Dynamo pays tribute to Paul Daniels: He was an inspiration and a true master

Dynamo described Paul Daniels as a “true master” as he paid tribute to the late magician who died, aged 77, on Thursday.

Daniels died at his Berkshire home weeks after he was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour.

Dynamo – real name Steven Frayne – praised Daniels for becoming the “first working class magician to have mainstream success”.

Speaking to BBC Newsbeat he said: "He was also an amazing entertainer from his game shows to his TV appearances that were outside of magic. He was a true giant of the entertainment world.

"He was definitely someone that I've looked to more as inspiration when I was progressing in my magical career. He was a true master.”

Dynamo – who was honoured with a promotion within The Magic Circle in 2012 – said as a child everyone he knew had a Paul Daniels magic kit because he was an inspiatin to aspiring magicians.

"If there was anyone to look at from the UK as an inspiration in magic it was Paul Daniels,” he said.

"If you ask any of the great magicians from David Copperfield to Derren Brown - I think they'd all hold Paul Daniels in high regard.

"Paul Daniels was the life of the magical party, so to speak. He was very smiley and very witty. He'd always make you laugh.”

The Bradford-born star finished: "He never took himself too seriously but he understood what magic was all about and whenever he and Debbie [McGee] were together, it was always a nice environment and a great atmosphere they'd bring to the room."

Daniels' wife Debbie McGee last night paid tribute to her late husband and told fans that they sat eating ice-cream and watching Bradley Walsh on The Chase during his final days.

Amanda Holden described Daniels as a "trail blazer" while Keith Chegwin deemed him a "lovely, kind and MAGIC man".

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