‘It was lovely looking back at the shows’
It’s been 20 years since you first appeared on Channel 4. How did it feel back then?
It took some time to get used to seeing myself on screen. I was always ill-prepared, forgetting props and feeling out of my depth. I just did what I was told, but had no idea what was going on.
What was your reaction when you were asked to celebrate 20 years with a special night?
Very flattered, followed by creeping existential angst.
What can we expect to see?
An older, balder version of that goateed minx. I’m going to do a live ‘thing’, and there’s a lot of clips and me talking about myself. And surprises.
Can you give us a hint about the live stunt?
It’s live, and it’s a stunt.
The night will be a walk down memory lane. What do you hope viewers will take away from it? Probably vague memories of things they saw in their childhood. I remember the first time I heard ‘I used to watch you growing up’, and it still sounds odd. So, for many, it’ll be nostalgic – it certainly was for me. Although I tend to cringe at anything I’ve done or said more than ten minutes ago, there is some stuff in there that I am proud of. It was lovely going back through it all.
Social media wasn’t a thing when you first appeared on TV. Has it changed how you approach your work at all?
Yes, I think if you’re in any branch of the magic business, there’s a problem that it’s likely people [can] work things out if they can read each other’s
YouTube comments and discuss it on social media. It’s like finishing a show and then turning the lights up and having the audience discuss how they think it was done. So, I swear the audience to secrecy with stage shows, which protects the surprises and helps preserve the mysteries.
Of the five specials shortlisted to be shown again [ Russian Roulette, The Heist, Hero At 30,000ft, Apocalypse and Pushed To The Edge], where would your vote go? Apocalypse, probably. It was so huge and ambitious, so emotional for us all to go through. But I’m so fond of all of them, as they conjure up very intense and moving memories. What was the most challenging programme to make? Were there any where you came close to throwing in the towel? Apocalypse: it was enormous. It was massive and mad, but an extraordinary thing. And we rewrote the second half of the show at 3am after the first day, when we realised that we needed to lose one of the characters to help Steven, our mark, grow and step up. So, we changed the plot and introduced a wife who would return and take him away, infecting him in the process, and then had to feed that plot change to the actors through their ear-pieces. That’s a big ask for everyone. But no, I never wanted to give up.
Do you prefer TV or the stage? Stage generally, but there’s nothing like sitting in a dark room watching someone go through one of these hidden camera things – it’s extraordinary. I write them now so I know the actual shoot at the end will feel fun – for me at least. What’s next?
Showman [Derren’s live show that was postponed], next February. A new book – a pockety, shorter version of Happy called A Little Happier: Notes For Reassurance which will be out in October.
And I’m entertaining a lockdown beard.