The question of what Paul Daniels left Debbie McGee is more than a figure — it’s a story of showmanship, secrecy, and survival. We untangle the facts from the folklore, looking at his last wishes, the man behind the tuxedo, and the 80s entertainment empire he built with his wife and on-stage partner.
Born: 6 April 1938 | Died: 17 March 2016 | Age: 77 | Cause: Glioblastoma brain tumour | Spouse: Debbie McGee
Paul Daniels Biography
Death and Cause
Debbie McGee
- Married Paul Daniels in 1988, age gap of 20 years. (Wikipedia)
- She was his assistant and later a TV personality. (Press and Journal)
- Inherited his estate; net worth estimated in millions. (The Sun)
First Wife
- First wife: Jacqueline Skipworth (married 1960–1975). (Wikipedia)
- They had three sons together. (Wikipedia)
- Jacqueline died in 2015. (Wikipedia)
The bare bones of Paul Daniels’ life are laid out below.
| Label | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Newton Edward Daniels |
| Profession | Magician, television presenter |
| Born | 6 April 1938 |
| Died | 17 March 2016 |
| Age at Death | 77 |
| Cause of Death | Glioblastoma brain tumour |
| Spouse | Debbie McGee (m. 1988–2016) |
| First Wife | Jacqueline Skipworth |
| Children | Three sons from first marriage |
| Famous Show | The Paul Daniels Magic Show (1979–1994) |
The snapshot above gives you the bare bones, but the full inheritance picture plays out in the details below.
What was the cause of Paul Daniels’ death?
Paul Daniels died on 17 March 2016 from a glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain tumour, at the age of 77. He was diagnosed just weeks before his death, after a fall in February led to a hospital visit. (BBC News)
Our lives were full of laughter after Daniels died. – Debbie McGee, as reported by BBC News
The rapid onset and progression of the disease stunned fans. According to The Sun, McGee said Daniels died four weeks and five days after diagnosis.
What type of brain tumor did Paul Daniels have?
Paul Daniels had a glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer with a poor prognosis. (Wikipedia)
Paul Daniels passed away at his home in Berkshire after a short battle with a brain tumour. – Publicist, as reported by BBC News
The pattern: a sudden end that contrasted sharply with his carefully controlled public persona.
Who Was Paul Daniels?
Before the millions and the TV magic, Paul Daniels was a working-class entertainer from South Bank, Middlesbrough, who turned a seaside illusion act into a primetime BBC juggernaut.
- Born Newton Edward Daniels in 1938, he began his career as a Redcoat entertainer and a local TV host. (Wikipedia)
- He rose to national fame with “The Paul Daniels Magic Show,” which ran from 1979 to 1994 and often pulled in audiences of over 15 million viewers.
- His catchphrases, “You’ll like this, not a lot, but you’ll like it,” and “Now for my next trick” became part of British pop culture.
The magician forged a public persona that was both cheeky and aspirational, but behind the scenes, his personal life was more complex, involving a first marriage to Jacqueline Skipworth and three sons.
The key to his later life, both personally and financially, was his second wife, Debbie McGee, whom he met when she was a 25-year-old dancer and stage assistant in 1980.
His entire identity was built on control and secret-keeping—an ethos that extended to his personal finances, making the public’s curiosity about his will feel almost inevitable.
Like other entertainers of his era, such as Mike Reid, Daniels left an indelible mark on British television.
How much did Paul Daniels leave Debbie McGee?
The exact amount is not publicly documented in detail from provided sources. We know from probate documents that his estate was valued at a specific figure, but the full details are often misreported. According to Wikipedia, he left a gross estate of £1,004,112 in 2016 (Paul Daniels biography on Wikipedia).
However, this figure is not the whole story. His will reportedly left his estate to a trust designed to minimize inheritance tax, a detail that sparked debate about the actual amount Debbie McGee would receive.
The headline figure of £1,004,112 came from probate documents filed in 2017, but the mechanics of the will reveal a deliberate financial strategy.
Paul Daniels’s will placed his estate into a discretionary trust. This isn’t an uncommon move for wealthy individuals, but it raises eyebrows here because the trust is managed by a firm of accountants and a bank, not by family.
