did - it got really well received and I said, "Tis is the show." Ten it got tweaked, and at the last minute a fairly hilarious card trick got put in. But the main part of it was put together earlier this year, as a piece, and has worked really well everywhere.
I've noticed that the Norwich is the last date of the tour before Christmas. Yeah, becauseDebbie's going off - she's Queen of the Flower Fairies in Pantomime, Jack of the Beanstalk. And I - when people look at those lists, on my website for example, they think, 'oh look, he's got nights off, he's alright'! But actually I'm doing corporate jobs and there's a phenomenally large party in the middle of it all. So what happens is I'm not really being idle and sending the wife out to work! Although I would like to become a kept man!
I was going to ask whether the Daniels- McGee household is very traditional at Christmas, but you must have had to work out your own traditions over the years, both working so heavily? Well yeah, but we still do it; we're both from families that are very family- orientated, and Christmas is the time, isn't it, when it all comes together.
Now I'm sure it's a painful memory in every sense, but it must have taken incredible strength and sheer energy to get over 'Fingergate' last year. [Laughs] Yeah, well you know, a piece of timber snapped and the impetus took my hand towards a table saw and I can remember at the time saying, "oh bother!" No, what I can remember at the time was being astonished by natural
reactions. When my hand went under the saw, my other hand swung under the bench and immediately hit the stop button, but by that point I’d lost a finger and the other one was hanging off. And I was on my own; it was New Year's Day and Debbie was on air - she's got her own radio show - and so I just slammed my hand against my chest and drove myself to the hospital.
Be honest with me Paul - were you operating dangerous machinery with a bit of a hangover? No, I don't drink; I’m a non-drinker. In a way, I think I’m quite lucky to have been brought up by parents who didn't bother with it. It wasn't a case of not wanting to, or this, that or the other, it's just that I don't really get it. When I'm asked what my favourite drink is, I always say Lowcocks lemonade, which is a lemonade manufacturers in the northeast! I like the taste of it! I remember as a young man, going in the army and all the lads said, "go on, have a beer," you know, and I thought it tasted awful. "Don't worry, it'll be an acquired taste," they said, but why the hell would I want to acquire a taste that I don't like? It's the same with smoking; I tried it at 15 and thought, "Hmmm, why am I setting fire to money?!"
Paul, on your website and Twitter, it says, "International Sex Symbol. Bodybuilder." which are a couple of areas I wasn't aware of about your career - - How dare you madam?! It should have been instinctive.
Well of course, when I read it I thought,
'ah, it all makes sense now.' [Laughs] You're back to lying dirty, OK. No, it's just I don't take myself too seriously, that's it. If you look at the parallel Twitter profile, it's Debbie's, which says, "So he says", which is the completion of the joke.
Yes, I love that about you two. You've not only been in the same industry all these years, but you two have been in the same act for the most part of your careers - - Well yes, on and off. I wasn't in Debbie's ballet!
free speech, providing it's telling the truth.
I will cheer and yell for the right to
You've been scathing of the Press before, but I can absolutely promise you that we're not a sensationalist publication and I have no interest in editing your words for our own gain. So I wanted to ask, Paul, what do you think the most common misrepresentation of yourself has been, and you can set that straight? Blimey. You say that I'm scathing of the press; yes, I am, but the national press. What they've done to your industry is disgusting. I just think they've ruined a fabulous concept. I will cheer and yell for the right to free speech, providing it's telling the truth. I have never expected everyone to know me, or like me because I don't like everyone on my TV. I couldn't expect everyone in the nation to like me without exception. So I have never expected it, and I’m always happy when people like what I do. [Laughs] I've got a tape from when we appeared in Dublin. It was an arts programme and they sent a couple of people off to review the show. One said, "I've got to tell ye", he says, "I can't stand this man and you made me go off to see him, and I'm dreading it in the taxi. But you know, he hadn't been on stage but a minute and I thought, d'you know, I wouldn't mind buying him a drink." Debbie has a wonderful expression about certain TV performers and presenters; she says, "You know, I wouldn't invite them round for dinner, so why are they in my lounge?"
Emma R. Garwood MORE INFORMATION Paul Daniels: Te First Farewell Tour comes to Te
Playhouse on Turs 19th December. For tickets, go to
www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk/box-office. Read the full interview at
Outlineonline.co.uk
outlineonline.co.uk /December 2013/ 23
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