Magician and Family Entertainer (sic) Paul Daniels has announced plans to immerse himself in volcanic lava for a week as Daniels seeks to once again reassert his new role as an Endurance King.

The dillusionist, who previously spent 50 days nailed to a cross in London's Trafalgar Square, denied that the stunt was an attempt to undermine the publicity that his bitter rival David Blaine looks set to receive next week when spends seven days submerged in a water-filled container in New York.

Backstabbing

The pair have a track record of trying to outdo each other - Daniels' crucifixion stunt took place at the same time as Blaine spending 44 days starving himself to death in a glass box during Summer 2003, and both of them have said some very nasty things about each other to Mr Damian after a few shandy's.

For his new stunt Daniels will be jetting off to Hawaii where with the use of buoyancy aids and some very strong rope he will sit in the middle of flowing molten lava, throughout wearing nothing but a pair of Speedo's.

Big Teeth

His wife, Debbie Magee will be there to mop his brow and to pour balming fluid on his body for 10 minutes every hour (as stipulated by the rules laid down by the Guinness Book of World Records).

Organisers say they want fans and well-wishers 'to visit, cheer, dance and play card tricks,' on the diminutive star.

Before climbing out of the lava, Daniels will try to break the record for holding breath under lava, currently set at two minutes 19 seconds.

Celebrities such as Dale Winton and Jennifer Ellison are planning to visit and show their support.

Daniels will also be hooked up to a webcam so he can speak to fans and reporters across the world during his self inflicted ordeal.

Posted by damian at April 28, 2006 05:29 PM