Derren Brown Interview – News Of The World
I’m at my best when I’m on my own and reading. It takes me back to my 20s when I was living in Bristol, doing magic shows. I spent the rest of my time drinking tea with my nose in a book.
Those closest to me would describe me as very different from the guy on TV. I’m a lot sillier and more friendly. I enjoy making others laugh. The telly guy is really controlling, but that’s because of my job.
One thing about my past I don’t admit easily is I had a bit of a kleptomaniac phase in the ’80s. I’d steal CDs, toys and gadgets from shops. I remember looking round my bedroom as a kid and thinking: “God, I’ve stolen pretty much everything in here.” I never got caught and stopped as I got older.
The three things I’d want on a desert island are my Mac, a router and a very long cable to plug them in. I get frustrated if I can’t keep in touch with people, plus I imagine the appeal of pornography would be strong if I was alone!
One thing I’d like to do before I die is travel more. My job takes me to Europe and America, but they’re obvious places. I’ve never been off the beaten track.
If I advertised myself on a dating site, it would read “Nice guy wants to meet nice guy.” So much these days is about being goal-driven, but being kind is the greatest asset you can have.
The thing I like least about myself is my shape. I was skinny until I was 30 so never did any sport. But now my metabolism’s changed, I have to make an effort to keep trim.
My fantasy dinner date would be my friend Joe, who lives in Sweden. I’ve met a few of my idols and they’re always a disappointment. I usually clam up and come away feeling like I’ve been boring.
The thing I value most is the quality of loveliness. It’s undervalued.
ΓΒ
My biggest regret is not sleeping with more people when I was younger – I was a bit of a loner.
If I wasn’t a magician I’d paint. It’s always been my first love – but I don’t know how much of a living I’d make.
Answer the following
I’m often overcome by strong emotions: Never
My friends think I’m very outgoing: Never
I love debating intellectual ideas and concepts: Always
I’m very energetic and live a fast-paced life: Never
I enjoy making people feel appreciated: Always
Ahhh, What a nice interview! I’m sure Derren is a very Lovely man. Unfortunately I didnt get to witness this myself as missed him in Bournemouth! π I think derren would be a lovely person to know! x
It’s never too late to sleep with lots of people. Well I suppose one day it will be. Tena lady pads are not sexy.
I’d definately agree with Derren being different than when he is on the telly-box (not that I’d disagree with his own description of himself, of course!). Having met him in real life, I can definately say he’s a lot of fun and sillyness, and very friendly – the ‘dark and sinister’ act he does is really that, an act – if you ever do bump into him, he’s an absolute top chap.
Brilliant interview.
You are a lovely person – very genuine from when we have met you.
Hope you find someone special if you haven’t already.
xx
Derren would be my perfect dinner guest!!
I loved the show and spent the rest of the night saying ‘ Oh my God!! How did he do that?’.
“One thing IΓ’β¬β’d like to do before I die is travel more” – maybe Derren should do a magic travelogue show. “Mental Round the World” or somesuch. Like when Ewan McGregor rode the motorcycles but less, ah, outdoorsy.
FOR THE LAST TIME, COME TO SINGAPORE.
IT’S NOT IN EUROPE AND IT’S NOT IN AMERICA AND WE’RE NOT PART OF CHINA.
if this sounds desperate, you’re right. after reading so many comments on how unbelievably amazing enigma is i don’t think i can rest in peace without ever watching it live. me and other people suffering in singapore too.
yeah good little interview, ta for posting
Aww what a lovely interview, would have totally missed it as well if it wasn’t posted here as I never buy the NOTW.
Keep being lovely everyone!! π
xx
It’s like looking in a mirror! One that distorts you into a reformed kelptomaniac that actually likes tea.
BellaFiga: Well, if one has a partner, getting permission to sleep with lots of people might be an issue. π
Love the interview. And always wanting to make people feel appreciated makes me go ‘awww’. π
Thank God for Derren. I thought I was a real little git for my kleptomanic phase when I was about 10. Now I feel like part of an elite group π
(Disclaimer: that was a joke, stealing bad, etc).
Lovely interview. Take care x
Brill interview π
I was talking about the 3 dinner guests convo and you were my top guest….lol.
Still loving the memories of enigma that your show has given me.
