WHEN it comes to interviewing celebrities, I've learned to expect the unexpected — but I don't think anything could have prepared me for the Paul Daniels experience.

Despite being regarded as one of the most successful magicians of the 20th century, his manner is down-to-earth and cheerful with no trace of self-importance.

Talking to me from his home on the banks of the River Thames in Wargrave, Berkshire, it is immediately apparent the television legend suffers from an urge to entertain at all times.

He briefly bursts into song before telling me about his latest tour, which stops off at Exmouth Pavilion on Wednesday, June 10.

"I'm continuing the 40-year tour," declared Paul. "If you're not on television, people assume you have passed away — sometimes with or without the aid of Max Clifford. I must now go and wash my mouth out."

Before I can even ask another question he is already reeling off another joke.

"The one comment I get more than any other is, 'I never realised you were this funny', which is really nice," admitted Paul.

"I don't really have a set show. It depends what's happened on the day and what the audience says to me. It has a little bit of everything: I do my striptease and pole dancing. You're going to buy a ticket now aren't you?"

Although the 71-year-old seems a born entertainer, he hasn't always been so confident.

Despite showing an interest in magic at the age of 11 and performing tricks as a hobby, he trained as an accountant and had his own grocer's business before becoming a magician.

Paul recalled: "I was very shy until I was 32 then I watched a male stripper who was on the same booking as me and I thought, 'No matter how short or bald I am I will never look as stupid as you do right now'. I became a born-again extrovert."

While it looked like the shows took hours of practice to perfect, Paul revealed: "Don't tell anyone, but I never physically practice. I drive people around me nuts but I can actually see it in my head. I daydream in great detail and from that I start to grow the routine."

But that's not to say Paul hasn't worked hard to get to where he is, and becoming serious for a brief moment, he continued: "If I'm called the greatest magician of the 20th century it's mostly because I've worked like hell at it. It's not accidental."

Paul achieved national success through his television series The Paul Daniels Magic Show, which ran on the BBC from 1979 to 1994. He was joined by assistant Debbie McGee who is 20 years younger than him. They have been happily married for 21 years.

Recently the couple appeared in a magazine recreating an image from an Armani advert that featured footballer David Beckham and his wife Victoria stripped to their underwear.

"Anything funny always appeals to me so we did it," revealed Paul. "They said, 'Paul, just lay there in your pants' and I feel asleep because I was jet-lagged. Now I have a whole new audience!"

Being the butt of jokes has never bothered Paul, not even being a Spitting Image puppet.

"When they did one man and his wig I was sat at home laughing like hell. I had not worn it for six months and no one had noticed," he said.

"I like silly jokes and I'm not politically correct. I can't handle all that nonsense."

And if you don't think you can teach an old dog new tricks then think again.

"I want to be in a movie," declared Paul. "I would do anything. I'd even play the lead in Lassie, I don't care. I just love movies."

Tickets for An Audience with Paul Daniels cost £16. Box office 01395 222477.