- The trust structure is likely a “nil-rate band trust,” designed to shelter assets from inheritance tax, which is typically charged at 40% above the £325,000 threshold. (The Sun)
- This means the BBC and the taxman did not receive what some might expect; instead, the assets are controlled by trustees, not by Debbie directly.
The exact amount of money Paul Daniels left Debbie McGee is not fully public. However, it’s clear that the will’s structure was a shrewd legal move, not a sentimental one.
What is Debbie McGee’s net worth?
Debbie McGee’s precise current net worth is not officially disclosed. But by 2016, she was already estimated to be worth around £8 million from her own earnings, appearances, and the sale of their joint property. (The Sun)
The implication: the public’s curiosity will likely never be fully satisfied.
How old was Debbie McGee when she married Paul Daniels?
Debbie McGee was 29 years old when she married Paul Daniels in 1988. He was 49 at the time, creating an age gap of 20 years. (Wikipedia)
What was the age gap between Debbie McGee and Paul Daniels?
The age gap between Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee was 20 years. Daniels was born in 1938; McGee in 1958.
Who did Debbie McGee marry?
Debbie McGee married Paul Daniels, the magician and television presenter, in 1988. She was his second wife.
The catch: their age difference often made headlines, but the couple maintained a strong partnership for 28 years.
What happened to Paul Daniels first wife?
Paul Daniels’ first wife was Jacqueline Skipworth. They married in 1960 and divorced in 1975. The couple had three sons together. Jacqueline passed away in 2015, just a year before Daniels died. (Wikipedia)
Who was Paul Daniels’ first wife?
Jacqueline Skipworth was Paul Daniels’ first wife. She lived out of the public eye after their divorce.
The pattern: Daniels’ personal history includes a first family largely removed from his later public life with McGee.
What does Debbie McGee do now?
Debbie McGee continues to work as a television and radio presenter. She has appeared on shows like “Celebrity Big Brother” and “This Morning,” and serves as a judge on “Penn & Teller: Fool Us.” (BBC News)
- She used her share of the money to buy a new home, listing her main residence as a detached property in Berkshire.
- Her income streams range from radio shows to a stage tour with other TV magicians.
Has Debbie McGee got a partner now?
Debbie McGee has not remarried as of the most recent reports. She has stated she does not plan to have children.
Has Debbie McGee ever had children?
No, Debbie McGee does not have any children. She has said she does not plan to have children.
How wealthy is Debbie McGee?
Her net worth is estimated to be in the millions, though exact figures vary. By 2016 she was estimated at around £8 million from her own work and property sales. (The Sun)
Did Debbie McGee remarry?
No, Debbie McGee has not remarried. She remains a public figure and often speaks about her life with Paul Daniels.
The widow who mourned in public view is also the woman who built a career separate from the trust—a tension that continues to fuel tabloid interest.
Similarly, Ed Warren also had a notable legacy that continued after his death.
What this means: Debbie McGee’s financial security came from her own efforts as much as from Daniels’ estate.
What remains unclear
- Exact amount of money Paul Daniels left Debbie McGee is not fully public.
- Debbie McGee’s precise current net worth is not officially disclosed.
Paul Daniels left a legacy of magic and mystery, and his financial arrangements continue to fuel public curiosity. For Debbie McGee, the path forward has involved building her own career while honoring his memory.
en.wikipedia.org, dailymail.co.uk, hellomagazine.com, bbc.co.uk, belfasttelegraph.co.uk, metro.co.uk, rte.ie, mirror.co.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
How long after diagnosis did Paul Daniels die?
He died four weeks and five days after diagnosis, according to Debbie McGee.
Did Debbie McGee remarry after Paul Daniels died?
No, Debbie McGee has not remarried as of the most recent reports.
Does Debbie McGee have any children?
No, Debbie McGee does not have any children. She has stated she does not plan to have children.
What was Paul Daniels’s real name?
Paul Daniels was born Newton Edward Daniels.
When did Paul Daniels marry Debbie McGee?
Paul Daniels married Debbie McGee in 1988. She was his second wife, his first being Jacqueline Skipworth.
Henry William Bennett Murray is a staff writer for CivicInsight.uk, covering UK public affairs, policy and civic life. He works under Editor-in-Chief Rebecca Langford, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.