I came to see you in Bournemouth.
I would love to meet you at a show and get you to sign my book. ;o)
Hope your having fun derren x
have you seen my pen anywhere?
Just shows Derren as a genuine good bloke. I would love to meet him for a drink or two and a good chat. He has an incredible gift and one that he used for the benefit of others.
I liked (read “laughed-at”) the little analysis on the News Of The World website after the interview by James (a specialist in Psychometric Testing). Pretty good hot-reading there, anything accurate was repeating what Derren said and anything else was vague enough to apply to many people.
And I really hope that Rach in the comments is joking, the alternative is just too depressing. Buuuut it is the News Of The World … what should I expect?
Agree with the comments about Derren being genuine. Very witty as well.
Nice interview.
I’m in the process of reading “Tricks of the Mind” and find myself constantly laughing out loud. Because its funny. Just thought i’d point that out.
lovely interview derren. xx
Great interview, thanks for blogging it, would never have seen it otherwise!
Its right, Derren was very nice & friendly after the show in Grimsby. Not divaish or selfish at all!! (i admit, i had thought he might be, sorry!!) XX
I am always fascinated by people who don’t class themselves as outgoing but who can get on stage and perform… I wish I knew your secret for overcoming shyness!
Nice interview.
Derren – if you have a friend in Sweden then why not do a show there? And while you’re at it, Finland is right next to Sweden and I bet I’m not the only one who’d like to see you here…
just had to get a porn ref in?
Im surprised Dreen didnt mention vomit –
“The quality of loveliness” — yes, that is Derren down to a tee.
I remember reading in one of his books that he goes out of the way to be lovely to people because he doesn’t want people thinking he’s an arrogant twat.
Lovely, genuine, friendly, approachable, amenable, funny, charming – yes thats our Derren.
xx
Being NOTW, is this interview legit? One never knows with it coming from a crappy paper! I guess it is though as you’ve printed it here but is it really?
Γ’β¬ΕNice guy wants to meet nice guy.Γ’β¬Β
So derren’s gay? :S
Great interview, love derren π
lovely, just lovely! π x
I wonder if the psychometric tester guy understood the irony of analysing our Derren.
Now then, lots of response and additional things Derren forgot to mention popped in mind, but hey .. let’s give him some slack.
This thing with being kind and such .. it’s just a phase … it’s a reaction to his previous life ………….
And about sleeping around … it’s the thing most, lots of guys say around this age … Oh, if I’d only had known all about these things in the past ……
For some reason all people seem to see the same inside … but we deal different with things so the result on the outside is not always the same. And that’s where the socializing starts normally …
Swedish friend named Joe …. let’s hope it’s not my ex boyfriend in Sweden …. or, on 2nd thought .. I would not mind … I’d say … you do have a nice friend!
I dont think you would get much response on that add … nice guy seeks nice guy …. so good you’re not on that market anymore …
Derren has to be the perfect man rolled into one…. and then be taken with a boyfriend (if I’m not mistaken)
That is so not fair!
However your name firmly remains number one on my ‘list’ π
Jen xxx
P.S I also love tea π
isnt Derren fantastic what a gent such a lovely fella π
wish I was a gay man………aah never mind!!
derren = lovely…FACT
Top bloke….and genuine to his fans!
xx
Come to Sweden and make even more friends =) And I liked the idea about the travelling mentalist show that Chris had!
Further proof of DB’s sweet nature. A few years ago Derren answered some mail for a magic site. The following is a letter a 10-year old wrote him and his response (I thought it was so sweet I sent it to some folks and still had it in my “sent” folder)…
To Derren Brown,
My name is Stephen XXXXXXXX, and I come from Liverpool, England.
I am 10 years old. I saw your show in the empire, it was the best thing I have ever seen in my life. When I am older I want to be a magician, but I am interested in hypnosis and mind manipulating, have you got any advice you could give to me please?
Thanks.
Magically Yours,
Ste.
DerrenBrown
V.I.P.
——————————————————————————–
Hi Stephen, thanks ever so much for writing. And thanks for coming to the show. I’m guessing you sneaked in, as no under 12’s were supposed to be there. In fact I saw you, I’m sure – because I remember thinking, ‘I must report that tiny boy to the police after the show’.
