Paul Daniels: The legendary magician's eleven most memorable and controversial quotes

Magician Paul Daniels has died aged 77 at his home in Berkshire, just a few weeks after it was announced he had been diagnosed with a brain tumour.

His publicist confirmed the television star and entertainer had died in the early hours of Thursday morning with his wife Debbie McGee by his side. He left hospital 10 days ago in order to spend his final days in the comfort of his own home surrounded by his family.

Born Newton Edward Daniels in Middlesborough, Daniels came from a humble background and perfected his magic skills in working men’s clubs.

Before long he became a pillar of British television, making his grand debut on talent series Opportunity Knocks in 1970 and then presenting the BBC's Paul Daniels Magic Show for 15 whole years. Climbing the ranks of British show business, the lively entertainer became the most famous magician of the past half-century.

While Daniels might have been small in physique, he was, most certainly, larger than life in character. Famed for his cheeky persona and off-the-cuff quips, he became known for keeping the audience entertained with his witty chatter and trademark catchphrases.

But when Daniels wasn’t working his magic, he was never one to shy away from speaking his mind, having frequently divulged his forthright views on politics and a number of divisive issues.

Here is a selection of his most memorable and at times controversial quotes:

“You'll like this, not a lot, but you'll like it”.

“When people say to me don't the years go fast I have to be honest and say that whereas I don't realise where they go in the long term, I pack so much into a year it seems to take forever”.

“Over to my wonderful assistant, Debbie McGee”

“David's interesting. If people were better educated in the world of magic, he would have greater difficulty than he's having. He's not very original”.

“...Were ruined for me by bitchiness and jealousy...now I only go to foreign conventions where, to be honest, I am greeted with respect and civility and I have tons of 'foreign' magician friends.”

“I don't really understand why journalism has to be so nasty, so sarcastic and intrusive.”

Daniels caused some controversy when he tweeted the following during the 2011 Brit awards:

“What's this about 'Brit' awards? Surely not? Isn't that like calling someone a 'Paki'? Not PC dahlings.”

“Hey, all I am saying is that I don't understand why one abbrev is OK and another isn't. It's all how you say it surely, not the ab itself.”

When faced with criticism on Twitter, Daniels replied: “Vowels and consonants are never racist, only stupid people”, and “you are obviously not reading the full sentences. Only the bits you want to be racist. I HATE racism.”

“Death isn’t scary - it’s just like going to sleep. It doesn’t bother me because when your time’s up, your time’s up. Some people can’t take that.”

“The hereditary peers, the real Lords, have the genetic knowledge so they know what to pass and what not to let through. I believe the gene carries more than physical characteristics. It's more than just education that makes the Lords better at making these kind of decisions than leaving it with the Commons. It's like an animal instinct. The aristocracy may act foolish, but in times of war and riots they have the knowledge and a belief and strength of leadership and instinct that coal miners just haven't got...”