THAT'S SWOT I CALL DEDICATION

Pop superfan proudly shows off his vast collection of EVERY Now That’s What I Call Music! album ever made

DJ Darren Long was just three when the first Now... album was released in 1983, but he has spent £3,000 collecting every issue

SUPERFAN Darren Long proudly shows off his vast collection of EVERY Now That’s What I Call Music! album ever made.

And DJ Darren, 37, believes he is the world’s biggest fan after buying all 100 compilation albums over the past 35 years — plus 169 spin-offs.

But the dad of two, who has spent £3,000 on his collection, gets called a “nerd” by his wife.

Darren was only three when the first Now! album launched in 1983.

He got hooked after getting his hands on his grandad’s copy of Now! 6 two years later.

Artists from Robbie Williams to Calvin Harris appear as Now That's What I Call Music turns 100

Darren has had to hunt down rare versions — and splash the cash — but says he will never part with his pride and joy.

He said: “The first one I bought myself brand new was Now! 14, from Woolworths in Peterborough.

“Then the first I got on CD was Now! 18. After about Now! 55 I thought, ‘I have to carry on and get them all’.

“I’ve had to go back since and fill in the gaps in the collection.

“I paid real good money for 10 and 11, probably £30 each.

“My copy of Now! 4 is now worth between £400 and £600 on eBay. It’s still in the wrapper and never been played.

“I paid £60 for Now! 9 even though it was a real old knackered version.

“I didn’t stop with the regular ones. I have all the spin-offs. The anniversary ones have never been played.

“It’s taken years to collect. I was a bit of a freak, going and buying them on the day of release.

“I realise it’s a bit nutty, but I have also used them when I work as a DJ.”

Darren, of Spalding, Lincs, can even list where almost any track appears in the albums.

He picked up Now! 100 from his local Sainsbury’s on Friday.

His favourite is Now! 30, which features Oasis, The Outhere Brothers, N- Trance and Pato Banton.

He added: “My missus isn’t too happy about it.

“She thinks I’m a nerd. But I think it’s brilliant. It’s part of history. It’s a huge thing for me.”

His collection stands at 269 records, cassettes and compact discs.

The series has sold more than 120million copies and spent a combined 654 weeks at No1.

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