More runs of your "Max Malini" performance

BrucUK: You mentioned when at Sonning that this may be in the offing at some point. Would this be a "one-off", or a tour of different theatres? What is it about Max that obviously fascinates you?

Thanks for the enormous contribution to entertainment, and to this forum so far.

Paul Daniels: I can't see me touring Max but I do like to take the odd venue and Sonning is perfect for him.

Why? Well, he was the magician's magician. Very skilful and yet a great hustler as well. I liked the descriptions of his character and enjoy donning his mantle. His magic has tremendous impact on an audience.

Advice

Lee Alex: My parents live in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire.

I remember years back that you were going to purchase/did purchase Mother Shipton's Cave.

Was this a local rumour or whatever happened to the project?

It is somewhere I haven't visited for over twenty years so I am not much up on the latest news!

Paul Daniels: I did own 49% of the park but did not agree with the ideas of the major partner.

Also the Knaresborough Council planners were against it being updated, so I sold my shares back.

Packet Magicians

Gareth: What do you think about packet magicians and people who use very little sleight of hand in there performance. Do you believe that they can call themselves a magician when only using self working effects? (by the way I’m not speaking about myself).

Paul Daniels: I think that ONE packet trick in a routine is fine. Pulling out a string of them one after the other is a waste of time because the audience is being told they are all faked.

There is nothing wrong with being a 'self working tricks' magician - except that you miss out on a lot of fun and self satisfaction.

"The Pack of Cards"

Jaz: Hi Paul, I used to go on regular family trips to a place called Combe Martin in north Devon (my mum and dad still go). In this little village there, is a pub called "The Pack Of Cards" which you once broadcasted your TV show from.

You did a card in picture frame effect there and the card is STILL there behind the glass. Thev also got a little museum in the beer garden where that particular show is played 24 hours a day on a loop. That place was a major inspirations to me when I was younger to get into magic, so thanks!

Do you ever visit Combe Martin? its a great little part of the world.

Paul Daniels: I think Combe Martin is great and they were really good to us in that village when we went there to do the show.

Card behind the glass... now where have I seen that recently?v

John Doe: He he. Has anyone asked you about Blaine yet?

Paul Daniels: Yes... and many times in the past. Interesting that in America no one asks me about him.

John Doe: Why do you think that is?

Paul Daniels: America is HUGE. To be a known star in the USA you have to be a nationwide TV 'regular' or perhaps a pop star/film star that kind of thing. There are headliners in Vegas that no one has heard of 20 miles down the road. It's a bit like the USA is made up of 'islands'.

They also don't have the number of national newspapers that we have over here (I wish we didn't) so fame comes and goes very quickly over there.