PAUL Daniels rings his 94-year-old mother twice a day and visits her at least once a week.

Because the veteran entertainer has a lot to thank Mrs Daniels senior for.

According to Paul, it’s down to her that he is still working full-time at 72.

Apparently it’s in the Daniels genes.

“My mum is still very active. Every day she’s doing the housework, ironing, cooking, cleaning and everything herself,” Paul explained.

“I like to keep regularly in touch. Her energy is infectious, and there’s no way I can retire until she does.”

The Paul we see today is as excited about his career as he was the day of his first TV appearance in 1970 when he appeared on Opportunity Knocks, and came second.

Paul has a reputation for taking on challenges and he will add another change of direction to his illustrious career by taking on a dramatic Shakespearean role this winter.

He will be appearing, via hologram, as the ghost of Hamlet’s father in Oddsocks’ national tour of Hamlet — The Comedy.

“One of the best bits about my job is designing and working on special effects for theatre,” said Paul, who presented The Paul Daniels Magic Show on the BBC from 1979 until 1994, with his wife Debbie McGee.

“But this time I get to be the special effect, so I jumped at the chance. And being in Shakespeare is a first for me,” he added.

He recorded the spooky video, which will be played every night of the eight-week tour, at a studio near his home on the Thames in Berkshire.

And Paul, who hasn’t yet seen himself in action, because he refuses to watch himself on TV, might be in the audience when the show comes to Colne.

“I want to watch one of the performances and I could go to Colne and visit my magic shop in Wigan while I’m up north,” he said.

“I want to support Oddsocks. They’re making Shakespeare relevant again.”

Oddsocks Productions aim to introduce new audiences to the classics by performing family-friendly versions of Shakespeare.

Hamlet - The Comedy will feature original music composed by Rob Harris, lead guitarist with Jamiroquai.

But one element that won’t be included in the production is dancing — and no-one is more pleased than Paul.

Appearing on last year’s Strictly Come Dancing wasn’t, as he admits, one of his finest hours.

“The hardest part about Strictly was having to pretend to look upset when I had to leave,” said Paul, who with dance partner Orla Jordan was the second celebrity to be voted off the 2010 series.

“Lots of people love all the music and dancing. It’s just not my scene. I did it for the money. It was a job, it’s as simple as that.”

As for this year’s projects Paul has been asked to star in a tribute night in memory of magician The Great Lafayette, who died 100 years ago in a fire at Edinbugh’s Empire Theatre which broke out during his show.

Paul said: “He was a friend of Houdini’s and was the highest-paid magician of his time.

"I am really looking forward to marking the anniversary of this tragic event with something special.”

* HAMLET: THE COMEDY — Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, Wednesday, February 2, 01539 725133; The Muni, Colne. Thursday, February 10, 01282 661234.