"You're gonna be delighted, get excited..."

One of the things featured in the TV Cream Toys book is Paul Daniels TV Magic tricks and a reminder that, once upon a time, the little fella was a huge and well-liked star in the UK. I recently watched a couple of Paul Daniels Magic Shows (downloaded courtesy of UK Nova) and, at the height of his game, he really was a top quality entertainer.

Magic has always fascinated me, to the point where I keep buying easy-to-do tricks and practising them on my wife and relatives at Christmas. I once spent an entire evening in a pub with the other TV Cream staffers, boggling at the close-up magic stylings of David J Bodycombe. (In fact, a playing card not unlike this one, but signed by TV Quick editor-in-chief Jon Peake, is seemingly still glued to the ceiling in that very London drinking establishment.)

I took Jo along to see Paul Daniels at the Jermyn Street Theatre a few years back, and made sure I got an autograph at the end. We both ended up as stooges in the show, as there were so few people there (deliberately so - the tickets were exclusive and very expensive). Also in the audience that night? David "Kid" Jensen, and David Mellor.

The only disappointment was that, at such close range, it was fairly easy to see how a lot of the sleight of hand tricks worked. Which reminded me of the time, back when I was a nipper, that I was invited to take part in a magic show staged at Tarleton High School (although I think my parents pushed me into doing it, I was quite a gregarious littl'un). The trick involved me having to delve into a "magic bag" in which the conjuror had apparently placed various handkerchiefs and pull out the contents. I duly did as I was told and - oh, the hilarity! - it was a rubber chicken.

But I'd seen him do the switcheroo. The bag had two openings, so it was easy for the bloke to flip between them whilst covering his actions with a bit of business. I went back to my seat and never told anyone what I'd seen. Until now.

I still believe in magic, only slightly less than I used to.