Paul Daniels reported on a recent heart scare through his always interesting blog. (http://www.pauldaniels.co.uk/blog/)  The Sun of UK picked it up and ran with the story.  That makes us the second news organization to share Mr. Daniels’ account of the incident in his own, humorous way.

We are glad to hear he is alright.  We were also amazed to read that he is 71.  He seems to have more energy and passion for the art than folks half his age.

The festivities went on and all was well, until yesterday morning that is, when I awoke at about 6.30am to find that I had a pain in my chest.

You read about these things of course, so the first thought was ‘Is this what a heart attack feels like?’ I guess you don’t know unless you’ve had one.

I waited until 8am before calling the local surgery who said they could fit me in about 10.30am. I thought that might be a bit too late, because, being a man, I already knew I was at death’s door, so they changed it to 8.50am.

I snuck out of the house and went to see the doctor.

After some questions I was put into the nurse’s room for the same questions and tests and suddenly I am in the back of an ambulance.

I must say that the doctor, the nurse and the ambulance crew were all brilliant and I was in the Royal Berkshire in no time at all.

By now Debbie had joined me and sat watching it all happening.

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• Britain’s Got Talent Sullies Magicians’ Image?

One of our heroes, United States Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo said, “Life in all its fullness must provide the answer to the riddle.”  Welch v. Helvering, 290 U.S. 111 (1933).

The Welch case considered whether a taxpayer could deduct as an expense debts he paid on behalf of his bankrupt former employer.  Mr. Welch claimed by paying the debts, he would improve his reputation among his customers.

Reputation is important to individual magicians and to our art as a whole.  Events on Britain’s Got Talent caused magicians and lay commentators concern about our craft’s reputation.

Given that tease, let’s dive into the whirlwind that is the United Kingdom live television series, Britain’s Got Talent.

We understand from the often interesting and occasionally accurate London tabloid, The Sun, that at least one of our ilk remains in the running for the big money and fame.

Merlin Cadogan was photographed betting a cool 50 pounds on himself as the likely winner of the ITV series.  He stands to win a whole bunch of money if he is right.  Ladbrooke’s  pegged his odds at 50-to-1.

So, let’s see: that is 50 times 50 pounds plus the original 50, for a total of something like, approximately, 25 million pounds or 250 or 25,000.  We are never sure where the decimal goes when multiplying two or three digit numbers.   Plus, with the conversion from British Pounds Sterling to U.S. moolah, that is approximately a wad and a half or roughly six standard fistfuls.

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• Paul Daniels Health Scare