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About Derren Brown
Derren Brown is a psychological illusionist with an audacious confidence and rare intuition that enable him to predict, suggest and control human behaviour.
Born in Croydon in 1971, Derren traces his interest in psychological techniques to childhood. "I was a very good liar and a revoltingly charming child," he says.
Like a lot of solitary children he developed an interest in magic but it was only later at Bristol University, where he studied Law and German, that he started to take it seriously.
"I found myself developing an analytical mind-set, able to spot the loopholes in anyone's argument very quickly."
After graduating, Derren abandoned a career in law and concentrated on developing his skills at psychological magic. He was able to pay the bills by combining performing in cafes and bars with a sideline in portraiture.
His big break came in 1999 when 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.
This was followed in August 2001 by a second special, further establishing him as a hit with viewers and critics alike.
The rest, as they say, is history...
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