Marcus du Sautoy is professor of mathematics at the University of Oxford and a fellow of Wadham College. In 2001 he won the prestigious Berwick Prize of the London Mathematical Society, awarded every two years to reward the best mathematical research made by a mathematician under 40. In 2004 Esquire Magazine chose him as one of the 100 most influential people under 40 in Britain.

Marcus is author of the best-selling popular mathematics book The Music of the Primes (4th Estate), which has been translated into 9 languages. He writes for the Times, Daily Telegraph and the Guardian. Recently he presented his own series 5 Shapes on BBC Radio 4. He currently hosts the popular TV panel show Mind Games on BBC FOUR. His presentations on mathematics, which include "Why Beckham chose the 23 shirt", have played to a wide range of audiences: from theatre directors to bankers, from diplomats to prison inmates.

Marcus du Sautoy plays the trumpet and football. Like Beckham he also plays in a prime number shirt, no 17, for Recreativo FC based in the Hackney Marshes. Born in 1965, he lives in London with his wife, three children and cat Freddie Ljungberg.

Content last updated: 12/09/2005