My friends were somewhat derisive when I told them I was going to see Paul Daniels.

Given that he's an easy figure to dislike, this isn't an entirely ridiculous response.

Like all magicians, he can't help but come across as at least part con-artist.

There's also something dated about this family entertainer from yesteryear which makes him decidedly un-hip. Until now, that is.

Post-modernism being what it is, the once reviled Paul Daniels has found a new niche for himself among the youth.

He and his Barbie-like wife Debbie have even been the subject of a documentary by ultra-cool Louis Theroux.

There is, however, a bit more to this phoenix-like rise than a clever audience appreciation of kitsch. This is because Paul Daniels is actually very good.

The first half of the show was more stand-up than anything else, with a few tricks thrown in to remind us who we had come to see.

Most of it was taken up with a quizzing session, where Daniels' quick, wry wit came in handy while fielding questions from the audience such as "where's Debbie?" and "do you like David Blaine?"

He used this opportunity to generate inventive and self-depreciating stories about himself, including his grimly comic Middlesborough upbringing. While he clearly didn't give away anything he didn't plan on, this was intriguing nonetheless.

The second half of the act was a more traditional magic show. Nothing here was that original because magic isn't but that was beside the point.

So when an audience member's £20 note was found inside an unbroken walnut, which was inside an unbroken egg, which was inside an uncut lemon, we knew we've seen countless tricks like it before.

Daniels' showmanship ensured this didn't matter. A consummate professional, his performance showed the practice of a lifetime. He not only stunned us with the spectacular but knew how to entertain.

This funny little man was actually, well, funny. He was also very human. So those clever but predictable tricks were elevated into something individual by Daniels.

Much as we might have wanted to hate him, we liked him. Quite a lot.