Burke tells PEOPLE that hosting the CW series was “such an unexpected, joyful, fun gig”
Accepting the offer to host Penn & Teller: Fool Us was a “no-brainer” for Brooke Burke.
Between her “love” for both magic and “hosting live television,” as well as her own admiration of Penn and Teller themselves — who she calls “iconic” — Burke, 52, tells PEOPLE it was an automatic yes when she was asked to host season 10 of the CW series.
“I’ve done so many different things as a host [and] they proposed the opportunity and — I love magic, I believe in magic and I thought this would be a really exciting show to work on.”
The series features aspiring magicians who attempt to fool the masters themselves, Penn Jillette and Teller, for the chance to secure a slot as the opening act for the famous magicians at their long-running show at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Burke says she was surprised by just how exciting of an experience it turned out to be.
“I had so much fun. I didn’t realize how much fun it was going to be. It was literally like going to a magic show every day,” she says.
“It’s so stimulating to watch because it’s so confusing,” she continues. “Every show is mind-blowing and Penn and Teller were so amazing, so talented, so welcoming. I really, really enjoyed working with them.”
For Burke — who not only hosted the show but also interviewed the contestants, learning about their lives and their history with magic, as well as participating in several tricks — the series was “such an unexpected, joyful, fun gig.”
“Watching magicians from all over the world realize their dream and have a television platform to then become the next great magician” made it “such a feel-good show to work on,” she says.
“I had an opportunity to participate with the magicians, to interview them, to understand another side of magic — to really bring to life, I think, the emotional side of magic. And one of the beautiful parts of this show is most magicians, when I asked them what they love best about magic, it’s the audience interaction. It sets up wonder, it’s joy. And watching a live audience experience magic live was really, really exciting.”
Burke adds, “I had more fun on that show than any other show I’ve ever worked on. And I’ve done some pretty cool shows.”
While she’s keen to leave all of the surprises in store a secret for now, the former Dancing with the Stars host shares, “There were so many jaw-dropping, confusing, mind-blowing moments. From big magic to small magic, sleight of hand, live magic.”
She continues, “It’s a very honest show. They’re not blowing it [up] for the audience. They are genuinely hoping to be fooled by some really talented magicians.”
An added bonus was that not only was Burke herself able to get in on some of the action, but her family, too, got involved in some of the contestants’ tricks.
“Many family members were able to participate,” she says, before revealing that her 21-year-old daughter Sierra, whom she shares with ex-husband Garth Fisher, will be “in one of the magic tricks” featured in the series.
Burke took over the hosting gig from Alyson Hannigan, who previously hosted the series from its third season, starting in 2016. She regrets that she and Hannigan, 49, never got the chance to chat before she stepped into the role.
“I wish we would have,” Burke says. “And now she’s on Dancing with the Stars, so we probably both could have given each other a lot of advice.”
Of her own time on the competitive ballroom dance series, though, Burke says it was “a thrilling experience.”
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Season 10 of Penn & Teller: Fool Us premieres Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.
