He was at his Berkshire home with wife Debbie McGee when he died in the early hours of Thursday.

"Debbie and the family would like to thank everyone for their support and asks that their privacy be respected at this sad time," his publicist said.

He fronted BBC`s Paul Daniels Magic Show for 15 years and became one of the biggest stars on British TV.

His publicist added: "The TV star, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour earlier this year, passed away peacefully at home with Debbie at his side in the early hours of this morning.

Daniels was born Newton Edward Daniels in Middlesbrough and developed his magic skills in working men`s clubs, making his TV debut on talent series Opportunity Knocks.

Daniels was known for a string of catchphrases, including the line: "You`ll like this... not a lot, but you`ll like it."

He had recently returned from hospital to his Berkshire home, following his diagnosis in February.

His son, Martin Daniels, said at the time: "He has said before, `When it`s your time it`s your time` and that`s how he is trying to face up to things."

He leaves wife McGee, who had been his on-stage assistant, and his three sons from a previous marriage.

Daniels` son Gary has tweeted a picture of a rabbit in a magician`s hat with a tear in its eye, and wrote: "It is with incredible sadness that I can confirm that Dad, Paul Daniels, passed away overnight."

Graham Howe, a friend of Daniels, told BBC`s Victoria Derbyshire programme he would remember the magician "as a kind, gentle man and actually, what you saw was what you got."

TV personality Keith Chegwin tweeted: We have lost a lovely, kind and MAGIC man @thepauldaniels Love you & thinking of u @thedebbiemcgee. I shall miss him `A LOT`."

Louis Theroux, who filmed a documentary with Daniels and McGee, wrote: "RIP Paul Daniels, a thoughtful skeptic, enemy of hucksterism and paranormal flimflam, and gifted magician. My condolences to his family."

Uri Geller told BBC Radio 5 live: "Our careers started off by him trying to debunk me and so we had a kind of a row in the early `70s, but then it turned into a very, very close friendship and I`m saddened for his family but that`s life, and life must go on."

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