Number Plate Stories

Now that's MAG 1C!

Paul Daniels interview

By Ruby Speechley

Having been a Paul Daniels fan from a very young age, I’m excited that I’m finally going to meet him. I pull into his winding drive and can’t believe his MAG 1C plate is right there in front of me. This is the stuff of number plate legend. I mentally tick it off my list of ‘Things to do before I die’.

I park next to the Bentley Mulsanne alongside a vast green lawn with the River Thames beyond. A man appears from a glass-fronted house and strolls towards me. He is so recognisable it’s almost like visiting an old friend.

Paul Daniels is Mister Magic. He is the most accomplished TV magician of our time. This along with his unique comedy style, ensured he was a hit with audiences the world over. The Paul Daniels Magic Show arrived on our TV screens in 1979. His tricks baffled and astounded us well into the 1990’s. Truly a household name, he later hosted the quiz shows Odd One Out, Every Second Counts and Wipeout.

We stroll along the patio up to the seam of the river where Paul shows me his pride and joy - a motorised canoe he spends many pleasant hours in. He points out the part of the house that is built over the water. “It’s deceptive isn’t it?” he says, noticing my look of surprise. “The house looks smaller when you first arrive doesn’t it?” That’s not the only illusion this house creates. We seem to be at the back of the house, but it’s not entirely clear where the front is. In fact it doesn’t look like a conventional house at all with its flat roofs. It’s more like a big magic box from one of Paul’s tricks. He goes on to tell us gleefully that the canoe is named ‘The lovely Debbie McGee’. The lady herself waves to us from inside the house as we settle ourselves at the table on the patio.

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