The 69-year-old magician was at his entertaining best as he posed for pictures in Aylesbury on Monday to publicise the production of Peter Pan due to be performed at the Civic Centre in December.

Dressed in his Captain Hook costume Paul entertained press and photographers with magic tricks and his inimitable brand of humour.
Paul Daniels said: "Panto is great fun. In fact parents do not bring your children. It is much more fun because the kids think their parents have gone nuts when they start going 'boo' and 'hiss' and singing funny.

"If you really want to embarrass your kids go to the school and dance," he said. The magician said he particularly enjoyed working with his wife as, after being married for nearly 20 years, they knew exactly how to make each other laugh.

He said: "Me and Debbie are husband and wife but we are also great mates and spend our life laughing at daft things really. So I would rather work with Debbie than not."

This year's performance of 'Peter Pan' takes on extra significance as it will be the last pantomime to be performed at the Civic Centre before it is knocked down next summer.

Mr Daniels said: "I'm amazed they are knocking it down before they have built the other one. I would have thought the logical process would be to build the new one and get it open and then have a big joint publicity event with the one closing.

"It seems illogical to close down and lose your theatre audience for a year," he added.

Debbie McGee said: "We feel quite privileged to be doing the last pantomime at the Civic Centre.

"It is a bit difficult as I've never worked with a tail before but it is a really good script and it is quite funny and really suits my personality so I know I'm going to have lots of laughs."

Performances start of Peter Pan on Saturday December 8 and run till Sunday December 30 and tickets are £11.75, a family ticket is £38.00 and groups of 20 plus receive 10 per cent discount on adult tickets. There is also £2 off every ticket paid for by Friday September 28. For more information visit www.aylesburycivic.org or call the Civic Centre on 486009.