Where do you start with a man who says things like: “I am often dishonest in my techniques but I’m always honest about my dishonesty.” It’s a typical Derren Brown statement, tying your mind up in knots before we’ve even begun, but it’s worth persisting because despite his universal appeal, Derren Brown remains as much of a mystery as his work – until now. Katherine MacAlister delves deep to find out more.

Despite his huge appeal and legions of fans, how much do we really know about this enigma of a man – the master illusionist Darren Brown?

“Well, I don’t ‘do’ peanut butter, mushrooms, blue cheese or sweets,” he answers. “I can’t drive, play football without crying or successfully use a PS3 controller and I don’t watch TV.

“I’ve maybe seen two of my own shows go out over the 10 years I’ve been grooming you through your tellybox,” Derren says conversationally.

Thanks to a recent documentary about him we also found out a lot more.

“The documentary was a huge delight,” Derren sayd. “It was made by my oldest schoolfriend, Nigel Walk, now a major award-winning documentary maker and we became closer because of it. I got to have huge fun at the expense of Channel 4, and go back to school and university for the first time since leaving.”

What the 40 year-old doesn’t say is that Channel 4 commissioned the piece to celebrate 10 years of Derren Brown on TV – a fitting tribute to his amazing talents.

But then Derren loves travelling around and about.

While most performers hate tours, Derren uses them as brain fuel, the prospect of new places and faces filling him with glee.

“I love it more than anything. I get to travel around with great friends and work on improving the show every night, and it’s the only time in the year that I get any days free to concentrate on personal projects,” he explains.

These personal projects might include writing new shows, books or TV, all of which he is as passionate about as ever.

“I love writing and performing the stage shows more than anything,” he enthuses.

“It’ll be a full evening of mind-melting based around audience participation. More than that I wouldn’t want to say. I ask audiences to keep the contents of the show a secret so as not to spoil it for others, and I have to do the same. But I hope it’s fun and freaky and a great night out.”

The new show Svengali, which arrives in Oxford next month, is expected to sell out as quickly as the last, because on stage as well as on TV Derren is in a class of his own. His Mind Control, Trick of the Mind, Trick or Treat and Events programmes have garnered rave reviews and awards. His specials have provoked much controversy and acclaim and further consolidated his reputation as a performer prepared to constantly challenge and break boundaries.

He has also received much praise for his best-selling books, Tricks of the Mind and Confessions of a Conjuror, as well as enjoying considerable success in America.

You’d think that would be enough even for a man with such a ferocious appetite for work, but oh no... there are plenty more plans on the go.

“Well, there’s a new show every two years, and each has to measure up to the last,” he says. “It’s always a mammoth exercise and a bit terrifying knowing that dates are selling already and I don’t fully know what I’ll be doing on stage yet, but it’s like that every year.

“For the moment, though, it’s great fun – thinking up things to freak people out. What could be more enjoyable?”

Thinking up things to freak people out has been making Derren tick since he was a little boy. Born in Croydon, he was always interested in magic and psychological techniques, but it was only later at Bristol University, where he studied law and German, that he started to take it seriously.

So seriously in fact that after graduating, Derren abandoned a career in law and concentrated on developing his psychological magic skills. He was able to pay the bills by performing in cafés and bars with a sideline in portraiture.

But then came his big break when in 1999 he was asked by Channel 4 to put a TV show together. The result, Derren Brown Mind Control was shown in December 2000, proving an immediate success.

By 2003 3.3 million of us tuned in to watch his Russian Roulette Live show. And now there’s talk of him going to Broadway and doing a worldwide tour. “As soon as I get time that would be a pleasure.

“Broadway hopefully will happen in the next couple of years and I would love to go to Australia and a few other places. I’ve even been unofficially asked by Marvel to audition for the role of Dr Strange if and when they make the film. But it’s finding the time. I didn’t see Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi until I was 38!

“But then again, I’ve no idea about ten years from now either,” he adds “I’m pleased I’m not a pop star in that regard. I could be 90 and suffering from severe paralysis and it would only somehow add to the mystique. I don’t like looking back – I’ve enjoyed much of what I’ve done, never really enjoyed the major headlines, made friends and delighted in writing the books. I hope I’d be able to continue touring for a while. I’m even planning on taking a holiday in 2016.”

* Derren Brown’s Svengali tour is at Oxford’s New Theatre from April 19-23. Call 0844 8471588.