Paul Daniels

Shows

Dealing with Daniels (radio)

Every Second Counts

The Farm (participant)

Odd One Out

Wipeout

The X Factor (participant, Battle of the Stars 1)

Biography

Paul's roots are from Teesside in the North-East. From age 11, he began learning magic as a hobby, and performed for parties in his spare time while working as a clerk.

After serving his National Service, he worked for the Internal Audit Office but soon he was a full-time magician on the club circuit during the 60s. A string of successful TV series and specials with the BBC led him to win the Golden Rose of Montreux in 1985. As well as the magic programmes, he also presented a triplet of successful game shows.

He married his assistant Debbie McGee in 1988. He still performs live, mainly on cruise ships and in provincial theatres.

Trivia

MAG 1 C is the registration plate on his Bentley.

His real name is Newton Edward Daniels, but took his stage name from his son Paul. His other son, Martin, is also a magician and comedian - he hosted the quiz Lingo.

In 1980, fronted a BBC pilot called Gotcha! (featuring Jeremy Beadle stunts) which was deemed too "vulgar" by the then-Head of LE, the late Bill Cotton. Though never aired, some of the actual set-ups were used in The Late Late Breakfast Show.

He used to teach fencing to school children.

Daniels once stated in an interview that he didn't practise magic, because it was like having green fingers - you've either got it or you haven't.

He and Debbie appeared very memorably on Louis Theroux's series, "When Louis Met..." in 2001. This showed that Paul had virtually retired from showbusiness, apart from the occasional engagement and was therefore putting much of his energy into helping manage Debbie's thriving theatrical company.

Apart from his gameshow catchphrases, his main catchphrases were, "You're going to like this - not a lot - but you'll like it!" "Now, that's magic!" and, "Say 'Yes, Paul!'"