North East magician announces charity gig in honour of Paul Daniels
Chris Cross was due to perform with the Middlesbrough-born star in May and says the show will still go ahead.
North East magicians have paid tribute to Middlesbrough-born magician Paul Daniels by announcing a charity gig in Newcastle.
The 77-year-old died yesterday after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Tyneside magician Chris Cross was due to perform with the South Bank star and his wife Debbie McGee in May at The Quayside Cabaret Club, before his diagnosis.
The show was cancelled, but Cross says a show will take place on that same date, 19th May, in honour of the late star.
He'll be joined by Middlesbough magician John Archer, who was part of Middlesbrough Circle of Magicians with Daniels.
Chris Cross, 26, said: ''It's such a sad time at the moment and my thoughts are especially with Debbie, Martin, Gary & Paul Jnr.
"I will treasure the memories of performing alongside one of my heroes last year at my Cabaret Club - Paul was a Showbusiness Masterclass on legs.
"He showed absolutely no signs of slowing down at my club last year either on or off stage.
"He was on it. Totally.
"It was a great night, which would have been repeated all over again this year.'
''I feel I owe something to him. He offered me advice over the years, which I took on board and it helped me to get to where I want to be right now.
"Without watching Paul's show in the first place I wouldn't have wanted to be a magician for a living!
"A lot of local magicians echo this and owe their interest in magic to him in the first place too, with his TV show and the Magic sets which they all got for Christmas! He's part of our roots.
"Putting on a show to raise some money for his charity is the least I can do.''