But there was no: "You'll like it, not a lot, but you'll like it", for me. Instead, there was a small chuckle, a pause and then: "If they don't laugh we'll check their pulse."

Paul was talking about the Best of British Variety Tour 2008, bringing a whole host of big names to Worthing.

Alongside some magic and chat from Paul, there's comedy from Cannon & Ball, Jimmy Cricket and The Krankies, music from '70s chart toppers Brotherhood of Man and comedian Frank Carson as host for the evening.
Later in our chat, I thought he was giving me another chance at the catchphrase. Telling me about playing Scrooge on stage, he said: "Ask me if they liked it."

"Did they like it?" I asked expectantly. "The critic went and bought some tickets to see the show again," he said. Oh, shucks. OK, I give up.

So, what tricks has he got up his sleeve for Worthing residents? "I'm never sure what the audience is going to see. I take a theme when I'm on the stage and work it through. I'm a jazz magician," he said.

"I like that. It's interesting. I hate 'plastic TV' where you know what is going to happen and when.

"When we are going away somewhere, my wife Debbie (McGee) really looks forward to it and plans ahead but I just enjoy everything as it is happening."

Paul said his agent called him in Las Vegas about the Best of British tour. "There was no hesitation, I just said yes," he said.

"Coming from Yorkshire, that's very unlike me. My usual conversation would start with how much.

"My aunty was in showbusiness, mostly theatre, and she had that kind of life. I came in through the working men's clubs and by the time I started you didn't do theatres.

"I was on my own, like all the acts. You didn't see anyone else. I have met the gang a couple of times and we just fell about laughing.

"This will be a treat for you and for us. We will have a good time and if the audience wants to come in for a laugh, they're very welcome to."

He's been to Worthing a few times before but doesn't like to be in one place too long. "I came into this business to avoid doing an office job. I've always liked bobbing and weaving, ducking and weaving. i'm still travelling all over the place."

Born in Cleveland, Paul's first taste of magic came from a book called How to Entertain at Parties he read at the age of 11.

He went on to work in local government but spent his spare time developing his magic and entertaining at private functions.

While on National Service, he built a reputation for entertaining American servicemen and when he returned home, he ran a mobile grocery business his parents had, as well as entertaining, before deciding to go professional.

In 1970, he came second on Opportunity Knocks and then having toured Europe and Africa, he was given a spot on Granada TV show 9, launching his career.

Since then, he has produced stunning shows of close-up effects and enormous broadcast illusions, won a host of awards, entertained royals and prime ministers, run his own West End show for 14 months and headlined in Las Vegas and Broadway.

On TV, he has also presented and hosted popular game shows like Every Second Counts, designed special effects for stage and screen, including Cats and The Phantom of the Opera, and was recently commissioned by the English National Ballet to create magical effects for their new version of The Nutcracker.

He has acted in the West End in Moliere's The School for Wives and appeared in a few short films.

Highlights for him have included being a journalist for The Bugle in Bournemouth and playing Scrooge at Lowestoft and acting is something he would like to do more of – and in a movie.

"Yes please," he said. "My dad had a cinema and it's always been something of interest to me."

Meanwhile, he loves being him and messing about with his computer and his 1930 seven and a half metre oak and elm canoe, which runs on electricity, and can be seen out on the Thames near his home.

The Best of British Variety Tour is stopping off at Worthing's Pavilion Theatre on September 16 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £22.50 or £25 from the box office on 01903 206206 or go to www.worthingtheatres.co.uk


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