Scots entertainer Colin McLeod is not short of admirers.

He has been touted as the next Derren Brown – and was described by mind reader and spoon-bender Uri Geller as “one of the greatest thought readers of all time”.

But the 23-year-old says he’s more like Sherlock Holmes.

“I know Derren Brown fairly well,” he says. “He’s good at what he does but I’m totally different. Sherlock Holmes is more like my idol. I think I was six or seven when I became fascinated with him. I just thought when I read the books, ‘I want to be able to do that’.”

Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective hero Sherlock Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning and his forensic science skills he uses to solve difficult cases.

It’s quite apt then that Colin emerged from the University of Glasgow with a first-class degree in forensic science which, he says, “helped me with developing my skills”.

Colin, who is originally from Harthill, Lanarkshire, stages live shows as a mind reader and has performed his routines for audiences all over Scotland including at Glasgow’s SECC and at the past three Edinburgh Fringe Festivals.

“When I was younger I would have five or six cups and I would crumple up a napkin into a ball,” he says. “Friends would then put the ball under a cup and I would guess what cup it was under. I would get it right over and over again.

“Now I stand on stage in front of big audiences and I can guess strangers’ phone numbers, their holiday destinations, PIN numbers, you name it and I can guess it. It really has grown arms and legs.”

The mind reader says his friends and family do not tire of his skill.

“They love seeing me on stage,” he says. “They were probably getting a bit bored of the same old routines when I was younger but now they love seeing what I’ll do next.

“I get to try out the latest tricks and I also introduce some comedy so it’s a great show. My show has come a long way since I was living in Harthill.”

The entertainer is quick to say his show’s not magic.

“It is almost like intuition,” he says. “I could teach people how to do it. I’m not an illusionist. The first thing people think of if you say that is rabbits and hats and magicians. It’s not something like that, it’s showmanship.”

The showman is about to embark on an even more exciting adventure – he will soon be travelling to the entertainment capital of the world for an event called Mindvention.

He said: “I’m going to Las Vegas next month.

“First of all I’ll be lecturing to the world’s leading mind readers. I don’t mean to be big-headed but I’m considered to be very creative so I’m giving lectures on new techniques I’ve learned.

“I’m also doing a few of my own shows at Caesars Palace.”

Colin’s skills are not confined to the stage, as he also works at a motivational training company called Tree of Knowledge. The company is based in Dunfermline but the staff travel all over the country delivering lectures to councils, schools and companies.

“It goes hand in hand with what I do,” he says. “We help people to understand people. The main thing I enjoy is teaching.”

So what’s the best motivational tip he’s got?

“The number one tip I’d give people is to try and establish a rapport with new people really quickly,” he says.

“You need to like your workmates or whoever it is for real and instead of being worried about what they think of you, think about them instead and let them speak.”

“People love it when they are listened to. That’s one of the biggest things I can recommend,” he says.

“There’s also a lot more though. For example, I teach people to recognise eye patterns so they can see what their work colleagues are thinking or if people are happy or unhappy.”

Colin’s world certainly sounds intriguing – and it seems as though there are many paths the entertainer could go down.

But Colin knows his own mind already – and he’s ready to take on the world.

“I think I want to be travelling around the whole world delivering courses,” he says. “I love doing the live shows but I enjoy teaching people and showing them skills more. I want world domination.

“I’m not trying to be the next Derren Brown, I’m doing my own thing and the main thing I want to do is teach people.”