Paul Daniels dead: Re-live his surreal shopping trip with Louis Theroux
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.If you didn’t grow up on Paul Daniels’ (who died today) magic shows, chances are you best remember him for that intriguing BBC documentary, When Louis Theroux met Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee.
In a clip from it BBC Worldwide put on YouTube, Louis is seen wandering a shopping centre with Paul and having some odd encounters with fans.
“Who is Paul Daniels?” he asks a group of teenage girls - a question he spent weeks trying to answer for the doc and never fully came up with an answer.
Daniels was an eccentric character and endlessly fascinating in the film, particularly his relationship with Debbie McGee, who was by his side when he died this week.
Though it’s easy to judge celebrities through the lens of a Theroux doc, in the clip McGee highlights how strange it is to be the one being documented.
After initially being guarded, “he’s a bit more relaxed now,” she explains.
“Why?” Louis asks?
“I think because he was so worried - when you were first with him we didn’t know what you were going to be like. You worry about what you’re going to say, and, do you like us? We’re not your sort of people, so that’s…we thought you’d think we’re old fashioned and not into the things you’re into so he particularly, not me so much, felt ‘oh, we won’t be your sort of thing’.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments