as to the Tower itself.

Of the crowds gathered beneath the crane, a handful could be described as devotees, waving banners and squawking the sort of “We love you!” inanities usually reserved for boy bands and Tim Henman.

Francois Greef, 44, a campaigner for the handicapped homeless, has taken to engaging Blaine in a game of chess using giant plastic pieces and hand signals to interpret the magicians moves (thus far, scores are even).

Most people just stand and gawp for a few minutes, waiting for a wave. And forget any attempts to credit this scene with some sort of artistic merit. In 24 hours at this spot, I hear only recurring topic of conversation-and it is lavatorial.

The greatest excitement occurs every few hours when Blaine wraps a sheet around himself and proceeds to relieve himself through a funnel connected, via a long plastic tube, to a small, to a small beehive contraption on the ground from where a bored…
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