Paul is Strictly with me

DEBBIE Mcgee says late husband Paul Daniels will be with her throughout her time on Strictly Come Dancing.

The former ballet dancer is literally following in Paul’s footsteps after he competed on the hit BBC show in 2010.

And Debbie, 58, who lost her magician hubby last year to brain cancer at the age of 77, said he would be delighted.

She explained: “He’s always on my mind. It’s a comforting thing. So much of what I learned about showbizness was from him so he’s always there. He would love it because he’d know I would be excited. He would just say, ‘Do your best’.”

Last night’s opening show of the series saw the celebrities paired with their professional partners and the debut of new judge Shirley Ballas.

Her dad George Rich, who abandoned his family when Shirley was just two but reconciled years later, was watching proudly from his home in Merseyside. He said: “She’s the best in the world.”