I WALKED away from Derren Brown's Underground tour feeling like Victor Meldrew No, I hadn’t been hypnotised.

I was shaking my head saying "I don't believe it!".

Derren has asked audiences not to tell anyone who hasn't seen the show what happens as this will spoil the surprises ..

And wow – there's plenty of them in this production directed by Andrew O'Connor and the League of Gentleman's Andy Nyman.

This modern-day 'mind' Houdini offers an evening of escapism with a difference. There is a lot of audience participation and he selects willing members by throwing out frisbees.

A big screen helps those at the back and in the circles (he ensures everyone can see and hear) as a state-of- the-art cameras zones in on those in the audience and his own face, hands and props all taking place on an atmospheric velvet-curtained stage.

Derren, who tweeted before the show how much he looked forward to kicking off his tour in Liverpool – his 16th year of making people lost for words with mind-blowing routines.

You could not hear the veritable pin drop at times.

Derren's a witty showman with plenty of off-the-cuff humour up his magician's coat sleeve.

This is his greatest hits tour and features some of his favourite pieces.

The mind-reading sequence after the interval is astonishing.

If you love his books and the TV appearances you will savour every minute of this two and half hour experience.

He received a standing ovation but I am under no illusions that he knew that would happen.

Derren Brown is on until until Saturday, April 7 (matinee and evening performance).

Golden Brown - five stars

Tickets from the box office on 0151 709 4321