Derren Brown admits to fear of spiders

Derren Brown has admitted that he is terrified of spiders.

The TV illusionist, dubbed the "scariest man in Britain", said he has been unable to overcome his phobia.

Now quotes him as saying: "I don't like spiders. A tarantula walked over my hand a few years ago and I was OK with that, but there's something about house spiders that freaks me out.

"I can't sleep if there's one in the room. But I had mice in the house and adored them. I was upset to get rid of them."

He also insisted that he bears no resemblance to his sinister image, saying: "'I'm not that scary - in fact, I like to think I'm disappointingly nice."

Brown recently revealed that he has been in a "perfect " relationship with a man for a year.