I’m pleased you liked it so much: I love performing the show. They’re beautiful theatres and it’s very cool coming out on stage and seeing you all sat there.
As for hypnotising -it’s very difficult to hypnotise someone if you’re quite a bit younger than them, as they don’t take it very seriously. You could try a) just hypnotising very young children or kittens, or b)drawing a fake beard on with permanent marker first: that might make you look older. It worked for me in the first couple of TV shows. Or c) do what I did: learn magic first, and get really good at it, and then see if it leads you into the mind-reading sort of thing that I do. It took me ten years to really learn it properly, and I’m ninety-three now.
You spell better than any other person on this forum, so you’re obviously bright enough to be very good at magic. And bright enough to know that you can do much more clever magic that you make up yourself instead of just what everyone else does, which is normally silly. I also imagine you’re very creative and good at painting or writing or fixing stuff or making people laugh… all sorts of skills you’ll find you can bring to the magic you do.
If you send an email to my assistant (his name is Coops) and tell him your address, I’ll find and send you a magic book suitable for an intelligent and creative ten-year old to get you started. I’ll even sign it from me and David Blaine. That’s how I got started: I got a book and tried all the stuff in it. It built from there.
Best of luck with it. I’ll tell Coops to expect an email from you. And I’ll alert the police again.
Yours,
Derren.
Hey is anybody else secretly hoping Derren swiped n swapped the reporters dictaphone?
You said you wanted to travel more.. have you ever been to sweden?
Maby cause i saw yoy had a swedish friend:)
Also laughed out loud when reading ‘Tricks of the Mind’. And the mail for 10 year old Stephen, – well Derren is such a completely nice and caring person. Makes me all fuzzy really.
Am so much looking forward to seeing Enigma in London. I will travel from Copenhagen to see the show and celebrate a speciel person as well. Certainly I will be at the stage door. Can’t wait!
Wow, I never realised those videos where Derren steals people’s money & things and pays with paper are from the 80’s.
Kelly – Seriously?
hey you should try Sri Lanka? I can promise there’s nothing like having a machine gun pointed at you to say “hey the holidays started”! Oh, also, all the tea in china…so to speak!
How about visiting Iraq? or somewhere in the middle East? Egypt? Israel?
Aww, how lovely is he!
I just finished reading the letter he sent to the little guy (10 year old), just proves what a really down-to-earth, genuine kind of guy Derren really is..
It’s hard to find people like that around these days… π
Donna
Aww lets have a collective fuzzy Derren hug!
When will I stop posting weird sounding stuff?
Great interview.
I think Derren would do pretty well from his painting if he decided to give up the mentalism. They’re amazing…he’s got quite a talent!
Can’t wait to recieve the book…
If you’ve read his books, have watched his stage shows or have seen his card magic DVD, it shouldn’t be a surprise how silly and friendly he is in person…and very charming too.
Australia has a lot of beaten tracks, Derren *cough* Just… y’know… putting it out there.
We’d love to have your loveliness come and visit us one day. Perhaps your loveliness would leave a nice nest egg of loveliness behind for all to cherish, that border security wouldn’t try and stamp out like fruit flies or weevils. It’d be a wonderful, fluffy, joyful and WELCOME infestation. Quite unlike fruit flies.
PS- I like a good, quiet read too. Doubleplusgood points to Derren for encouraging literacy (and putting a halt to one’s kleptomania).
Sounds like a Myers Briggs personality test.
Enjoyed reading the quiz style interview, even if it only reinforced what I already thought/knew of DB himself.
Found the letter to the 10 year old very Derren indeed… kind, funny, full of praise and encouraging.
Am glad to see that Derren is back to full (or near full) health after his recent duration suffering from illness. Yet like a true top performer he ensured the shows went on.
I’m sure everyone who went to see those shows are extremely appreciative of the extra effort he made to give them great evenings of entertainment (if they’re not, they bloody well should be π )
To DB and the entire crew/family, stay well and keep up the goodness (juicy or otherwise, haha) π
As enthralled as I’m sure you all are by reading my rambling’s amongst all these other posts… I’ll end it here π
Peace all.
(Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about the universe!?)
Derren IS NOT silly – he only wears the banana shoes at weekends and the fart noises on his answer machine come from the leather chair squeaking.